Extent of Termite Damage

You may be surprise, as a homeowner, the amount of damage termites can do to your home. Even though these pesky insects are less than a centimeter in length, the amount of damage a termite can do far outweighs its small size. There is never just one termite inside a home – there are hundreds and hundreds. The worker termites are the ones who eat through the wood to provide nourishment to the rest of the colony, and they can really wreak havoc on a wood structure.

Some estimates place the annual damage to homes at over $500,000. Others say it is well over a million dollars. Most of the worst termite damage is located in the Southeast portion of the United States as well as arid savannah regions in places like Africa and Australia.

It doesn’t matter where you’re located, termite damage can be utterly devastating for the homeowner. It is true that the worst damage can take years to cause problems, but still, that damage can cause a home to become unsafe to live in.

One woman tells us that she had no idea about the amount of damage a termite can do. She never even thought about it until she felt a floorboard that was loose. She went outside and saw a swarm of bugs around the foundation of her house, and she began to do some research.

A pest control company was called in and she found out that she did, indeed, have a termite infestation. What surprised the most was when the termite inspector showed her the amount of damage that a termite could do as she looked into the hole the inspector had cut into her wall. She was amazed and shocked.

Not only will termite damage cause a structure to be unstable, it can – and, if left untreated – even cause the structure to collapse around you. It’s frightening when you think about it.

Those worker termites get inside your home and start burrowing through the studs, the door frames, and the drywall of your home.

They gnaw through the material your home is made of and make trails through the wood that can weaken the wood itself causing problems with the integrity of the wood.

The amount of damage a termite can do is multiplied by the fact that there is more than one termite working on the wood. They work together to get food for the colony and thus cause a huge amount of damage to your structure.

That is why it is so important to pay attention to what is going on around your home and always check for signs of termite damage. Many people don’t do this. They just sit around hoping that their home is safe.

Repairing a home that has termite damage is no easy proposition. There are times when just a few beams in the ceiling need to be replaced. Then there are other times when whole walls need to be reconstructed. In extreme situations, the structure must be condemned and torn down.

The first step towards saving your home is to educate yourself. Do a lot of research and know what to look for when you are looking for evidence of termites in your home. Search the internet, read this book over and over again. Do whatever you have to do, but make sure you know that termites can do a huge amount of damage and cause you to lose your home.

Termites Prevention: What You Can Do

Keeping termites away from your home in the first place can be the best way to save money although you will still want to have at least annual treatments to make sure that they don’t come around in the first place. But taking measures to be sure that conditions are not conducive to their survival just makes sense.

First, don’t feed them. Whether you know it or not, by having certain conditions present in and around your house, you are giving the termites a food source that will sustain the colony and keep them reproducing making more and more termites that will damage your home.

Keep your gutters clean. Wet leaves provide moisture and food for the pests, and since the gutters are attached to your home, it’s an easy point of entry. Clogged gutters can also contribute to moisture problems by soaking wood off the roof and fascia boards.

Wood piles and construction debris, boards left touching the ground or fences without proper ground clearance can all be food sources. Cardboard is also a favorite food of termites and damp cardboard around or under a house could provide an ideal opportunity for termites.

Building a deck? Make concrete barriers part of your plan and be sure to use borate-treated, pressurized wood. The USDA’s Forest Service has a bulletin on subterranean termites with helpful hints on construction practices.

Your contractor may also have suggestions for preventing termite infestations. Stucco facades extending near or into the soil surface provide a haven for termites, allowing them to move into a home undetected.

Termites love moisture which is why they feed on damp wood. Make sure the air conditioner tank is at least four inches from your house. Don’t let it leak near your house. Dryers should vent away from the house — the warm air is moisture-saturated from dried clothes. Washers should drain away from the house, too.
Check for leaky faucets and make fixing them a priority. Flat roofs are a bad idea; they harbor moisture and invite infestation.

Summer sprinkler play is fun for kids, but make sure the faucet is turned off –tightly — after the water games are finished. Insulation around pipes should not extend all the way from the house to the soil. After cold spells are over, the insulation should be removed or at least have a gap large enough to allow homeowners to detect termites.

Check around the pipes in your home to make sure that there is no water leaking underneath the house. Pools of water can accumulate in the crawl space which is a breeding ground for termites – especially subterranean termites that live in the soil.

Make sure their access to the home is limited. Keep vines, flower gardens and storage containers away from your house. Make a garden path if you must have them close by. Their roots feed the termites, and the leaves give the termites the moisture and shade they crave. Also, you won’t be able to see the clay tubes the termites make to sneak into your home.

