I have plans for an ICF foundation wall that shows a termite shield beneath the mud sill.
I haven’t seen termite shield used in years. Are they still used?
What metal(s) are being used? I priced 16 oz. copper 20″ wide….OUCH! $1600 for the 280′ of foundation wall at todays price. Waiting on a price for SS, might be less.
What about lead flashing or copper coated lead?
Does anyone use termite shields and what do you use that is compatable with the new ACQ treated lumber?
Dave
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Justin Fink - FHB Editorial
Since you can't use aluminum next to ACQ, I figure copper is about your only choice.
Not too many people use it around here. Maybe 10% of houses, more or less.
30-gauge galvanized for termite sheilds around here.
If you have a zillion $$$ to spend, here's one approach:
http://www.utoronto.ca/forest/termite/trmtsh~1.htm
As another option, I've seen copper rolls that are thin copper with some sort of asphault on the back. Reasonable price. IIRC, the material is intended as flashing for deck framing under the deck boards so should work as a long lasting termite shield.
"Let's get crack-a-lackin" --- Adam Carolla
LOL, came across that website a few years ago. That's got to be the cadillac of termite shields. Maybe Sphere and SeeYou could branch out.
New business venture for you?
Smells like an "owner acting as contractor" project except for the copper install. Great pains to put in good looking copper at a location where it won't be seen once the house is complete and covered. Second, when they installed the concrete anchor bolts they made a point of covering up the holes with metal washers. Owner likely didn't understand the chemistry or fundamental building techniques regarding the use of dissimilar metals in common construction applications. When those shields become slightly damp, and they will during the first rain, galvanic action between the bolt, washer and copper will make a nice battery for awhile until the copper completely deteriorates. A nice big hole will then outline where the washer use to be.My take is that somebody, likely the owner, insisted on installing the copper solely to type up a paper and get it published in some journal. It's done all the time on useless projects simply so that the person can claim to be a published author, especially true in academic circles where "publish or parish" is an unwritten rule. Not trying to rain on the parade but it seems like asphalt or plastic shield would have done the job just as well and wouldn't corrode in 2-3 years. Copper works too, when installed properly, but extremly expensive.
>>"My take is that somebody, likely the owner, insisted on installing the copper solely to type up a paper and get it published in some journal.
My guess is faculty member working on gov't (university) building with no budget or time constraints. Maybe a vacation retreat for faculty? ;-)
"Let's get crack-a-lackin" --- Adam Carolla
Edited 5/25/2006 12:51 pm ET by philarenewal
> .... will make a nice battery for awhile until the copper completely deteriorates ....
It's the other way. The copper survives, the steel rusts away.
-- J.S.
You'd be right ... in my haste I didn't think but that's not new and it's probably going to happen again. Still, the idea of publishing a paper on a metal termite shield is going a bit far afield. Termite shields have been around for ages and making one out of copper doesn't merit the effort or, in today's world, the cost. Now, if you made one out of gold, that would be a story but not a research paper!
what about a vinyl product .lowes has a product that is used to finish out under a deck so the rain stays out.look at it and see if you could buy something similar and use for a termite shield. larry
hand me the chainsaw, i need to trim the casing just a hair.
More approperatily there is pvc coil stock.But I would not be concerned with using aluminum if you put in barrier between it and the sill plate. IE, peal and stick or even felt paper.That is a dry location.But this brings up another option. Instead of metal how about that sill sealer that has flap that comes out and sticks to the weather barrier.
>>>>>>>>>>>I priced 16 oz. copper 20" wide....OUCH! $1600 for the 280' of foundation wall at todays price.
How wide do you actually need the termite shield to be?
Wear something sexy if you're gonna talk..
http://grantlogan.net/
is it just me, or does the termite shield actually stop them from entering, or, as I suspect, is it just a method that makes it easier to find there mud tunnels, by forcing them to extend them out and around the termite shield.....?
They tend to travel up the cores of the block, find the sill and head on up to the joists. With PT sills being used it is not as bad asit was yrs ago, but for my liking, I still use a copper cap over the block.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
There is no cure for stupid. R. White.
>>"is it just me, or does the termite shield actually stop them from entering, or, as I suspect, is it just a method that makes it easier to find there mud tunnels, by forcing them to extend them out and around the termite shield.....?
If the termite shield is made and installed properly, the termites can't get their mud tunnels through or around it.
BTW, here is the stuff I was talking about (copper with asphault on the bottom). Finally found a reference to it.
http://www.yorkflashings.com/documents/YorkSheildSell106Rev.pdf
IIRC, when I saw it, it was very reasonable price. Only a few oz. copper.
"Let's get crack-a-lackin" --- Adam Carolla
Thanks for that link.
We used that product or something similar on a commercial building addition a few years ago. It was not used as termite shield, but I could see that as another application. The only problem that I remember was that we never found a right way to remove the paper after bending it for flashing. It might have been old stock or something, but every time we peeled the paper backing off the copper oil canned on us. It worked great in areas where we could peel and stick it down then hand seam it in place. The job was all masonry and steel with a BUR so it was mostly curb flashing use. Viewable flashing were all lead coated copper or painted 24 ga galv. steel.
For my termite shield it might be the ticket. None of it will be seen except the edge inside the house, so a little wrinkle won't matter.
Dave
>>"The only problem that I remember was that we never found a right way to remove the paper after bending it for flashing. It might have been old stock or something, but every time we peeled the paper backing off the copper oil canned on us.
Ah I think I know what may have happened -- you're not supposed to peel the paper (at least on the specific product I mentioned). You put it down just as you would copper. If you want an adhesive, you need to add that.
"Let's get crack-a-lackin" --- Adam Carolla
Grant, I am capping a GreenBlock ICF wall. 8" core and 2" thickness on each side for a total of 12" top, and like Sphere, I would like to turn down on each side about 2".
Roughly 280+ feet of wall top and some more I haven't figure for the step transitions and door openings.
E-mail me. I have a small copper roof that I need a price on, as well as some other copper flashing items.
Dave
I tried to email you, but it got blocked. I've made termite shield from 12 oz copper which is 75% of the cost of 16 oz. You could get two strips of 16" out of a 36" sheet with only 4" waste per sheet. Email me and we'll discuss it. My phone number's on the web site if you wanna give me a call.
Wear something sexy if you're gonna talk..
http://grantlogan.net/
I'd block your e-mail too.
>>>>>>>>>>>I'd block your e-mail too.Oh, yeah - well I was gonna buy at the pub crawl, but now it's everybody but you.
Wear something sexy if you're gonna talk..
http://grantlogan.net/
I had Grant bend me up CU. For my walls of 8'' block and a inch and a half flap turned down both inside and out it was only 12'' wide in the rough, that way he got 2 outta a 24'' sheet.
That was last year, the price has gone up, but not nearly enough to shy away from it IMO.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
There is no cure for stupid. R. White.