Two of our previouse articles talked about “Home Protection from Termites” and “Termite Infestation” but how do you pinpoint a termite’s actual location or nest? Having a detective’s eye would really help, you just need to observe keenly, patiently and try to think like a termite!

Sometimes you can see termites at work boring into your woodwork. You may also be able to see the tunnels and galleries that they create. Most of the time, however, you will not see anything. That’s because these pests work within walls, below floors, and above ceilings, attacking structural members that are out of sight and not readily accessible. So, it’s possible to have termite infestation and not be aware of it. That’s why it’s a good idea to have your home inspected periodically by a professional pest control operator.

While termite eradication is a job for a trained professional, the homeowner can do some things to make his home less inviting to termites: Eliminate wood to ground contact wherever possible. That means that wooden posts should rest on concrete blocks and wooden steps should be supported by a concrete slab.

Termites thrive in moist soil. Make sure that the soil around your house is graded properly so that all rain water is carried away from the foundation. A moisture barrier such as polyethylene film will help control moisture on your home.

Don’t forget to remove any wooden debris, including scrap lumber, tree limbs, tree stumps, dead trees and even sawdust from around the house.

Some people believe that termites attack only older, wooden structures, while new homes made of brick, stone or with termite barriers remain relatively safe from the marauders.

The fact is that new homes - even houses under construction are susceptible to termite attack. Termites can enter the home through expansion joints, plumbing areas, or in hairline cracks in the foundation. They construct “mud tubes” - essentially termite tunnels that allow them to travel from the soil up the foundation to the wood trims or frame. Most homes have wooden framing, floors, doors, and furniture that can attract termites. Metal shields or barriers over foundation walls can be an effective barrier against termites - as long as they retain their structural integrity. As a house settles, minute gaps usually open in the foundation and around the shields that allow termite penetration. In some cases termites have built tubes around the shields and entered the house.

It is difficult to spot termite infestation because the insects do not inhabit the structures of the house; they just forage there. They live in nests widely spread beneath the soil, sometimes at a considerable distance from the house. It is best that you hire a professional once you suspect a termite nest on the vicinity of your home.

Termites attack wood that is placed in or near the ground. The species called “subterranean termites” is notable for being one of the most destructive ever. Termites must keep in direct communication with their underground nests to flourish.

Why do termites attack my home? This is one of the most common questions homeowners usually ask when faced with the problem. Termites will invade any house that: contains the food containing “cellulose material” such as wood and carpets. In addition to food, termites need dampness or moisture for their nests. If a proper barrier can be erected between these “termite requirements” less damage will be done.

Prevention is the key here, building-in protection while constructing a home would be most recommended especially if the home or grade is located in a woody area. Also most damage can be avoided by using termite shields, chemically treated wood or soil poisoning.

In our previous article we talked about what a powder room is and what it does? We also discussed how putting in a powder room can add value to one’s home. Now we will pick the likeliest spots where we can put the half-baths.

In case you have a big or not so big home to locate a half-bath, you should consider rooms that are under used as prime candidates. In some cases, it may make sense to break through a hallway to borrow space from an adjacent room. Consider converting an underused closet to powder room space. Also, appropriating some garage space is still another possibility. If at all possible, try to limit the rearrangement of walls and doors to non-load bearing partitions since altering structural walls can be difficult and at the same time expensive.

If you can also plan a new powder room so it is above, below, or back to back with an existing bathroom, the cost and trouble of running the necessary piping will be kept to a minimum. Verify also with local codes standards for light and ventilation in bathrooms. Most codes stipulate that bath windows be operable and have a minimum of around 0.27 square meters of glass (roughly 600mm x 300mm). All bathrooms should be ventilated, if that is not possible consider installing an exhaust fan such as a “combination light-fan” fixture.

Access from a hallway is usually best, so you should consider traffic patterns within the house. Keeping them close to main living and entertainment areas will make them convenient for guests. Also when choosing a water closet, a siphon-flushing systems works best since they are generally the quietest.

Look at the illustration I have prepared above, the drawing shows a floor plan (ground) for a house with two full baths. The highlighted areas indicate possible powder room locations:

1. Replacing a hall closet and deepening it slightly yields a space for a toilet and lavatory. Hallway width is 1300 mm

2. Stealing some garage space and creating a new doorway in the hall makes for a possible powder room location. Verify that the two car garage should have a 30 square meter of space left.

3. Sacrificing den space and re-arranging the closet creates space for a toilet and lavatory off the foyer.

4. Space can be taken from a walk in closet to create a powder room with access from the foyer.

5. Space beneath the stairs can also accomodate a toilet and lavatory.

The notes above are mere guidelines; all it takes to put a powder room in most houses is a bit of imagination and ingenuity!