 | | Figure 1: two slabs abut and can allow for termite entry |
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 | | Figure 2: This foundation is from a single pour and does not require treatment inbetween. |
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 | | Figure 3: Space between wall and house can be treated properly. |
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Decorative wing walls are popular attachments to brick houses. Termites can use these to enter a house by coming up in the joint between the house slab and the wall. They can also come up anywhere along the wall and travel between the bricks.
Proper treatment of wing walls depends on the type of construction.
For all brick or walls built on a below grade chainwall like the one in figure 1, the perimeter of the wall should be treated as necessary by trench and treat or drilling through abutting slabs and injected. The joint between the slab and the wall should be drilled and injected. The wall should be drilled every other brick and injected.
In figure 2, the support for this slab was poured at the same time as the rest of the house, so there is no joint between the house and the wall. The perimeter still needs to be trenched and treated. Be careful of this design because sometimes stress cracks can form where the wall attaches to the house.
If the wall were on a separate foundation or stress cracks occur, the joint would need to be drilled and treated.
Figure 3 shows a gap between the wall and the house. This is the best design since it allows for proper treatment and inspection. In this case, the soil in the gap should be injected with termiticide using a soil rod.