Replace rotting wood or trim and repair or replace damaged sections of siding or cladding.
How to keep ants out of siding.
Keep out future ants.
After all no one wants carpenter ants nesting in their siding.
If winged ants come out of crevices around your home this is a strong sign that you have a serious ant problem.
I see ants climbing the outside walls on my house and going into the vents on the house.
So when you notice ants around your home do not jump to conclusions that they are destroying the bones of your abode.
Noticing ants in high volume however could mean there is a nest of them nearby.
Repeat the process every 3 days until you don t notice ants anymore.
Clearance space between the soil around the foundation and the bottom row of siding to prevent ants from nesting in the siding and make sure the soil slopes away from the house.
Use a soaked cotton ball to apply the oil around areas where ants could enter your home.
Don t make it easy for them.
Trim tree branches that touch the siding of your home.
However ants in and around your home could be a sign of a nest close by.
Rub essential oils on any points of entry to keep ants out.
If the tree harbors an ant nest the branches can act as a bridge for ants to enter your home.
First off not all ant problems are carpenter ant problems.
I set off a few foggers in the attic put out terro and bait which killed many of them but not all.
Ants leave the shelter of their colony to find food and water.
Unlike termites carpenter ants do not actually eat wood.
Clear away damaged bricks and add new ones filling the joints with mortar.
If you want to keep ants out of the house one of the first things you need to know is what attracts them into the home.
Use clove or citrus oils to kill ants and prevent more ants from coming inside.
To keep bugs out use mortar or cement to patch foundations and masonry walls.
Just like any other creature ants search for food and water and also a shelter of some sort.
If you have a serious carpenter ant problem you may find wood shavings underneath your siding.
Firewood makes a perfect retreat for ants.
I sprayed the vent with and killer and they appear to be gone but in a few days they come back or will been seen coming and going through another vent.
Avoid stacking firewood next to the house.
Be especially careful to keep things clean while you are targeting the nest as this will make the sweet ant bait the only thing available to the ants.
This is a good thing.
Keep foods sealed floors swept and all surfaces cleaned.