When termites ATTACK

Your home represents a substantial investment on your part so protect it from termite damage by keeping in mind some simple tips.

Early detection is the key. Piles of small, delicate wings shed during a "swarm" indicate that termites may be setting up house in your home. Small piles of unexplained "sawdust" could actually be termite fecal matter from termites’ feasts. Mud tubes built by termites for aboveground travel can be lead straight to heavy repair bills later on. Damaged or hollow sounding wood suggest that termites have taken up residence. Unexplained pinholes in wallpaper could be signs of a trouble brewing where no one can see.

If you spot any of these telltale signs of termite infestation, it’s best to be proactive instead of waiting for the damage to become irreparable.

Many termite infestations occur as a result of wood being in direct contact with the soil. This contact provides termites with easy access to food, moisture, and shelter. In addition, it provides direct, hidden entry into the building. Thus, wood siding, latticework, door and window frames and similar wood items should be at least six inches above ground level.

Don’t forget that posts or stairs that are embedded in concrete are also vulnerable to termites since they typically extend all the way to the soil. Contrary to popular belief, pressure treated wood is not immune to termite attack. Termites will enter pressure-treated wood through cut ends and cracks, and may also build tunnels over the surface.

Moisture attracts termites. If the soil next to the foundation is consistently moist, you are sending an open invitation to termites to come into your home. Keep an eye out for leaky faucets, water pipes and air conditioning units that need repair. Gutters and adequate drainage can divert water away from the foundation.

Likewise, when building a new home, be sure that the ground next to the foundation is graded or sloped so that surface water drains away from the building. Install tiles or drains in homes with poor drainage and make sure lawn sprinklers and other irrigation systems are adjusted to minimize water puddling near the foundation.

Nothing attracts termites like lumber, cardboard boxes, newspapers, and other cellulose materials. Apart from providing a source of food, these materials, when stacked against the foundation offer a hidden path of entry into the structure and allow termites to bypass any termiticide soil barrier which is present. Vines, shrubbery, ivy and other dense plant material touching the house should also be avoided. Dead stumps and tree roots around and beneath the building should be removed when practical.

Many buildings have natural openings through which termites can enter. Most of these are hidden from view and can easily be overlooked. While the above measures will help make the house less attractive to termites, the best way to prevent infestation is to protect it with a termiticide.

Traditional liquid termiticides provide structural protection to your house by creating a barrier between the termites and your house.

However, some liquid termiticides are repellent — they do not kill termites because these pests are able to detect the soil treatment. Other methods include the use of baiting systems, which affect the termite colony but do not prevent termite access to your house.

Agenda is a non-repellent product that uses a new active ingredient called Fipronil which is extremely active even at low doses.

Agenda is unique in that it provides structural protection and colony management, a significant performance advantage that increases reliability and success of the termite treatment.

For more information on Agenda, please contact the Agenda Accredited Applicators. You can find the complete list of accredited applicators at www.agenda.ph. Or call the Agenda Toll-Free Customer Service Hotline 1-800-10-TERMITE (for PLDT subscribers) or (02) 732-0778.