Check your house for stains, holes and other infestation signs. Wings on your window sill, particularly inside the house, are a sign that you need to have your home checked; don’t just hope the problem will go away.

Look closely at the foundation of your home and check for any cracks in the concrete. These are great places for termites to enter your home since they are so small. Any cracks should be sealed with a waterproof sealant that will make entry through these cracks impossible.

Keep all scrap wood away from your house. A wood pile for a fireplace is a haven for termites and they love to live in and around any scrap wood that is strewn about.

When it rains, they do little termite dances as it makes the wood much easier to eat. If the wood is close to your house, they may be tempted to take a vacation from the woodpile and move onto your home for a change of pace.

Make sure that all guttering downspouts point rainwater to drain away from your house. You don’t want the water to butt up against your home and make the wood wet.

Any wood that is touching both the ground and your house is a threat. Eliminate all earth-to-wood contact in the structure, including scrap wood, fence posts, trellises, shrubbery or tree branches that come in contact with the house.

Keep the area around the foundation or piers of your house clear of wood debris; a piece of wood or a ladder leaning against the house can provide a termite entrance.

Don’t build bridges for termites. Make sure that gardens don’t mound new dirt over treated soil next to the foundation or piers. Avoid using mulch in gardens next to the house. Mulch is just wood chips and when it gets wet, it’s a buffet for your local termites.

And, believe it or not, outdoor lights with white bulbs may attract night swarming termites, especially in the spring. Try replacing white bulbs with yellow or pale amber.

There are some advancement that is being made in the detection of termites and termite colonies in structures and homes. Actually, it is technology that has been around for awhile but is just now being used in the detection of termites.

Termite Tenting

While you can try treating your house for termites yourself, you will probably want to leave it up to a professional so that you know it’s done right. There are many pest control companies who specialize in termite eradication and control.

If you have a particularly bad termite problem, the exterminator may suggest that you have a tent fumigation done. This is for bad infestations that extend throughout the structure, and it is probably the most radical of all termite treatments.

With tent fumigation, you will be required to leave your home for a minimum of three days. The chemicals that the company uses are strong although they won’t cause damage to anything in your home except for exposed food.

There are some preparations you will need to go through to get ready for the tenting. You may want to ask your pest control operator specifically what you need to do before they come, but here is a general list of guidelines:

Your fumigator may ask that other things be done prior to tenting, so be sure to ask them prior to the procedure. They will probably provide you with a sheet indicating they have advised you of the preparations.

They will also probably give you an information about the specific gas they will be using and ask you to sign a piece of paper that acknowledges you have been advised of all this.

The first day of fumigation, your home is covered with a tent or tarp. The idea of this is to make sure that the gas they use stays inside the structure and that all areas of the home will be treated with the gas. Here’s what a tented home looks like on day 1:

After the home is covered with the tent, Vikane gas or some other type of chemical is sent inside the home and circulated with fans placed throughout the home. The purpose of the fans is to move the gas throughout the home so that all areas are covered and treated.

The property is then left alone for the gas to work through and kill the termites. Since Vikane is odorless, chloropicrin (tear gas) is added as a warning agent. Warning signs are also posted around the perimeter of the tent.

Day 2 is when the tent is removed from the home and the gas is released. All the windows and doors will be opened and the fans will still run so that all the gas is taken out of the structure.

In pure form, the gas can be lethal to breathe in, but when the home is aired out, the level of gas can be brought down to levels that have been found to cause no harm to animals or humans.

On the third day, the inspectors will come in with special measuring instruments to measure the level of gas in the air and determine whether or not it is safe for you to come back in the home. They will do another visual inspection to make sure that all live termites have been eradicated that were inside the structure.

They will provide you with a certification form showing that your home is termite free and then give you suggestions as to how to prevent an infestation from happening again.

While the tenting will kill all live termites, however, subterranean termites are in the soil and the gas won’t be able to reach and kill them. That’s why a prevention plan is so important because you want to avoid re-infestation by the presence of these bugs.

The gas will not kill the termite eggs. Vikane is not an ovicide, meaning it will not kill the insect eggs. However, in the case of termites, even if the eggs hatch, the baby termite will eventually die because there are no worker termites to feed them.

If the target pest is drywood termites, the concentration of Vikane gas will be very specific to the required dosage for drywood termites. However, even at this dosage, Vikane will kill many other insects like cockroaches, silverfish, ants, even rats and mice.
You may continue to see evidence of termite droppings around your home. Though fumigation kills all termites inside the house, the droppings will still be inside the termite galleries or tunnels inside the wood.

Through constant movement of the house, for example, doors closing hard, natural movements, and the gravitational pull, you will still see termite droppings occasionally.

