| You look at your recently refurbished kitchen | | | | next level, go out of the kitchen, beyond the |
| and your eyes love what they see. The smell | | | | kitchen periphery, up to the boundaries of |
| of oak and other wooden panels, the wooden | | | | your lot and check for possible infestation |
| countertops, the wooden cupboards, everything | | | | or potential infestation. Are there mud |
| smells of taste and elegance. And you are | | | | tunnels used by termites in the grounds? Are |
| raring to start the oven and whip up your | | | | there damp areas in your backyard? Is there |
| favorite dish. But wait! There are others out | | | | rotting vegetation around? For all you know, |
| there that also enjoy the smell of wood in | | | | these are breeding and feeding grounds of |
| your kitchen. And they are hungry for a | | | | termites already. If you do find such |
| feast, too! Prevent them from coming before | | | | indications, you'd best contact professional |
| it's too late with some tips below for | | | | exterminators at once. |
| termite free kitchen. | | | | |
| | | | Other preventive tips to keep the kitchen |
| Your kitchen is a target | | | | termite-free |
| | | | |
| With all the wood that went into your | | | | Inside your kitchen, you can do your share, |
| kitchen, chances are wood-loving pests | | | | too. Regularly check kitchen compartments and |
| especially termites will be there one way or | | | | areas for possible infestation despite the |
| another. Your kitchen is a prime target for | | | | preventive measures you did before. It does |
| these wood-foraging pests and they can pose | | | | not take Sherlock Holmes to find termite |
| severe problems for you. Notwithstanding the | | | | wings on window sills, or see shelter or mud |
| potential structural damage, the needless | | | | tubes constructed by termites underneath door |
| worry and damage-control later should keep | | | | sills or floorboards, or even soil or wood |
| you on your toes already and prepare yourself | | | | debris inside kitchen cabinets. These signs |
| and your kitchen against possible termite | | | | of termite attack or even infestation must |
| infestation. The danger in termites is that | | | | not go unnoticed. |
| they work silently, and before you know it, | | | | |
| the damage has been done. You hardly notice | | | | Go on regular inspection tours of your |
| these pests until the wooden cupboard doors | | | | kitchen. Knock on the wooden panels for |
| start falling apart or the panels start | | | | hollowed out sounds indicative of damaged |
| getting these holes and corrugations. | | | | interiors. Sink a knife or screwdriver onto a |
| | | | wooden area, the floor or wall maybe, and |
| What can you do? | | | | where the solid wood is not there and all you |
| | | | get is an easy slice through of your knife, |
| If you at least have a basic knowledge of how | | | | the wood may have already been infested. |
| termites work and what you can do before | | | | |
| these pests invade, you're off to a good | | | | Check your kitchen's window sills and door |
| start. Prevention is definitely better than | | | | frames for decay or corrugation. Check |
| cure, of which cure can add up to lots of | | | | kitchen areas that come into contact with |
| pest-control expenses later. At the onset, | | | | moisture and soil. Tap on baseboards and |
| even during the kitchen construction or | | | | flooring tiles. Look out for stains or |
| refurbishing stage, you can do something. | | | | discoloration. Check for water or moisture |
| Your carpenter will definitely have an idea | | | | leaks (as moist wood is a termite's |
| on treating wooden components with | | | | favorite). |
| termite-control agents. From floors to walls | | | | |
| to ceilings, from cupboards to paneling, to | | | | It is paramount in prevention that you deny |
| countertops, using pressure treated wood is | | | | termites their food which is wood. Treat |
| already a first-step termite control measure. | | | | areas or points of soil-wood contact with |
| | | | termite-control substances, if this had not |
| Take heed to use other termite-control | | | | been done already. Seal out cracks where |
| methods in the construction phase to ensure a | | | | pests, not only termites but even roaches and |
| termite-free kitchen. Aside from treated | | | | ants, can enter. Fit windows and doors with |
| wooden materials, you can also arrange for | | | | screens and stripping-seals. |
| surrounding soil treatments. Treating | | | | |
| surrounding areas and foundation perimeters | | | | Keep your kitchen clean. Do not let dog- or |
| at the new-construction stage will work | | | | cat-food or garbage rot inside the kitchen |
| better rather than using these methods after | | | | area. Remove debris in and around the kitchen |
| construction and simply spraying or | | | | area. Repair damaged wooden panels or replace |
| sprinkling around the construction. | | | | them totally. By keeping in mind these common |
| | | | sense sanitation and construction tips, you |
| If you wish to take the prevention to the | | | | can keep your kitchen termite-free. |