Hello! My name is Tina and this is my new blog. I am lucky enough to live in a wonderful home which has a large garden. I spent a long time learning all I could about home and garden design. I had the interior of my home renovated and new trees planted in the garden. However, I still felt that something was missing. One day, my friend came around to visit and suggested that I install a small pond and a fountain in the garden. I contacted a contractor who came around and advised me on the best features. I hope you like my blog.
Decks are beneficial structures to consider adding to your home. The structure will provide outdoor space to entertain guests and relax during fair weather. In addition, the element will add more value to the house; you will earn more profit during resale. Unfortunately, your deck can fail prematurely after construction due to termite infestation. Termites are voracious pests, and they primarily feed on wood. If they come in contact with your timber decking, they will consume the structure, making it useless. If you would like to ensure the prolonged survival of your new deck, you should consider using these practical tips to prevent termite damage.
Choose the Correct Timber Your choice of timber will determine the vulnerability of the timber to termite infestation. Therefore, when building your new structure, you should select and purchase termite resistant lumber. There are multiple wood species which are naturally resistant to these harmful insects. The native options include spotted gum, jarrah and ironbark. Typically, naturally-resistant timber is expensive to acquire. If you are working with a limited budget, you should look for treated pine. This lumber is impregnated with appropriate chemicals which minimise the risk of termite infestation.
Protect the Supporting Posts Most of the termites which cause extensive damage to homes are subterranean. These insects live in the ground, and they find through wood-to-ground contact. Simply speaking, if your timber comes in contact with the soil, the termites will discover it and consume the material. Therefore, when setting up your deck, you should have footings built to protect your timber supporting posts. Under ideal circumstances, you should have concrete footings to hold up the deck posts. You should also ensure that there are metal stirrups installed within the concrete to protect the wood from direct contact. If the stirrups are excluded, the termites could burrow through the concrete and cause damage.
Retain a Crawlspace You should leave an open space beneath your deck during construction. Moreover, the sides of the decking should remain open; you should not seal with solid wood panels. Leaving a crawlspace is beneficial for your new structure because you will have a way to inspect the decking. Regular check-ups will allow you to identify termite invasion early and take suitable measure. The sides of the deck should remain open to promote ideal airflow beneath the structure. If the sides are solid, there will be high humidity beneath, and this will attract termites. If your old deck is showing signs of termite infestation, you should consult a pest control company.