You will be allowed back into your home after the certification process is completed on the third day. The gas won’t harm anything in your home such as furniture, etc.
You may want to wash down cabinets and countertops, but this isn’t really necessary as Vikane gas will not stick to any surface because of its non-residual properties. Many people do this anyway for their own piece of mind anyway.

Tenting, however, isn’t always necessary to treat for termites. You can also have other treatments done to get rid of your termites. Most of these procedures are also used as preventative measures when you are trying to keep termites from infesting your home. You may want to consider other methods of treating termites, such as Chemical treatment.

Non Toxic Termite Treatment

Many people are very cognizant about the chemicals that we use to control pests which are why there is a new trend toward natural or non toxic termite treatment to rid our structures of these pesky and damaging insects.

While the use of chemicals is the most effective way to get rid of termites, you can still take measure with natural termite treatment to minimize the damage and keep termites out of your home or building.

Natural termite treatment is the use of termite prevention and control without chemical use. Instead, physical controls are installed during construction such as sand barriers or metal termite shields.

If termite infestation does occur, least toxic methods of treatment are used. What that means is that natural termite treatment is geared toward keeping those pests out instead of killing those who have already gotten in.

What you really need to do is use natural termite treatment to prevent termites from coming into your structure in the first place. That means you won’t use chemicals to keep those pesky termites away, but you will use certain strategies to make sure that they have no food sources that will attract them to your place.

One of the first things you can do in natural termite treatment is to remove any source of chronic moisture since termites are attracted to damp wood for their food source. Moist soil is necessary for termites to survive.

Termites travel back and forth between soil and food sources because they must obtain moisture from the soil. In addition, capillary action and water vapor buildup can result in excessive dampness which can actually wick through a concrete slab or masonry foundation to the wood framing above it, thus attracting termites.

In above-ground foundations, moisture barrier films such as 6 mil polyethylene can be used to cover the area under the structure. This will help decrease moisture buildup in sub-flooring.

Foundation wall vents should be placed to provide cross ventilation for homes with crawl spaces. If re-grading or remodeling covers vents, additional vents may be needed. Some experts recommend the use of moisture barriers under slab foundations as well in natural termite treatment programs.

Areas subject to moisture build-up, such as bathrooms, should be given special attention since they are likely to be attack areas. Areas under tubs and drains leading to the exterior (such as air conditioner drains) should be considered vulnerable spots.

This is a very important part of natural termite treatment since elimination of moisture will take away the termite’s food source and they won’t come for a visit!

Natural termite treatment is a great way to keep our environment healthy and ecologically sound. We should do what we can to make sure that our Earth survives despite our use of chemicals – and natural termite treatment is a great place to start!

Of course, the best way to prevent having to treat for termites is to take steps to make their living conditions less than conducive. So what can you do to keep them from coming for a visit in the first place? This article on Termites Prevention offers some good ideas to keep the pest away from your home.

Infrared Termite Detection

One of the most exciting innovations in the pest control industry is the use of infrared technology and termite inspection. Infrared technology is used to detect heat in small spaces and is perfect for use in the termite inspection because it can detect colonies that are massed together and make it easier for the pest control operator to pinpoint the location of the infestation and effectively get rid of the problem in one fell swoop.

Finding termites can be difficult, yet knowing where they are located is important when deciding on the correct eradication program. The traditional method is to simply tap on the wood with the back of a screwdriver, or to poke holes in walls or even pull them apart.

Infrared technology and termite inspect now offers a new, high technological detection system that is quick, effective and does not require any damage to houses.

Infrared technology and termite inspection is being used with an increased frequency because it can easily detect the presence of termites by simply inserting a small camera at the end of a thin rod and then manipulating the camera around to find the termite swarms.

Because termites mass together to work on the wood, where there is one, there is always more. That’s why infrared technology and termite inspection go hand in hand.

Thermal imaging technology detects heat patterns. When termites invade buildings, the normal heat patterns of the walls, floors and roof are changed due to the presence of termites. The thermal camera records this change in heat patterns and indicates the exact location of any termite infestation.

A color image shows hot spots as red or yellow and cold spots as blue or purple and these heat patterns indicate termite infestations. That means that infrared technology and termite inspection can be much more effective than the normal ways of doing a termite inspection.

However, termites are considered cold blooded insects, so how can they generate heat? Termites are hosts to bacteria, which live in their gut, and these bacteria help break down and digest cellulose, the main component of wood. It is this digestion and chemical reaction that generates the heat.

That’s why infrared technology and termite inspection makes the location of termites much easier thus allowing the pest control company to target the specific areas where termites are located and make the treatment effective.

