When building contractor David Damroth first discovered termites two years ago in his coastal home, a local pest control expert advised him to remove a section of the exterior rigid foam insulation that covered the foundation so he could see the extent of the problem. What he found was a network of tunnels in the foam full of termites on their way into his house through unsoldered corners and overlaps in the copper termite shield. To stem the tide, Damroth removed a 6-inch band of foam all the way around his foundation: "I thought if I removed the foam and destroyed the mud tubes, my problems would be over," Damroth says. "Was I ever mistaken: Within