How to prevent termites?

Marcy, you hit it on the head when you said "my home less inviting to them." Termites need food and water, so do your best to make sure they have neither. Fix all leaks in your home and remove any heavy vegetation close to the house; likewise, make sure any mulch stops short of your home's foundation. Store firewood and any building materials away from your home. Remove dead trees and stumps from your property. Fix any cracks in your home's foundation. Keep gutters clear. It is much easier to keep termites out than to get rid of them after they've made themselves at home! Good luck.

Earth-friendly options include spray applications of neem-pyrethrum extracts, laying of mesh or granite barriers during construction, and considering alternative building materials that are unpalatable to termites.

Sand barriers for subterranean termites are a physical deterrent because the termites cannot tunnel through them.

Non-toxic treatments include the use of nematodes (microscopic worms), especially for chemically-sensitive individuals or environmentally-sensitive areas. Nematodes are pumped into the infested area, where they will kill the insects.

Boric acid bait blocks can be placed around the structure, where they will attract the pests to consume termiticides without broad application of chemicals. Boric acid is poisonous if taken internally or inhaled in large quantities. However, it is generally considered to be not much more toxic than table salt. There are several boric acid insecticides; Pic BA-16 Boric Acid Roach Killer Bottle, Harris HRP-16 99% Boric Acid Powder W/Lure, Jensen BA-5 Pic Boric Acid Roach Killer III, and many more. Boric acid insecticides are available from home stores or online.

Dry wood termites can be treated with thermal, freezing, or electrical eradication techniques.

Marcy, there is only one sure way to do that and that's to professionally treat it. Homes need to be thoroughly inspected to determine the proper treatment. We use a product called Termidor. The active ingredient is called Fiprinol which is the same ingredient that is in Advantage for fleas. When properly used it is very safe.

Diatomaceous earth is a great tool to assist you in both preventing and removing termites infestations. Apply as instructed.

Use the termite stakes by Spectricide.

I guess we all have that dream. You can layer your crawlspace floor with 6 ml plastic. Glue 2" foam panels to the walls with construction adhesive. Insulate the rafters with fiberglass insulation. Termites love moisture so keep any vents open for air circulation and moisture down. Have your crawl checked for termites.

I had a terrible infestation of tiny little ants and spraying outside was the best tip a bug guy ever gave me. I routinely spray around the exterior and interior with Ortho Home Defense. Sometimes more than once a year. Just keep the pets away until it dries. Stop them before they get in. Also, don't mulch! Even if they don't eat it, it holds moisture and if there's one thing termites need, it's moisture. Find another weed barrier. I use rocks. Nothing eats rocks. Lava rocks aren't appealing to termites. As a backup, I've sprinkled food-grade Diatomaceous Earth. Not in place of the others, but in addition to.