The pest control company that pairs infrared technology and termite inspection together is one that is highly effective and employing the latest tools in pest control so that they can do a great job for you – the consumer.

When the termite inspector is looking for termites, often, they will have to cause a certain amount of damage to the home in order to see if there is any evidence that termites have been there. That means opening up holes in walls, floors, etc.

With infrared technology and infrared cameras, all the pest control operator has to do is make a hole the size of the camera. The camera is mounted at the small end of a pipe much like what doctors use to perform arthroscopic surgery.

What that means is that the hole that needs to be made is very small. Once the camera is inserted through the hole, it sends back a very clear image that allows the termite inspector to see any possible damage inside walls and floors.

Of course, any type of disturbance to an area that may have termite damage will cause the active termites to move to a new location to avoid the disturbance. That can interfere with any localized treatment that the inspector will suggest.

However, the camera can move about stealthily in a way that will help the termite inspector see where they are moving and then suggest ways to target specific areas where they think the termites have moved to. That’s why it is so important to have a trained and licensed inspector look at your property to determine the level of your termite infestation.

So we’ve had all this talk about what termites look like, where they live, and what to do to either eradicate or prevent them. But you may wonder about the damage that they can do. Is it really all that bad? Take a look at the possible extend termites can damage your home.

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Sentricon: Is Your Home Termite-Free? MarketWatch - 16 hours ago INDIANAPOLIS, Aug 07, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) — You think your home is safe from termites — but is it really? The problem with termites is that they do their …

Signs Of Termite Infestation

Here are some of the common signs of termite infestation you should look out for:

Because the evidence of termite damage cannot usually be seen by the naked eye or the untrained eye, you probably will want to employ the expertise of a professional to check for any evidence of termites and/or termite damage.

Usually, people find out they have termites when they go to buy or sell a home. Most realtors – at least responsible ones will insist on a termite inspection prior to the closing. They will call in an experienced pest control company to perform the inspection and then report on the condition of the home.

You should consult with several different companies before obtaining and inspection and get price estimates before you choose a company. If you are getting a termite inspection for a home sale or purchase, the realtor will be able to suggest some firms, but you don’t have to stick with the one that they want you to use.

Get several different price estimates and ask questions about credentials. The company and its inspectors should be members of professional organizations and be able to present you with proof of their certification. You will be spending money for an inspection, so you want someone you can trust.

A termite inspection is a visual inspection of the readily accessible areas of a home for evidence of wood-destroying insects (WDI) and wood-destroying organisms (WDO). The inspector will conduct the termite inspection by visually looking at the entire interior of a home (including accessing and entering any sub-space such as basements and crawlspaces) and exterior of the property.

In areas where drywood termites are prevalent, and in houses where there are no sub-areas, the attic may also be accessed and inspected during a termite inspection.

After the termite inspection has been performed, the findings are reported on the applicable/appropriate form. The average termite inspection takes approximately 30 to 45 minutes for a thorough inspection, depending on the size and conditions (e.g. clutter; storage of personal items, etc.) of the home and property.

You want your inspector to be thorough during the termite inspection and be able to identify any existing damage as well as check for any possible future damage, so be patient with them and take heed of any findings.

The inspector should be very thorough, and whoever you choose should be fully licensed, certified, and insured. He or she will present you with a thorough report on anything that they find on the appropriate forms.

They may also give you a suggested route of treatment or prevention depending on what they find. Since most termite inspectors work for pest control companies, they know how to most effectively treat the problem.

Once you get a termite inspection, it might be a good idea to get a second opinion – especially if the estimate is higher than you think it should be. There are a lot of companies and inspectors out there who will try to pad an estimate so that they can make more money off of treatment. That makes them fraudulent, and they are out there more than you can know.

Take a look at your original list of estimates and choose another company to come out and inspect the property. Of course, when you get a second opinion, you will have to pay for it too, but if you are looking at a huge treatment estimate, spending that extra couple of hundred dollars can be well worth the investment.

So you’ve found out that you have termites – now what? Well, aside from screaming in agony and crying your eyes out, first, get hold of your emotions and realize that this is not a problem that can’t be solved. Now, you need to get treatment.

What Does Termite Damage Look Like

Here are some of the termite damage visuals which may give you an idea of how termite damage look like.

Here is an example of termite damage to a floor joist. Note the burrowing tunnels as this is typically indicative of the presence of termites.

In the following picture, you will not only see the burrowing holes, but you can also see the pinpoint holes where the termites have entered the wood.

Here is another more extensive termite damage visual.

As you can see, the damage that termites can cause could be quite extensive. If the infestation is left to continue, it can cause thousands of dollars of damage to a structure and even completely destroy a home beyond repair.