Editing Lumber (section)

===Controlling termites and other insects===
For buildings in termite zones, basic protection practices addressed in current building codes include (but are not limited to) the following:

* Grading the building site away from the foundation to provide proper drainage
* Covering exposed ground in any crawl spaces with 6-mil polyethylene film and maintaining at least {{convert|12|to|18|in}} of clearance between the ground and the bottom of framing members above (12&nbsp;inches to beams or girders, 18&nbsp;inches to joists or plank flooring members)
* Supporting post columns by concrete piers so that there is at least {{convert|6|in}} of clear space between the wood and exposed earth
* Installing wood framing and sheathing in exterior walls at least eight inches above exposed earth; locating siding at least six inches from the finished grade
* Where appropriate, ventilating crawl spaces according to local building codes
* Removing building material scraps from the job site before backfilling.
* If allowed by local regulation, treating the soil around the foundation with an approved termiticide to provide protection against subterranean termites