Termite Shield

A few companies manufacture them preformed, but you can fashion one from a role of zinc flashing. Don’t use aluminium or copper or some galvanized metal. They will react to the pressure treated wood and concrete and break down chemically.

This is the green thing to do. The ants are not harmed, the ground is not poisoned, but they can’t get in and you only do it once. If your house is preserved from destruction, you are conserving natural resources. That is green. Write me if you want to see a graphic detail of this shield in a wall. If you build to last, you save on material resources.

I will admit, it is curiously difficult to find a building materials supplier in Maine who has any idea what a Termit Shield looks like, or a builder who ever installs them. Mainers are under the impression that they are unecessary due to the impression that termites seldom appear in Maine. However, we already have a severe problem in Maine with ants infesting homes and eating the wood frame of the house. What is traditionally called a “termite shield” will also work for ants. If you do not install one in your house, you are making a serious mistake. I found two companies online who supply termite shields. Print them and bring them to your builder or supplier and tell them you want these on your home. They are installed by laying them along the top of the foundation wall, under the sills. Here are links to their PDF brochures.