Termites are responsible for more than a billion dollars of damage repair and treatment annually in the United States. The conditions that invite these wood-ravaging pests often can be discovered and corrected before they've made themselves at home. Cracks in stucco and gaps in siding should be repaired and properly sealed with paint or stain. Soil surrounding the foundation should be 8 inches below the lowest portion of siding or stucco, and graded to drain away from the house. Support wood porches, stairs, decks and trellises with concrete footings or piers that prohibit earth-to-wood contact. Repair plumbing leaks, and make sure that tub and shower wall coverings are thoroughly grouted and caulked to prevent damp framing. And that's the On The House Tip for Today.