| One of the first questions people ask
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| | water, this powdered insecticide is
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| about log homes is How Much Termite
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| | designed to soak into the logs and
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| Damage Do They Get? Well, rest assured:
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| | protect them against insects and wood
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| log homes are no more susceptible to
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| | rot. After the borate treatment has
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| termites than a traditional framed house.
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| | dried (and before the rain washes it
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| In some ways, it would be easier to spot
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| | off), apply your stain which is toxic and
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| possible infestation: in a stick-framed
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| | will also protect your logs from insects.
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| house, you could have an problem for
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| | To be extra sure, there are additives
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| years without even knowing it. The
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| | you can add to the stain that contain
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| termites would be hidden behind your
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| | insecticides.Carpenter bees do not like
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| sheetrock, happily gnawing away at
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| | to chew through treated, painted, or
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| structural members, and would attack your
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| | stained wood and will probably find more
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| walls from the inside-out. With a log,
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| | tasty surfaces to attack. Keep an eye on
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| they would most likely start on the
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| | your porches and fascia boards; after a
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| outside and work their way in, leaving an
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| | few years, when the stain no longer looks
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| obvious trail of sawdust or mud foraging
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| | fresh, the bees may revisit your house
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| tubes.Termites thrive in a damp
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| | and start making those perfectly round 1
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| environment; they dehydrate when exposed
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| | 2" holes. Luckily, they are easy to
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| to the air for too long. If your logs
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| | treat and once you spray and plug those
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| are kept dry, they won't be a tempting
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| | holes, that particular bee should be
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| target for wood-boring insects. On the
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| | taken care of.Caulking between the log
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| other hand, if you have a spot where a
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| | courses is another good way to seal out
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| gutter is leaking onto the logs, or your
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| | the insects. I've actually watched a fly
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| door frame leaks, watch out! That damp
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| | drag a tiny leaf into a small split in
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| spot is the point of entry for insects
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| | our log ends. You just don't know what
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| and wood rot. Also, keep your air
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| | critter wants to live in your logs.
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| conditioner from dripping near the
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| | Also, do not stack firewood against your
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| foundation; this is another potential
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| | house. Chances are very good the cured
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| trouble source.In new construction, there
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| | wood already has insects in it, and you
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| are some measures you can take to reduce
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| | don't want to transfer them to your
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| the risk of termite damage. First of
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| | pristine logs.The most important thing to
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| all, make sure your contractor does not
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| | do is make an occasional investigation of
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| bury any wooden construction debris under
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| | your corners, eaves, window frames,
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| the topsoil. This is very common on job
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| | foundation. Many infestations are easily
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| sites, and the decomposing wood creates a
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| | dealt with if caught early enough. Don't
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| great environment for new termite
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| | assume your house will take care of
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| colonies. Secondly, make sure they
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| | itself; you, the owner, will be the first
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| install a termite shield below the sill
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| | line of defense.Mercedes Hayes is a
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| plate; this is a bent piece of metal that
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| | Hiawatha Log Home dealer and also a
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| creates a barrier between the foundation
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| | Realtor in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
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| and the wooden sill. Many townships
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| | She designed her own log home which was
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| require this by code.Before you apply the
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| | featured in the 2004 Floor Plan Guide of
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| stain, it would be wise to spray the logs
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| | Log Home Living magazine.
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| with a borate treatment; when added to
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