Protect Your Home Against Termite S (NAPSA)—No matter the economic climate, analysts say owning the roof over your head is almost always a wise investment. That’s because stocks may rise and fall, but homeowners can usually take steps to protect the value of their houses. For example, it’s aS, important to protect your home from any unwanted—and potentially costly—house guests. Every year termites cause more than two billion dollars worth of damage andrepair costs to American homes and businesses. Termites live inside the wood of houses and continuously eat their surroundings. If left unchecked, termite colonies can grow and cause permanent structural damage to a homeorbuilding. The insects’ natural behavior makes them especially difficult to deal with. Drywood termites are commonly found in Southern Coastal regions, live inside walls, roof beams and foundation studs and frequently migrate from place to place. Finding all the termites in a homeis said to be nearly impossible—even for a trained inspector. To make matters worse, many homes—especially older ones—have more than one colony at work. That means even if one colony is controlled, another could still be domg damage. That is one reason insurance companies frequently recommend homeowners use a process called whole-structure fumigation if they discover drywood termites. Fumigation with Vikane* gas fumigant can completely eliminate drywood termites, even in areas not accessi- ble to spot treatments (a technique *Trademark of Dow AgroSciences LLC. Vikaneis a federally Restricted Use Pesticide. Homeowners should know the signs of drywoodtermites. occasionally offered by pest management professionals). Vikane penetrates pores of wood and spreads into virtually every nook and corner of a home. Vikane has been used in millions of structures including historical sites and museums containing precious artifacts. The gas leaves no odor or pesticide residue and provides control of all drywood termite colonies in a structure. The following signs may indicate you have drywood termites in your home: Severely blistered wood or woodwork with pinhead-sized kick-out holes. Piles of six-sided pellets on floors, window sills and attic space. Discarded wings or deadtermites nearlight sources. Hollow sounding wood. For more information on drywood termite treatment options, visit the University of Florida’s Website at www.ftld.ufl.edu/dry wood.htm or www.dowagro.com.
