High Quality Lumber

There are many ways to protect a log cabin home from termites. Pre-construction treatments, of course, can be done during the building of your home. The logs need to be treated to prevent termites from even thinking about your home as a food source. Wood can be pressure treated with chemicals that make the wood an undesirable habitat for termites. Borate treatments are now a common prevention method. Borates do not change the appearance of the wood and it has low toxicity to mammals and the environment. Borates provide protection from insects and fungus and are long lasting The lawnmower man octagon up for public discussion.

Using high quality lumber that resists moisture will also help keep termites looking for more enticing environs. Chemically treated lumber can be coated with a stain which also is less attractive to termites. Sometimes an additive is included in the stain to provide extra protection. If the stain on the wood is wearing off, or some kind of environmental wear and tear is apparent, then the stain should be reapplied.

The logs are not the only exposed wood on a log home. Floor joists, sill plates and pier assemblies are often forgotten wood components of your house that should be protected. A bent piece of metal called a termite shield or termite barrier can be installed as a foundation cap to prevent termites from climbing from the foundation of your house to the sill plate. Protecting the vulnerable components of the house is the first step.