Stop Termites and Water Before They Start: How Polyguard 650 TRM Protects Your Foundation

When it comes to keeping a home or building safe, the most important battles often happen below ground. Moisture seeping through walls can cause cracking, mold, and costly structural issues—while termites silently eat away at what supports everything above.

Polyguard 650 TRM is a smart, long-term solution that tackles both problems at once. It’s a peel-and-stick waterproofing and termite barrier designed for concrete and insulated concrete form (ICF) foundations. Let’s break down what it is, how it works, and why builders and homeowners trust it nationwide.

What Is 650 TRM?

Polyguard 650 TRM is a 68-mil-thick self-adhesive membrane made from a 4-mil high-density polyethylene (HDPE) film bonded to 64 mils of rubberized barrier sealant. Once applied to your foundation wall, it forms a flexible, seamless layer that keeps water out and termites out.

It’s been in use across the U.S. since 2002 and has been tested for more than 20 years by scientists at Texas A&M University’s Urban & Structural Entomology Laboratory. That testing led to certification by the International Code Council (ICC ESR-3632) for meeting AC 380 Acceptance Criteria for Termite Physical Barriers.

Two-in-One Protection

650 TRM acts as both a waterproofing membrane and a non-chemical termite barrier. Unlike chemical soil treatments that lose potency over time, TRM works physically—termites simply can’t chew through or penetrate it.

• Waterproofing: Stops hydrostatic pressure up to 231 feet of water (ASTM D 5385).
• Termite Defense: Proven 0 % pesticide penetration (ASTM F 2130).
• Durability: Handles extreme conditions—flexible at –25 °F (ASTM D 146) and UV-resistant for 30 days.

Where and How It’s Used

650 TRM can be applied to:

• Concrete foundations (cast-in-place, poured walls, or slabs)
• ICF foundations (foam-insulated walls)
• Plywood or OSB surfaces when properly primed

It’s a “peel and stick” application, so installation is straightforward:

1. Prepare the surface: Clean, smooth, and dry.
2. Apply primer: Polyguard 650 LT or 650 WB Liquid Adhesive for excellent bonding.
3. Peel and stick: Press the membrane onto the wall, rolling out air bubbles.
4. Seal edges: Use Polyguard Detail Sealant PW™, LM-95, or TRM Sealant for term points.
5. Backfill: Can be done immediately after installation—no waiting required!

Eco-Friendly and LEED Supportive

650 TRM helps support LEED v4 and green-building goals through its non-toxic, chemical-free pest-prevention design. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) standards promote structural pest barriers instead of chemical pesticides—and 650 TRM meets those criteria beautifully.

Key environmental benefits:

• No pesticides or chemical leaching
• Contributes to Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) and Sustainable Sites (SSc5) credits
• Physically blocks termite entry to reduce future chemical treatments

Why Contractors and Homeowners Trust It

• Decades of proven performance in both commercial and residential projects.
• Tested against the most aggressive termite species in the U.S., including Reticulitermes flavipes and Coptotermes formosanus.
• Easy installation in cold or hot conditions (works down to 30 °F / –1 °C).
• Long-term warranty support from Polyguard Products Inc. 

Key Performance Highlights

Polyguard 650 TRM gives builders and property owners peace of mind from the ground up. It keeps water and termites out without the use of chemicals, it’s backed by decades of testing and industry certifications, and it installs quickly with minimal downtime.

For projects that demand long-term foundation protection and sustainable construction practices, 650 TRM is the smart, proven choice.

Shop for Polyguard 650 TRM at AWarehouseFull!