Termite wood damage is one of the significant problems a lot of homeowners face yearly. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) states nearly 600,000 houses in the U.S. are damaged by termites every year. Americans are predicted to spend over $5 billion yearly for termite control, $1-2 of which are on Formosan termite control, in particular.
Termites are a pain to deal with. What’s more, though, termite damage repair is not a simple thing to do. The typical termite damage repair cost can vary from hundreds of dollars to millions, depending on the extent and type of the property and how large the infestation has been permitted to become.
Luckily, various termite damage repair options depend on something you’re dealing with, so let’s explore them here.
SIGNS OF TERMITE DAMAGE
Hearing or learning about termite damage is one point, but seeing it is another. Termite damage can be exceptionally destructive, especially if the infestation has been allowed to fester for a while. Termite damage can amount to the apparent consumption of entire wooden constructions and defeating them to discarded piles of remaining wooden pieces and dust. It can likewise look similar to buckling and cracked ceilings and walls from extensive termite tunnel channels being dug through them. Termite destruction can sometimes relate to water damage in that it creates a sort of dripping impression on walls and ceilings and similarly-looking rifts. Detecting termite tree damage outdoors can give you a fair idea of what your home’s walls, shelter, and floors can look like if termites are crawling through them.
All types of termite damage that have been left to relinquish that stage can be outright unchangeable. Fortunately, there are more initial signs of termite damage to look for as well, such as:
- You can see hollow parts in walls and carpets if you tap on them.
- Termite opening holes on wooden surfaces where the bugs’ tunnels end
- You can sometimes detect the sound of termites eating through the wood, even with a naked ear.
- Mud termite tunnels on and throughout your home’s basement
These earlier symptoms can help you locate a termite infestation before it has gotten out of hand, but they can also show that half of your walls have already been eaten off on the interior.
Also, keep in mind that various termites deliver diverse types of damage at different rates. For instance, the most devastating termites in the U.S. are the notorious Formosan termite, a species of subterranean termites. Such underground termite damage can render a structure irreparable in two years flat if left unchecked by utilizing large parts of its foundations plus walls.
Alternatively, dry timber termite damage can take many years to reach such epic proportions, but it can be equally devastating with time.
Take a look at one of our projects done for Termite Damage Repairs:
HOW TO DETERMINE IF THE DAMAGE IS DONE BY TERMITES OR BY CARPENTER ANTS?
There can be variation between carpenter ant damage and termite damage as they vary in scope and specifics. Usually speaking, both insects chew through wood and can damage wooden constructions exceeding repair. Both prefer moist wood as they need moisture to survive, but both can easily chew through dry wood as well.
As for the distinctions between them, the main one is that termites absorb wood while carpenter ants chew into it and leave it behind. That makes carpenter ants not only easier to see thanks to the dust piles they leave after, but it also makes them more reluctant to chew through the wood. That’s why carpenter ants are ordinarily observed as less threatening than termites – they do their damage much more slowly.
Additionally, carpenter ants aren’t as accurate in their conquest as their purpose is to dig up a tunnel network system, not consume the wood. On the other hand, termites serve on wood to outright destroy entire blocks instead of just seeing narrow tunnels through them. Therefore, both termite and carpenter ant infestations should be identified and acted upon as quickly as possible. Termites are solely an even more severe problem than carpenter ants because of their insatiable appetite for wood.
HOW TO FIX TERMITE DESTRUCTION?
Understanding how to fix termite loss can save you a lot of time, money, and effort. Sometimes expert help is required, but you can take care of the renovations yourself. Three primary levels go into termite damage restoration:
- Extensive termite remedy. That isn’t technically a method to repair termite damage, but it’s essential something you should do right before you start doing just that. For best results, it’s often advised to call a licensed professional exterminator as you need to ensure that the termite infestation is completely dealt with. Neglecting even a trace of the infestation before starting the repairs can render them useless as the termite colony replenishes itself and keeps chewing.
- Replace damaged wooden segments. A lot of termite damage consists of entirely ruined and chewed-off beams and rigid elements. There is no possible way to fix a wooden beam when half of it has been consumed already, so renewing it is the way to go.
- Add wood assistance to corrupted sections. Often the termite damage to a wooden segment is minimal enough not to require a replacement but still significant enough to need help. Attaching wooden support columns, covers and adjustments is the best way to treat such circumstances. Still, it’s quite complex – it’s necessary to ensure that the support you’re supplementing is sufficient and won’t compromise the entire structure.
SOME FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
WHEN SHOULD YOU CALL AN EXPERT TO FIX THE TERMITE DISASTER?
Various homeowners have diverse skill sets and capabilities, so we wouldn’t assume to tell you what you can and can’t deal with. Still, repairing termite damage expertly and appropriately is vital for the health of your home, so we’d recommend you to call in and consult with a professional in any case that involves more than just one slightly damaged wooden beam or component.
We’d also encourage you to use the aid of a professional termite exterminator as they will both make sure that every infestation is completely dealt with and brief you of the size of hard-to-see damage the termites have left behind. For anything important, particularly to load-bearing wooden constructions, professional repair help is more than recommended.
CAN TERMITES PENETRATE THROUGH CONCRETE?
Termites can enter through fissures and gaps in your concrete In extension to the wood under and around your home, termites can enter your home by cracks, holes, and crevices in your foundation’s cement. Whether they enter within the crawl space, basement, or even through cracks around your windows and doors, these bugs can quickly make themselves at home, creating incredible damage to your house.
Another great reason to be proactive is that many homeowners’ insurance plans don’t include the costs of termite damage, as it’s deemed preventable through regular termite examinations. Causes for this can vary – some insurance firms consider this preventable with peculiar homeowner maintenance.
WHEN SHOULD YOU START RESTORING THE TERMITE-DAMAGED TIMBER?
Before following any DIY repair directions for termite wood damage, you should consult a termite control expert. This way, you can have a qualified technician investigate your home for termites to discover the extent of the problem.
After all, you don’t want to waste your time, energy, and money repairing sections of your house only to find out you possess a significant infestation that will result in you having to make the corresponding improvements again.
If your home has undergone significant termite damage, it may be most satisfying to consult an expert to assist with the repairs. Typically, repairing termite-damaged wood requires either removing or replacing the damaged wood.
DIY answers may be great when it comes to renewing your kitchen or installing innovative home technology. But DIY termite control can be inefficient and a waste of funds.
HOW DO I RECOGNIZE IF I HAVE WINGED ANTS INSTEAD OF SWARMING TERMITES?
Winged termites have pigmented forms with broad waists and two pairs of wings similar in dimension and shape. Subterranean termite swarmers possess bodies around one-quarter of an inch in length. The swarmer’s immediately shed their wings after a brief flight. Winged ants have pinched waists and two wings that vary in size and appearance (the front pair is much larger). Flying ants shed their wings like termites. Termite wings are all the same size. Collect a few and call HydroHelp911 to have them classified if you need to be sure.
THERE IS A MUD TUNNEL ON THE DRYWALL OF MY OUTER WALL. SHOULD I BE CONCERNED ABOUT TERMITES?
Mud tubes are one of the top symbols of the subterranean termite movement. Contact HydroHelp911 as soon as possible.
Repairing termite damage is a tricky, costly, and complicated task. However, leaving a damaged wooden structure unrepaired or unsupported can be very dangerous for a house if the termite infestation has been dispensed with, so you should either prepare for some construction work or look for a professional’s assistance. Don’t let these pesky bugs ruin your day – give us a call at HydroHelp911 for all your termite-damaged wood restoration requirements in Charlotte, NC. Schedule your termite repair consultation by calling us at 704-741-9737.
