I want to avoid termites in my new
addition. We are adding a room at the back of our house and know there are termites in the walls. How can we keep them from getting in? We have contacted an exterminator who told us about the "Sentricon System." It goes outside the house and I am skeptical that it will stop what is living in my walls. What can I do?
A.
Termites living indoors will go out for food and to sunbathe. Set up little beach blankets for them and plenty of tiny mugs of lemonade. While the system you describe does have some control over termites, it is really a biological warfare system, since it contains parasites called beneficial nematodes. I am sure that an exterminator can be more specific about what other goodies their system contains, but the basic parasite climbs onto the back of a termite and eats its little heart out, literally. What you need to also do is strip back any area adjacent to the new addition walls and check for places of entry, small as they may be. Remove all infested wall structure, especially base plates (the 2 x 4 lumber lying on the slab), after making certain all structure is properly braced, of course. Before putting back new treated lumber base plates, put down a 4 inch wide by 1/8 thick product made of polystyrene and called "sill sealer." Over the sill sealer, place an aluminum flashing strip which is usually about an inch wider on each side than the base plate. The base plate goes on top of the aluminum strip and this proivides the seal system. The metal can then be bent downward over the concrete slab or basewall edge so that siding can be placed on the outside of the wall. It does not hurt to put a line or bead of silicone caulk along the edge of the polystyrene before putting down the metal flashing so that the metal is not just floating above the polystyrene at the edges. This will seal the small places where the termites go and protect your latest investment. If other parts of your house are suspected of also having termites, you can follow the same procedure, along with a professionally applied insecticide in areas you cannot reach. Some people fear the use of the pesticide, in which case, set up the tiny little blanket beach scene and see if it works more effectively. Readers are encouraged to send questions to: HERALD Homes, 379 Central Avenue, Lawrence, N.Y. 11559
Attn: Monte Leeper, Architect.
