SUBSTRUCTURE

A1
A1.5 Termite control A1 Foundations and basement construction

Termite control
Summary: Termite damage can affect the physical sta-
bility of a building structure. It can be eliminated or mini-
mized by proper termite shield design and preventive
maintenance precautions. Protection of the building con-
struction and interior against termites is mandatory in
susceptible locations. Methods of protection are physical
and chemical barriers, although such barriers are not im-
penetrable. Termite shields provide a permanent physical
barrier and are installed at all susceptible points of entry.
Uniformat: A1010
Winged termite identification Key words: termite protection, physical barriers, chemical MasterFormat: 07600

SHELL
barriers, termite shield, under-building ventilation.

Termite Protection
Termite damage in wood structures can be substantial and, if allowed indicated by the map. Protection is required in all cases in Region I
to persist, can affect the physical stability of a building structure. The and, in most cases, in Region II. Protection is usually not required in
likelihood of such infestation can be minimized by proper termite Region III and rarely if ever in Region IV.
shield design, in addition to related installation and preventive main-
Physical barriers
tenance precautions.
Acceptable physical barriers include:
There are four types of termites: • Concrete foundations, free of cracks and porous areas, for base-
• Subterranean termites are the most common, and most often fol- ment and crawl space types of construction except where masonry
low the primary stages of decay; or masonry veneer walls extend below top of foundation wall and
• Drywood termites are the next most common, and fly into attics are less than 8" above finish grade.
and basements to infest the framing material;
• Monolithic framed concrete slab, reinforced to minimize crack-

INTERIORS
• Dampwood termites are the least common nationally, and are nor-
ing with at least 6X6 10/10 wwf in areas where winter design
mally found in small quantities in extremely wet locations;
temperature exceeds +15F (-10°C), extending wall-to-wall with-
• Formosan termites are found in small numbers in such places as
out open-
Florida and Hawaii.
ings or joints. Piping, ductwork, and other penetration of slab must
Termites require damp, rotting wood, and will carry in moisture and be thoroughly sealed. Interior and exterior sill plates in contact
fungi to rot sound wood so they can feed on it. These conditions re- with the concrete slab should be treated wood.
quire a constant source of moisture, usually obtained from the soil. • Foundations caps of cast-in-place concrete, not less than 4" thick,
Termite access to unprotected structures is gained through cracks in reinforced with two No. 3 bars. Cap shall be placed continuously
concrete or masonry foundations or walls, or through the wood por- on top of all unit masonry foundations and piers and shall be the
tion of the house frame. Termites also build tunnellike structures called full width of wall, extending through voids in masonry veneer or
shelter tubes over foundation posts and walls to gain access. faced masonry walls.
Protection of the building construction and interior against termites • Proper waterproofing of doors, windows, and the extension of roofs
is mandatory in susceptible locations (see Fig. 1 on following page). over exterior walls. Buildings detailed with proper waterproofing
Methods of protection are of two types, physical and chemical barri- will prevent decay, reducing the threat of subterranean termites.
ers. Physical barriers are recommended in order to reduce or preclude
• Attic vents should be screened to prevent the infestation of dry-
chemical treatment, which must be periodically renewed. With
wood termites.
the exception of treated lumber, barriers are marginally effective only
for subterranean termites. Such barriers are not effective with Chemical barriers

SPECIALTIES SERVICES
dampwood, drywood, or Formosan termites, and additional precau- Chemical barriers consist of soil poisoning and pressure-treat-
tions must be taken. ed lumber.
The map on the following page indicates the hazard from termites in Soil poisoning: application of chemicals must conform to standards
different parts of the United States, although it is important to re- established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Chemical
member that decay is a hearty invitation to termites. Proper water- soil treatment should not be used where there is a possibility of con-
proofing will reduce decay problems. Local distribution of termites tamination of a water source or edible food supply. Application of
TOC may be spotty, and a given site may be more or less hazardous than chemical barriers in most states is permitted by a licensed pest control
operator, not by tradespeople or homeowners.

i Author: Don Pearman; Copper Development Association.

References: HUD Minimum Property Standards 1975. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
W Labs, Kenneth et al. 1988. Building Foundation Design Handbook. Minneapolis, MN: Underground Space Center. [out of print]
Moore, H.B. 1979. Wood-Inhibiting Insects in Houses: Their Identification, Biology, Prevention, and Control. Washington, D.C.: U.S.
Government Printing Office.
Don Pearman. 1988. The Termite Report. Oakland, CA: Pear Press.

