The Inside Scoop on Physical Termite Barriers
Physical termite barriers are structural barriers meant to prevent termites from entering the foundation or other parts of your home. They are a good way of preventing the dreaded termite attack that if it happens can cause untold damage to the house and household objects. Physical termite barriers are an interesting alternative to chemical and biological barriers. It is worth doing a detailed analysis of the different types of termite barriers available to make a choice that best suits the terrain and climate of your house.
Why use physical termite barriers?
Physical barriers are a non-chemical way to deal with a potential termite problem. An environmentally conscious home owner might like the idea of minimizing chemical use in the ground and may find this a better alternative. There has been growing awareness of the environmental impact of some of the termite insecticides that have been popular in the last couple of decades and some have even been banned. So, these barriers offer a viable choice.
The one downside to these kinds of barriers is that they need to be installed during construction and cannot easily be added on to existing buildings.
Types of physical termite barriers
There are specially dug moats or trenches that work as a barrier against termites. The trench is filled with well aligned rocks and the gaps are filled with special granules and this serves much like the outer wall of a fortress. It is the first line of defense against termites. These trenches are meant to deter termites from entering the house through any of the surrounding walls or basement. They do not have a chance to get into the walls. The granules are made of minerals similar to basalt and granite and this helps them stand the test of time. The termites cannot push them aside and there are no gaps through which the termites or other bugs can squeeze their way through. This kind of barrier is called an aggregate barrier.
There is a thin mesh that is available for use as a termite barrier. It has to be installed during construction to cover the bricks or the slab used for foundation and retaining walls. This will be used both under the ground and above and worms kinds of like an insect screen on windows. The material of the mesh is termite-proof and is made of special fibers. The holes of the mesh are really tiny and do not allow termites to go through. This mesh is usually made of stainless steel.
Another termite barrier option is a plastic barrier that can be used around pipes and electrical channels or conduits. These have to be installed at the time the slab is being laid for the foundation. There are also tub trap barriers included in such a system to avoid the termites breaching all the protection through the tub drain.
In all these cases, the path of the subterranean termite is blocked and the soil path is interrupted. There are several other termite barriers that are based on this principle also. Termites typically attack a house from this path and then make themselves comfortable in the wooden walls. By trying to stop them at the source, there is a far greater chance of success against stopping termites.
Traditional chemical treatments of the soil around the house do seem to have a period of efficacy and re-treatment become necessary. This combined with the possibility of contaminating the ground makes it an imperative that we seek alternatives to termiticides. There are new innovations emerging on a fairly frequent basis in this category and so all new home owners should educate themselves about the latest options before choosing a termite barrier for their homes.