My termite inspection guy told me to stop putting mulch right against the foundation

Had a guy from Orkin out last week to look at some mud tubes I found along the back wall of my 1940s bungalow in Decatur. He said almost every house he visits has mulch piled up against the brick, which gives termites a direct highway into the wood framing. He recommended keeping a 6-inch gap of bare soil between the mulch and the foundation. Has anyone else had an inspector say the same thing?

3 comments

3 Comments

stella221d agoMost Upvoted

Oh come on, mulch against the foundation is fine as long as you keep it dry and check it once a year. I've had mulch piled up against my house for 10 years with zero termite problems.

stella221d agoMost Upvoted

Call an exterminator and ask them if they agree. They see basement nightmares every day. Ten years of luck doesn't prove it's safe.

ivan_harris14h ago

Wait, how often are you actually checking the bottom of that mulch pile where it meets the foundation? Most people don't crawl down there every year, and that's where moisture gets trapped against the wood. A dry surface on top doesn't mean it's dry underneath, especially after a few rainy seasons. You might be lucky now, but termites can go undetected for way longer than 10 years before they cause visible damage.