Copyright © 1999 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Use of this product is subject to the terms of its License Agreement.Click here to view. Time-Saver Standards: Part II, Design Data A-35
 SUBSTRUCTURE
A1
SHELL
INTERIORS A1 Foundations and basement construction
Fig. 1. Termite damage to homes in the United States
Pressure treated lumber: lumber or plywood treated for the preven-
tion of decay protects against termite infestation and must be labeled
with a permanent mark, indicating the applicable standard. When
pressure treated lumber is cut, the cut area should be treated with
an appropriate fungicide in order to maintain the continuity of
thechemical barrier. When treated lumber is used, the members to be
treated are:
• Frame construction: basement or crawl space sill plates.
• Frame construction: slab-on-ground other than monolithic:
sole plates.
• Masonry veneer construction: sole plates.
SERVICES SPECIALTIES
• Masonry wall construction: sole plates.
• Masonry wall construction, slab-on-ground: sole plates.
In addition to protective measures, periodic inspection is necessary.
For example, with exterior insulation, provide a visible horizontal strip
of at least 8 in. (20 cm) cut out of exterior insulation 12 in. (30.5 cm)
above grade to permit inspection for the presence of termite tunnels.
Protective measures assume compliance with the following standards
of construction, which have as their purpose proper waterproofing of
the building and the reduction of moisture in the soil and in the build-
ing, which will result in the reduction of rotting conditions that fur-
nish food for termites.
• Adequate drainage for the site and building.
• Minimum clearance (8") between ground and wood.
A-36 Time-Saver Standards: Part II, Design Data Copyright © 1999 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Use of this product is subject to the terms of its License Agreement.Click here to view.
A1.5 Termite control
• Adequate ventilation of structural spaces.
• Proper flashing, including termite shields.
• Installation of vapor barriers and sheathing papers where required.
• Removal of stumps, roots, wood scraps, and other likely termite
locations from the immediate building perimeter and, as appro-
priate, from the building site.
Termite shield design
Termite shields are intended to provide a permanent physical barrier
to termite entry into the building construction or interior and are in-
stalled at all susceptible points of entry. Shields may be shop- or
field-formed metal, such as copper or other corrosion resistant met-
als. Properly installed shields may prevent termites from invading
the wooden portion of the structure and also act as a moisture barrier,
although some experts believe that they are marginally effective
for termites.
There are two types of shields: barrier shields, which are recommended
in most cases, and deflector shields, which are appropriate only when
vigilant inspection is provided. Regular inspection is required in or- TOC
der to discover the presence of telltale “tubes” built by tube-building
termites. Termites building a shelter tube from the ground moisture to
building woodwork are forced to move out around the shield as indi-
cated at the “point of detection” (Fig. 2). The shelter tube, exposed at
i
this point, can be easily broken off so that any termites that may have
gained access to the building are cut off from their essential moisture. W
This procedure, repeated several times, apparently discourages tube-
building termites.
 SUBSTRUCTURE
A1
A1.5 Termite control A1 Foundations and basement construction

Barrier Shield
Barrier shield design is required where inspection of the shield is dif-
ficult or impossible. It is designed so that termites building up over
the stone or concrete foundations are blocked from entry into the
woodwork of the house above by the projection of the shield. Two
basic barrier type shields are shown in Fig. 2 details. These vary as to
edge detail, and all requiring lapped or locked-formed seals at the
joints (tightly malleted into position). Sharp edge metal rather than
rolled edges is recommended to further discourage tube-building ter-
mites. Any loose joints provide access to termites.
Deflector shield
This shield, shown in Fig. 3, does not in itself provide an impossible
barrier to the termites. It is employed only in areas accessible for pe-

SHELL
riodic inspections, such as the interior wall of a basement room or
on the outside of a brick porch.
Under building ventilation
Termites in or around a building isolated by shields generally make
an effort to restore contact with ground moisture. If a shallow
unexcavated area is available, termites may connect by means of a
shelter tube. Adequate ventilation of under-building areas should de-
feat such attempts (e.g., undersides of porches, decks, and other su-
perstructure extended beyond foundations). Under moist conditions,
lengthy shelter tubes can be formed, but under dry conditions the tubes
have the appearance of sand and the consistency of lightweight cellu-
lose, and tend to crumble and collapse. Under building ventilation is
also critical to reduce moisture that helps encourage fungi, which at- Fig. 2. Barrier shield
tracts subterranean termites (see Fig. 5).

INTERIORS
Termite damage is shown in Fig. 4. Figs. 6 and 7 shown on the next
page provide additional information on termite control measures for
crawl space foundation, and common points of termite entry.

Fig. 3. Deflector shield

SPECIALTIES SERVICES

TOC
i
W
Fig. 4. Termite damage Fig. 5. Termite tubes

Copyright © 1999 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Use of this product is subject to the terms of its License Agreement.Click here to view. Time-Saver Standards: Part II, Design Data A-37
 SUBSTRUCTURE
A1
SHELL
INTERIORS A1 Foundations and basement construction A1.5 Termite control

Fig. 6. Common points of termite entry (Labs et al. 1988)

SERVICES SPECIALTIES

TOC
i
W
Fig. 7. Termite control measures for a crawl space foundation (Labs et al. 1988)

A-38 Time-Saver Standards: Part II, Design Data Copyright © 1999 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Use of this product is subject to the terms of its License Agreement.Click here to view.