Avoid having any wood or wooden part of the house touching the ground. The termites can use this wood as an expressway to the rest of the structural lumber in the house. A contractor may be able to provide assistance in redoing areas which have direct wood-ground contact.

A poorly-planned deck repair with wood touching the ground (arrow)		The buildup of debris at the base of this pier should be cleared away.		The wooden railing of this walkway was touching the ground and is now badly damaged by termites.

Occasionally, termite susceptibility is overlooked in home designs or improvements. The following pictures are an alarming example of a stone wall abutting an exterior wall of a house. To make matters worse, this house is a split-level home, and the wall is functioning as a retaining wall, securing several feet of soil on the opposite side. Do not do this!

A retaining wall built abutting an exterior wall of a split-level home.		Closeup of wall

DO NOT grow plants in the area immediately adjacent to the house. The plants themselves offer the termites a food source, and watering them provides them with moisture. Plants also make it difficult to inspect the base of the slab or piers for evidence of termites.

A bad idea... plants at the base of the house. The water from those air conditioning units are also a great source of moisture for the termites.		Another example of what not to do... plants at the base of the house.