Living in Kent means we have a lot of hills. Because of these hills, many of us have daylight basements. One side is underground, and the other side opens up to the yard. These rooms are great for extra space, but they have a big problem.
They are the easiest place for termites to get inside. In our wet weather, the soil stays damp and keeps these pests happy. If you want to keep your home safe, visiting saelapest.com is the best way to find a pro who knows how to block these bugs from your foundation.
Why Kent Dirt and Basement Wood Do Not Mix
Subterranean termites live deep in the ground. They need to stay wet to survive. In many Kent neighborhoods, the dirt sits right up against the wooden parts of a daylight basement. This is called earth-to-wood contact.
It is like an all-you-can-eat buffet for termites. They do not even have to work hard to find your house. They just crawl out of the dirt and straight into your walls. If your siding touches the grass or soil, you are giving them a free pass into your home.
How Our Local Rain Helps Termites Grow
We all know it rains a lot here in the Kent valley. That rain soaks the ground around your basement walls. Termites love this because they hate being dry. They build little mud tubes to travel from the wet dirt into your house.
These tubes look like tiny brown straw lines on your concrete. Since daylight basements are often dark and cool, these mud tubes can stay hidden for a long time. By the time you find them, the termites might have already chewed through a lot of your floorboards.
Tiny Foundation Cracks are Big Problems in Kent
Even a concrete basement is not totally safe. As the ground shifts in Kent, foundations can develop small cracks. These cracks might look tiny to us, but they are huge to a termite. A termite can fit through a hole as thin as a piece of paper.
They find these gaps in your basement floor or where the walls meet. Once they are inside, they hide behind your drywall and eat the wooden studs. You will not see them because they stay hidden in the dark spots where it is quiet.
Signs to Watch For Around Your Kent Home
You should walk around your basement once a month to look for trouble. Look for wings that look like fish scales near your basement windows. This means termites are trying to start a new nest nearby.
Also, check for wood that feels soft or looks like it has water damage. If you tap on a beam and it sounds like it is empty inside, that is a bad sign. Termites eat wood from the inside out, so it might look fine on the outside while being totally hollow.
Simple Tips to Keep Your Basement Safe
Keeping termites away does not have to be hard. Start by moving firewood piles away from your basement walls. Make sure your gutters are clear so water does not pool near your foundation.
Try to keep a few inches of space between your dirt and your wooden siding. If you keep the area around your basement dry, termites will likely go somewhere else. Simple fixes like these can save you a lot of money and stress in the long run.
Get Help From a Professional Pest Control Company
When you need help with pests, professionals like Saela Pest are here for the Kent community. They know exactly how our local weather and hills affect your home.
You can trust the experts to handle the hard work, so you do not have to worry. Check out their website to see how they can help you today.