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