Because termites need water to survive, excess water near the house can encourage termite activity. Here are a few common moisture issues:

• Inadequate property grade. Ideally, your home should sit on a small “hill” as opposed to in a “bowl.” If the finished property grade drains towards the foundation, water from rainstorms or sprinklers can accumulate next to your house and can create moisture conditions which can lead to termite infestation, as well as wood-decay. What to do: You may need to modify the physical grade of your property in order to drain excess water away from the structure.
• Lawn sprinklers spraying walls. If water from sprinklers regularly contacts the walls of your house, you are providing enough moisture for termites to survive within the walls. Spraying the walls can also lead to wood-decay. What to do: Adjust your irrigation heads to keep them from hitting the house.Check your irrigation system frequently for proper coverage.
• Lack of rain gutters. Rain gutters serve to divert water runoff from the roof away from your house. Without them, excess water can accumulate around your foundation, which may create a build up of moisture, a condition that attracts termites. What to do: Make sure gutters drain water away from your home. Make sure that water is drained no less than 3 feet from your foundation.If you have overhangs or eaves, make sure they are long enough to keep water runoff away from the exterior walls.

Check our Termite Home Maintenance Tips area for more information.

Termites cause more damage to homes and businesses each year than all the fires, floods, and natural disasters combined.  Termites are found throughout the U.S. but are more densely populated in the Southeast. In fact, up to six colonies can thrive in a single acre plot, with each colony containing thousands or even millions of termites.

You should also realize that termites can get into any home or business structure, including brick, block and stucco. They enter through tiny cracks and crevices in the foundation, eaves and walls in, under and around your home. These cracks don’t have to be huge holes or gaps – termites can get through hairline cracks no wider than 1/64 of an inch!

With so much potential for damage, it’s important to have a termite inspection every year. If you haven’t already, contact Massey Servicesfor your free, detailed termite inspection today.

Termites don’t distinguish between residential homes and commercial businesses. They forage, eat and multiply – 24/7. Because they live underground, there’s a good chance they can find a way into your business without you even knowing it. That’s because they get in through tiny cracks,in, under and around your building’s structure. So it doesn’t matter what your building is made from – concrete, brick or stucco. Remember, termites get in through the cracks – and every building has cracks. That’s why it makes sense to get your business inspected for termites at least once a year. Think of it as your security system against termites. Contact Massey Services for your free, thorough termite inspection today.

Unlike subterranean termites, drywood termites don’t live in the ground. Instead, they develop their colonies right inside the wood that they eat. They most often get into your home by flying and entering through small cracks in unprotected wood or even nail holes. Once they embed themselves inside wood, they eat the wood from the inside out, grow their colonies, and spread to other areas of the structure.

Massey’s termite experts utilize two effective methods to fight drywoods. One is to provide localized treatment right in the areas of termite activity. This involves using a penetrating dry foam Termidor ^® treatment either directly into the wood or into the wall voids around the suspected areas. If drywoods are identified throughout your structure, we provide whole-structure tent fumigation. This assures that 100% of the structure is treated and eliminates all infestations.

The best protection against any type of termite is a yearly inspection by a termite professional. Contact Massey Services for your free,thorough termite inspection today.