Key takeaways
- Keep wood off the soil and water away from the house.
- Treated lumber helps, but it doesn't replace inspections.
- Walk your foundation each spring and look for mud tubes.
- A yearly inspection catches termites before they do real damage.
What's on a termite prevention checklist?What should you look for on the foundation?Why does a yearly inspection still matter?Already treated by Wolfe?When should you call us?
What's on a termite prevention checklist?
Most of these come from Penn State Extension. None of them take special tools.
- Keep wood at least 18 inches off the soil, and use pressure-treated wood where it has to touch soil.
- Move firewood, stumps, and scrap wood away from the house.
- Clean gutters and make sure water drains away from the foundation.
- Fix leaks under sinks and around the water heater.
- Fill cracks in the foundation.
- Pull mulch and soil back so they don't touch the siding.
- Walk the foundation in spring and look for mud tubes.
What should you look for on the foundation?
Mud tubes are earth-colored tunnels, usually less than 1/4 inch wide, that termites build to travel from the soil up into wood. Check where wood meets concrete, along porches and steps, and in the basement or crawl space.
Why does a yearly inspection still matter?
NC State Extension says treated lumber and resistant building materials don't replace routine inspections.
Treated soil also wears down over time as it gets dug, graded, and rained on. A yearly check finds new mud tubes early, before they turn into real damage.
Already treated by Wolfe?
Our termite treatments come with a 1-year termite warranty. After the first year, you can keep it active with a yearly inspection and renewal fee. If you sell the house, the termite warranty transfers to the new owner.
Your yearly inspection is also what keeps your warranty active.
When should you call us?
Don't wait if you spot swarmers, shed wings, mud tubes, or wood that sounds hollow. Building something new? Ask about termite pretreatment. A termite inspection is $150, and we waive it if we do your treatment. Call us at (302) 697-8969 to set one up.
Common questions
Can I termite-proof my house?
No house is termite-proof. These steps lower the odds, and inspections catch what gets through.
How often should my home be inspected?
Once a year. That's also what keeps a Wolfe termite warranty active.
Does pressure-treated wood stop termites?
It helps where wood has to touch soil, but NC State Extension says treated lumber doesn't replace routine inspections.
What's the first sign to watch for?
Swarmers or shed wings near windows and doors, and mud tubes on the foundation.
Sources: Penn State Extension: Eastern Subterranean Termites; NC State Extension: Termite Prevention, Approaches for New Construction; Purdue Extension: Subterranean Termites (E-4)
Seeing something? Call us.
(302) 697-8969Office hours: Monday to Friday, 10am to 3pm
All contact details