Pre-construction tips for your dream home

The excitement brought about by buying a new house can overwhelm any homeowner. Quite strongly that they tend to overlook certain essential elements, like protection from termite infestations. Only after they actually discover the damage do they realize how important pest control is. They will call in the termite experts (Pest Control Operators) only when the structure is already vulnerable to irreversible damage.

As such, homeowners should see to it that their houses are built on "good ground" which is pre-treated with termiticides prior to construction. Soil treatment starts as soon as the excavation of the footings of the posts and walls are completed. The sides and bottom of the excavation as well as the entire floor area should be treated to create a continuous chemical barrier to block potential route of termite entry. This should be the standard procedure before building a structure.

Dursban Premium Termiticide Concentrate from Dow AgroSciences is the brand you can trust to provide efficient pre-construction treatment. Dow AgroSciences is dubbed an industry leader in pest control specifically for termite protection. Among other termiticides in the market, customers get the best deal from Dursban because it offers absolute termite extermination, is environmentally-friendly, has low odor, and most of all, it is affordable for medium to low budget homes.

While offering round-the-clock protection, homeowners don’t have to worry about leaching and migration. Dursban binds in the soil where it is applied and has a long residual action that would protect your home for a long period of time.

Dursban’s active ingredient is lethal to termites but it is not harmful to people and house pets provided procedures indicated in the label are properly followed.

Here are more tips to ensure your house can stand on "good ground" prior to construction.

• Eliminate wood contact with the ground. Many termite infestations result from structural wood being in direct contact with the soil. Earth-to-wood contact provides termites with simultaneous access to food, moisture, and shelter, as well as direct, hidden entry into the structure.

• Posts or stairs that are embedded in concrete are also vulnerable to termites since they usually extend all the way through the concrete to the soil. Contrary to popular belief, wood which has been pressure treated is not immune to termite attack; termites will enter pressure-treated wood through cut ends and cracks, and will also build tunnels over the surface.

• Don’t allow moisture to accumulate near the foundation. Termites are attracted to moisture and are more likely to enter a structure if the soil next to the foundation is consistently moist. Water should be diverted away from the foundation with properly functioning gutters and splashblocks.

• Leaking faucets, water pipes and air conditioning units should be repaired, and the ground next to the foundation should be sloped so that surface water drains away from the building. Lawn sprinkles and irrigation systems should be adjusted to minimize water puddling near the foundation.

• Never store firewood, lumber or other wood debris against the foundation or inside the crawl space. These materials attract termites and provide a source of food. When stacked against the foundation they offer a hidden path of entry into the structure and allow termites to bypass any termiticide soil barrier which is present.

• Vines, trellises, 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 (where practical), along with old form boards and grade stakes left in place after the building was constructed.

• Have the structure treated by a professional pest control firm. Although the measures mentioned above will help make the house less attractive to termites, the best way to prevent infestation is to treat the soil around and beneath the building with a termiticide like Dursban.

Protect your house and building from pesky termites by using the right and effective termiticide: Dursban, and you’re assured that it will keep termites away.

For inquiries, contact Dow AgroSciences at 8th Floor, Alpap II Bldg., Trade St. cor. Investment Drive, Madrigal Business Park, Ayala Alabang 1702, Muntinlupa City, or call 772-5006, 772-5007, or 772-5011.