As a result of recruiting the best basement and crawl space environment specialists, the Basement Systems network is comprised of experts from many different fields in the home repair industry. In this issue, pest management specialist James P. McHale Jr. gives advice on preventing termite infestation.

James P. McHale Jr., President of JP McHale Pest Management Incorporated (http://www.nopests.com), investigates the top ten reasons why termites invade homes:

I am often contacted by frustrated homeowners who do not understand why their home, not a neighbor, was attacked by Eastern Subterranean Termites. Following these simple physical and cultural practices will minimize your risk of exposure:

1. MIND THE FRONT STEPS : Over the years your front stoop may sag or crack. Precipitation pools against the home and along the foundation. In some instances builders used scrap wood as fill for a void under the step. This practice, synergized by moisture pooling against the foundation, will encourage foraging activity.
2. PRUNE TREE LIMBS : Trimming back tree limbs that block sunlight from expeditiously evaporating precipitation will attract worker termites towards your living area. Ensure your home dries out quickly to suppress foraging activity.
3. MULCH :Piling mulch around your foundation is a dangerous practice. Some folks let it accumulate to the point where the foundation is no longer exposed and mulch reaches the siding. This provides a direct avenue of entry for termites. Mulch holds moisture and facilitates the breeding of fungus. Termites love this and will gravitate to an area that harbors such an environment. I suggest decorative stone be employed. It drains expeditiously and that reduces fungal buildup.
4. GRIND THE STUMPS : People spend thousands of dollars to have dead, fallen and infested trees removed. Tree companies charge extra to "grind the stump". Stumps collect precipitation, promote fungal growth and often have roots extending towards your foundation. This is the "perfect storm" for termite activity. Grinding the stump will allow the root system to die quickly, expose any termites to predatory birds and enable easier drying after precipitation.
5. CLEAN THE GUTTERS : Backed up gutters will cause water to pool in your wall voids. Wet insulation and wood is a common cause for "satellite colony" termite issues. Termite control products base their strategy on the fact foraging termites return to the soil every twenty-four hours. If you have above ground moisture in the home any sort of mitigation will be compromised.
6. DIVERT THE DRAINS : Precipitation pooling along the foundation will attract foraging termites. Ensure all gutter drains divert water away from the building .
7. ELIMINATE WOOD TO EARTH CONTACT : Wood to earth contact will provide a direct conduit to termite nesting sites. Forms or garage door frames that extend into the soil will eventually be attacked by foraging termites. That is their job and they do it very well. Be sure that your contractor removes all wooden concrete forms in a new build or addition. Use pressure treated wood for garage door frames or any wood that requires soil contact.
8. STORE FIREWOOD OFF THE GROUND: Never pile fire wood directly on the soil against your home's foundation. Most home and garden centers offer some sort of rack to provide a gap between the soil and wood. Cover the wood to prevent other pest related activity from taking up harborage.
9. CLEAN OUT THE CRAWL SPACE AREA : Many crawl areas are on dirt floors covered in wood debris and are ventilated, allowing warm air in the summer to enter the cool environment, where condensation will occur. Besides being a health hazard, these conditions are ideal for termite activity. A moisture barrier should be installed, sealing off the outside unconditioned air and the moisture should be removed with dehumidification. Eliminating any wood to earth contact in the crawl space will reduce your exposure. A sump pump should be installed in any basement area where water enters. Insulation should be neat and dry at all times.
10. ANNUAL INSPECTION : Having a trained professional examine your home on an annual basis will reveal any conditions that leave your home open to invasion. Most companies will perform this free of charge and many will assist you in identifying potential avenues of entry. If your home is on the market there are conditions and factors that could require you to mitigate termites even though it is unclear there is an active problem. Contact a pest control professional to learn the details of what pre-purchase protocols apply and your potential exposure.

For more information regarding termite biology and their activity please contact our offices at 1-800-479-2284. Our informative website can be found at http://www.nopests.com.

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The current episode airing on Bob Vila deals with basement waterproofing prior to a basement finishing project. New living space in a home can be attained by two means: either by building an addition or by finishing a part of a home that is currently unfinished. Of these two methods, only basement remodeling is relatively simple and inexpensive..
 
As Bob Vila says in the episode, the biggest challenge to any basement remodeling project is keeping water out of the basement and making it a dry basement.  If you're going to make an investment in a basement finishing project, make sure that you protect that investment with a basement waterproofing system.  The system being installed in the episode is Basement System's WaterGuard basement waterproofing system.
 
Finishing your basement increases the living space in your home by one-third in a two-story home and by half in a one-story home.  If your basement is wet and unusable, you're still paying for this useless space.  This makes your cost per square foot higher in the livable upstairs space.  Plus, the items you would typically store in the basement are now upstairs, taking up valuable usable space.
 
A Basement waterproofing system is the right start.  The next step is to make the space comfortable and energy efficient, and in Bob Vila's basement remodeling episode, Bob takes a look at Basement System's ThermalDry Basement Wall System. This pre-finishing wall material prevents water vapor and also works hand-in-hand with the WaterGuard system as it drains wall leaks into the drainage system. Bob describes it as "a moisture barrier, but it is also reflective so that it helps conserve energy [by keeping the heat in the basement]."

In order for water collected in the WaterGuard drainage system to be removed from the basement, a sump pump is necessary. Bob calls the TripleSafe sump pump the "most important component of operation" within the system. To safeguard your basement from the discharge lines freezing in the winter, the IceGuard discharge system is installed. Basement waterproofing expert Larry Janesky describes IceGuard in the Bob Vila episode and explains that it "has openings to eject water out and away from the house" so that it prevents backup into the basement.

After any groundwater, plumbing or other leaks are addressed prior to finishing your basement, utilizing a SaniDry Basement Air System is the solution to keep your basement free of mold and humidity. The SaniDry can remove four times the water out of the air, while using the same amount of energy as a household dehumidifier. Since dry air is less costly and easier to heat and air condition, this means great energy and money savings. The SaniDry also boasts a two stage filter system to keep the air clean, creating a healthier environment for you and your family.

Installing a vapor barrier for your basement floor is important, especially if you plan on putting carpet in your finished basement. Basement Systems has a patented sub-flooring product called ThermalDry Basement Floor Matting, a specially engineered polypropylene tile that insulates the floor and does not allow water vapor to condense. The tiles lift the carpet off of the cold concrete floor creating a more comfortable, softer floor surface in your home.

By utilizing Basement Systems' patented waterproofing products, an "ingenious system" as described by Bob Vila in the basement remodeling episode, you can rest assured that your finished basement will be protected as well as your family's well being.

To see the Basement Systems Showroom on the Bob Vila Web site visit http://www.bobvila.com/Showrooms/Basement_Systems/

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