What you need to know damaging termites
Termites leave few clues of
there arrival and are active all year round. Those pesky termites cause severe
damage to homes, sometimes repairs are not typically covered in standard
insurance policies. Discovering unsettling damage at your home can cost
thousands of dollars. Termites like damp, dark, and warm areas of a home.
Termites live in colonies and once the little termites grow to a certain extent
they form a swarm, which is a traveling crowd, and maintain a colony.
Signs of termite damage can
include buckling ceilings or walls, appearance of water damage, maze like
tunnels in wooden structures, mud tunnels on foundation walls, swarms of
termites, termites are known to ruin carpeting, walls, furniture, and flooring.
Can the damage from termites be fixed?
Even though it is rare for
some termite species to damage a home beyond repair, if the infestation is not
treated for many years. If caught soon enough the cost of the termite repair would be
much less.
Subterranean termites
Drywood termites
Other smaller colony species
such as the drywood termites can cause the same type of damage over a period of
20 years. These termites live in and feed on wood, they are often found in
studded walls, attic areas, and furniture. They eat wood from the inside out.
Swarming termites
These termites swarm in warm
weather and often after a rain shower to start new colonies. As the swarming
event be so brief you may not even see the flying termites. You are likely to
view the discarded wings around window sills, doors, house vents, bathtubs and
sinks. Winged termites are attracted to light sources and are mostly active in
spring time.
What can I do to prevent termite
damage?
Termite bait or liquid
treatements are the best ways to prevent termites. A preventative measure would
include eliminating wood-soil contact and resolving moisture problems, store
firewood at least 20 feet away from your home, maintain a 18” gap between mulch
or soil and wood parts of the home, cut foliage at least 3 feet away, aim
irrigation sprinklers away from the foundation, and direct downspouts away from
the home. Keep air vents clear and clean so the air can circulate in attics and
crawl spaces, however these measures will not keep termites from trying to
enter your home.
As a preventive
measure, you could use “Bora-Care”. This is a borate treatment that is easily
applied to wood and over time can penetrate the entire mass of wood. It is not
only a fungus treatment but also making wood unappetizing to wood boring
insects and uninhabitable to fungi.
If you believe you’ve found termite damage or have inspection repairs with in your home or just
want some peace of mind, call a trusted handyman for your repairs.
If your home needs siding repairs, take action now and schedule
Mr. Fix-It Handyman Service to fix up your home!
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