Want to keep your commercial property protected from a termite infestation? In our guide, we have listed the most common items that will attract the attention of these unwanted guests.
Having termites on your property is no joke, as pests can quickly cause extensive damage.
However, spotting a termite is easier said than done as they can hide pretty well. That’s why it’s essential to keep a property free from the factors that can actually attract pesky termites.
These pests can especially bring trouble to old properties, which may require a termite inspection or treatment for a long time. We also recommend contacting a commercial pest control company for termite control, prevention and termite inspection.
To make hunting for the signs a tad easier, we’ve gathered a list of things that may attract termites to your commercial property.
So, without further ado, let’s learn about them to avoid the potential risks of a termite infestation!
Things That Can Cause Commercial Property Termite Infestations
1. Moisture
One of the topmost factors that lead to a termite infestation is the presence of moisture. Be it a leaking air conditioner or a crack in one of the outside walls, any seepage of moisture may attract termites into your commercial property. For this reason, both inside and outside of your property should be inspected periodically for signs of moisture leaks.
Air conditioners are indispensable for commercial properties, but they are one of the leading causes of moisture build-up. This is particularly due to the improper installation of drainage pipes, so ensure that they’re properly diverted to the storm drain rather than directly to the ground. It’ll help avoid dripping water on the walls, which often cause wet spots that are favourable for the growth of termites.
2. Mulch
Besides moisture, another factor that can fuel termites is mulch, a favourite food for the pest. That’s because mulch is nothing but broken-down timber, so termites use it for sustenance. If you need to use organic mulch for your commercial property, it’s essential to store it properly. Any mulch close to the main building may attract termites, which may end up indoors, wreaking havoc.
Besides, many people put pieces of cardboard or newspaper under the mulch, making the situation graver as they can store a lot of moisture. When moisture-laden mulch comes in contact with walls, it can create structural damage like cracks or weep holes, which leads to termites entering the building.
Similarly, it’s also advised not to put grass and tree clippings near the walls of your commercial property as they can cause moisture damage, leading to a termite problem. You should also be careful about landscaping timbers as they attract termites. So, it might be better not to use them if the commercial building already lies in an area prone to humidity and termite damage.
3. Firewood
By now, you must have a hint that most kinds of timber can lead to termite infestations. The subterranean termites especially like living in piles of wood or old tree stumps. So, if there’s a lot of firewood stored adjacent to commercial premises, it might be a hotspot for live termites.
If the stored firewood comes in contact with the walls of your property, the termites can find a way to infest the indoor space. Once in the building, they may damage everything from furniture to wooden cabinets.
Additionally, if you have old wood lying around from past renovations, do consider discarding them as one of the preventative measures. Or else, termite colonies may inhabit them in search of food, leading to serious damage to other wooden structures on the commercial premises.
4. Infested Topsoil
Another landscaping mistake that can lead to a possible termite infestation is ordering topsoil from the wrong place. Reputed companies can guarantee that their topsoil is free from live termites. Topsoil from random sources may contain dry wood termites, which are known to damage wooden structures quickly.
Even though most termites won’t be able to reproduce when they are disrupted from their colonies, it’s better not to take the risk and order only from reputable topsoil producers.
5. Siding In Contact With The Ground
While laying the structure of your building, ensure that the siding is never in direct contact with the soil, or it can become an entry point for termites. It can lead to the termites digging mud tubes into the foundation of the building and damaging it to the point where there’s no scope for repair.
The entry point of the insects remains undetectable as the siding is hidden when installed in contact with the ground.
Make Your Commercial Property Termite-Proof
In case you suspect that some of the abovementioned factors might be affecting your building, getting help from commercial pest control services like GC Pest Control is recommended. These businesses are equipped to handle everything from annual inspections to full-blown termite control.
Most provide pest control services to protect residential and commercial buildings from other pests apart from termites. They can even offer tips on how to control termites at your property. Remember to ask for a free quote to create the right budget for the termite treatment service.
Until next time!