A preemptive strike is actually an attack to prevent or disable the enemy and when you are dealing with the possibility of termites it can be your best strategy. For our topic today I want to put a different twist on it however and it may be something you haven’t thought about.
It seems that a new trend for home owners these days is to redecorate their exterior with pavers, stucco, veneers and fine artwork on the driveway and sidewalks. I’ve seen some really nice work and it it really sets the tone for an elegant look. That look becomes one of horror when a client is told they have termites and part of the treatment is to take a hammer drill to their beautiful facade.
Sometimes with little choice the owners watch with a tear in their eye as the big burly termite technician drills the permanent scar holes every 12 inches through their river rock or one of a kind art work on the slab at the front
door. Most techs are very good at what they do but the hammer drill shows no mercy as it sends hairline cracks through the newly installed tiles. We all want our castles to look magnificent and this can be avoided if we give it just a little fore thought.
Whether or not you have a current termite contract on your home the need to treat for termites before any alterations is always something to consider. Of course one reason is to prevent any messy work on your new exterior but also there are times that the new remodeling will make it much more difficult to reach key control points. Large stone veneer over the foundation may limit drilling that may one day be needed. Buried pvc water or electrical lines will definitely make a termite tech think twice before treating. If your termite company has access before or even during the construction they can probably place the best barrier into places that might not be available or desirable later. Then as the remodel continues, the termite scars are covered up and all that remains is your brand new look.
It’s always a shame when I go out to a persons home and see that they have spent literally $10,000 dollars or more on pool pavers only to see drill marks. Sure you can paint or buy colored grouts to try and match but it is seldom the same and the comment I hear most often says it all.
“I wish I would have had the termite work done before I did all this.”
If you’ve got some sprucing up plans in the near future there are so many awesome things you can do to make your home look like a million dollars. Just make sure that a ‘preemptive termite strike’ is on your list.
