With all the damage that termites are known for, it is amazing how silent many of the green / energy efficient programs are on them. Granted both LEED (points for use of non-toxic pest control) and NGBS (use a shield in conjunction with a low-toxicity spray) mention them, but finding detailed drawings, best practices…. yeah, it isn’t happening. Shoot, even GBA which has hundreds of design details for almost every conceivable item, doesn’t have one & all they state is…
Termites are a serious threat, so make it easy to see them; Termites build tubes of mud and wood fiber across exposed surfaces they can’t tunnel through. These tubes will be easier to see if they are exposed. Rigid foam insulation that completely covers foundation walls gives termites a place to hide. An alternative construction detail (such as interior foundation insulation) should be used in areas where termites are a recognized problem…
Unfortunately while this sounds good in writing & the detail looks nice… as mentioned before codes & reality don’t make it that simple. Code require a 6” band above grade on the inside and if one wants a termite bond, well they may require a 3” wide inspection band resulting in this…
Defense in Depth:
When one starts talking about controlling moisture, air, heat, etc… we end up discussing control layers & how they integrate together. If you are looking at stopping termites, carpenter ants & other critters from making your house, their home; you may need to start thinking about an additional layer or two & how they integrate into the other layers.
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The best layer to start with is a chemical barrier, but as pointed out before, one is lucky if they will last 15 years. Does that mean that one should just do away with it – not necessarily but it is important that it is applied properly & any work that might disturb the treatment has already been completed. This brings us to using additional protections that forces them to make their activity more visible.
Slab on Grade:
Termites can’t get through a slab… can they? No not really but as concrete is a natural product and will crack, the termites can get into your house that way, or by simply following the plumbing penetrations. Here are a few options to consider:
- Stainless steel mesh is often used around penetrations, to protect foam, etc…
- You may consider using plastic sheathing with a repellant built in
- Termiticide sprayed before plastic &/or foam placed
This one comes to us courtesy of Chris Laumer-Giddens of LG Squared in Atlanta which needless to say is located in a “very active” TIP zone. This shows how he was able to still use foam even though he could have had a pass on it per the “codes.” If I had to nit-pick just a little the plastic & foam should be tied together instead of just butting together as is shown (which was probably done.) With that said, if you want to see what a highly detailed plan looks like, you ought to see the full article linked above.
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As for other options, I would rather see a spray being applied directly to the ground instead of using plastic with a repellant built in unless it was a very heavy-duty version. The biggest catch with most plastics is they are torn to shreds when the concrete is installed which does nothing for moisture, termites, or especially radon control.
Crawl Spaces & Unfinished Basements:
Whether you have a crawlspace or a full basement, the only real difference when it comes to termites is the height of the wall until one reaches the framing. Beyond using sprays & other materials it is well worth looking into termite shields. A typical metal shields extends out 2 to 3 inches on both sides of the wall with at least the outside portion having a 45 degree lip on them to not only allow water to drip off but prevent other insects from getting past.
Using an integrated or custom shield can definitely be worth looking into even more when you consider how many of today’s finishes & wall systems require drip edges, termination bars & other items. Creating a one piece integrated system isn’t to hard when planned out up front & in some cases can save you from a major headache later on when you are trying to fit 2 or 3 separate systems together.
Post & Beam / Pier systems:
This is an example of a cap for a pier. For decks & other locations a Post Base Anchor located above grade is a good shield, but like other areas they need to be checked every so often. For anyone that thinks that pressure treated wood is impervious, just bury a post or two in the ground & check back on them later.
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