Termites are a fact of life. It’s not a matter of if, but when. But your home doesn’t have to be a sitting target.

Here are five ways you can protect your home from both drywood and subterranean termites.

Keep your home well maintained.

Paint is a good deterrent, so make sure all the exposed eave wood on your home has a good coat of paint. Unfortunately, the tips of rafter tails are sometimes left unpainted by the builder. If your home is later repainted, your painter may not be able to reach those tips without deconstructing the eaves. That can leave an entry point for drywood termite swarmers. It’s not a small job, but if you want to address the problem, you can have the seams between the rafter tails and fascia caulked and the exposed wood properly sealed.

Borate any unpainted wood in your attic, garage or crawl space.

Borates can protect wood from drywood and subterranean termites. When termites consume borate-treated wood, the borate interferes with the microorganisms in their digestive system that help them digest wood. Without those microorganisms, the termites eventually die. A thorough application of borates in a dry, protected area can provide long-term protection for the wood.

Maintain a full-structure termite warranty.

A good termite warranty includes regular inspections, necessary localized treatments and callbacks if you see something concerning between inspections. A warranty is one of the best ways to stay on top of termite problems, catch infestations early, reduce wood damage and potentially avoid the need for fumigation.

Have the soil around your home treated.

Subterranean termites can be much harder to detect than drywood termites. Unless they build a mud tube up your foundation, you may not know they’re inside your walls until a wall is opened during a renovation or termites swarm inside your home. Treating the soil around the perimeter of your home can create a long-lasting barrier. Products such as Termidor can remain effective in soil for up to eight years. When termites enter treated soil, they pick up the termiticide and can transfer it to other termites in the colony, helping eliminate the infestation.

Reduce the amount of wood on your property.

Replace wood fences with vinyl, wood decks with composite materials such as Trex, and wood pergolas with aluminum. Get rid of scraps of wood around your property and underneath your home. Remove unnecessary wood from planters and landscaping, and don’t leave firewood piled against the side of your house.

It’s true that termites are a fact of life, but you’re not powerless. There are plenty of things homeowners can do to make their homes less attractive to termites and more resistant to infestation.