How to Prevent Termites in Your Crawl Space with Encapsulation

Short of natural disasters, a termite infestation is one of the most costly and damaging issues you can face as a homeowner. Often, termites go undetected for months, entering the home through your crawl space and chewing through wooden supports and structures within your home and causing thousands of dollars in damage. Fortunately, it is possible to protect your home and prevent these damaging pests from causing damage. To help you, our crawl space waterproofing company in Raleigh is sharing some tips for keeping termites out of your crawl space.

What Attracts Termites to Your Crawl Space

The most common types of termites in North Carolina are the eastern subterranean termite and the Formosan subterranean termite, and as you can tell from their name, they live in tunnels under the soil. These breeds in particular thrive in moist or damp conditions, and in order to access food, they build tunnels up from the soil. Because they feed on cellulose, they’re most attracted to easy access to wood, though they can also eat cardboard, paper, dead plants, and even cellulose-based insulation.

When you consider their ideal conditions: damp soil and dark areas where they can tunnel to easy access to wood, it’s not surprising they thrive in crawl spaces. Fortunately, with the proper steps, you can keep your crawl space free from these damaging steps and also mitigate other risk problems at the same time.

DIY Termite Prevention in Your Crawl Space

There are a few simple steps you can take on your own to keep termites out of your crawl space.

Keep Moisture Away from Your Home’s Foundation

Keeping the area around your home’s foundation dry can help minimize your risk. Make sure your gutters and downspouts are flowing freely and that water is directed a few feet away from your home to prevent pooling and puddling.

Avoid Wood to Soil Contact Around Your Home

Because termites live in the soil and feed off wood, making it difficult to access food sources can also reduce your risk of an infestation. Rake mulch back several inches from your home’s foundation, and if your home has wood siding or a wooden porch, dig the soil back a bit to create a break between the wood and the soil.

Minimize Food Sources Around Your Home’s Foundation

You may not think about shrubs, firewood, or old vines around your home’s foundation, but termites will. Make sure there is at least a 12-inch space between your home and any shrubbery or plants, and if you have a firewood pile, keep it several feet from the house and on a raised platform. This will help prevent other pests like spiders and mice, as well as termites.

Professional Crawl Space Encapsulation to Seal Your Home from Termites

If you truly want to protect your crawl space from termites, you need help from the professionals. While a pest control company can provide you with treatments to prevent them, often, their warranties are void if they detect high levels of moisture within the crawl space.

While vapor barriers are often suggested, they aren’t a comprehensive solution. Vapor barriers are sheets of heavy plastic that are installed over the dirt in a crawl space in order to slow the evaporation of ground moisture into the area. While this reduces moisture, in North Carolina where high humidity and moisture from the outdoors can seep in through the foundation, a stronger solution is in order.

Crawl space encapsulation is a comprehensive sealing method that doesn’t just block ground evaporation, it seals vents, pipes, and the walls, as well as the floor to create a clean, dry space under your home. By cutting off unwanted air, eliminating moisture, and blocking access into the crawl space, you can feel confident that the space will be termite-free, especially when paired with termite prevention from a local pest control company.

Schedule a Free Crawl Space Encapsulation Estimate Today

If you’re concerned about termites, or if you can’t get a termite warranty on your home due to excessive crawl space moisture, we can help. We have an experienced team who can seal your crawl space completely, stopping moisture and humidity from attracting pests and termites as well as helping prevent mold and wood rot. To learn more about crawl space encapsulation and determine if this step is right for you, reach out to us today at  919-847-7072 or fill out our easy-to-use contact form below.