Full Answer
Should you buy a home with termite damage?
You may be worried about buying a home with termite damage, but it is completely normal and safe as long as the termite infestation has been cleared. It’s easy to understand why you may think twice about buying a home with a history of termites. However, unless there is an active termite infestation, it is absolutely safe to purchase a ...
How much does it cost to repair termite damage?
When it comes to the cost of fixing termite damage, two things are involved; the labor as well as the supplies required for the job. In most situations, labor costs take the lion’s share. You should expect to incur labor fees within the $266 to $900 range.
What are signs that you have termites?
- Mud tubes climbing up the side of your home's foundation
- Termite pellets, which look like piles of salt and pepper
- Swarms of flying termites (this is the biggest indicator)
- Fish scale-like wings from the swarms of flying termites
What damage do termites cause?
What type of damage termites may cause?
- Termite Structural Damage. Wood should be replaced with new wood for structural damage repairs. ...
- Laminate Floor Damage. When damage is found under laminate flooring the floors will need to be replaced; there is no saving it.
- Ceiling Damage. ...
- Foundation Damage. ...
- Carpet Infestation. ...
- Wall Damage. ...
How quickly can termite cause damage?
It can take anywhere from 3 to 8 years for termite damage to show up depending on the size of the colony.
How fast do termites eat your house?
Depending on the specific species of termite and the size of the colony in question, termites can consume wood at a rate of up to 1 pound in just 24 hours.
How long does it take for termites to destroy a home?
about 3 to 8 yearsHow Long Do Termites Ruin Your Foundations? Destructive termites take about 3 to 8 years to inflict noticeable damage to your property--this will still depend on the species of termite and the mature size of their nest. A colony consisting of 60,000 termites can eat 2x4 wood within 5 months.
How much wood can termites eat in a week?
This colony will eat only 1/5 of an ounce of wood a day. At this rate the colony could consume more than one foot of a pine 2X4 board in six months. An average-sized eastern subterranean colony contains about 300,000 workers.
Can you sleep in a house with termites?
Is It Safe To Sleep In A Bed With Termites? Not unless you are unbothered when insects crawl all over your body as you sleep, you can go ahead and sleep on a bed with termites. This is, however, not recommended even though termites are not considered to cause direct harm or be dangerous to humans.
Can you accidentally bring termites home?
As subterranean termites like chewing through items made of wood and cellulose, such as furniture and wooden floors, they can travel with you from another house and thus, be transferred to your home as well.
Do termites ever just go away?
Yes, they can go away on their own. Why is it a scary answer? Because you never know when they are going to come back! Without a termite treatment, there is no way of knowing when a healthy termite colony will return to re-infest a structure.
How do you know termites are gone?
First, if you don't spot any swarmers or live termites, there's likely no current termite activity. Secondly, if you notice mud tubes and break off a section that remains unrepaired after a few days, you have an inactive termite infestation.
Do termites come back after treatment?
Can Termites Return After Treatment? Unfortunately, they can. Termite treatment is very involved and requires ongoing maintenance to keep these pests out. Once your termite problem is fully treated, our termite control professionals will work to create a barrier around your home that will deter termites from returning.
What attracts termites in the house?
Leaky pipes, improper drainage, and poor airflow all create moisture issues that attract termites. Dampwood and subterranean termites in particular thrive in humid environments. While dampwood termites prefer water-damaged wood, subterranean termites are unable to live unless surrounded by enough moisture.
How fast do termites populate?
Termites can spread more quickly than other insects. A queen termite might lay up to 30,000 eggs every day, which can result in hundreds of thousands of termites in your home within a matter of months.
How long does it take for drywood termites to cause damage?
three to eight yearsAlthough nobody knows for sure how long it takes for drywood termites to cause damage to structures, some pest control professionals estimate that drywood termite infestations can take as long as three to eight years to cause extensive damage in homes.
How do you tell if termites are active in your house?
How to Tell If Termites Are Active in Your HouseDiscolored or drooping drywall.Peeling paint that resembles water damage.Wood that sounds hollow when tapped.Small, pinpoint holes in drywall.Buckling wooden or laminate floor boards.Tiles loosening from the added moisture termites can introduce to your floor.More items...
How much damage can termites do in 1 year?
Each year, termites and similar pests cause an estimated $30 billion in damage to crops and man-made structures in the U.S. A homeowner who discovers termite damage will spend an average of $3,000 to repair the damage.
Termites Are Quiet
When most bugs infest a home, they don't do it quietly. They crawl on your walls, fly past your face, congregate on your window sills, and make a general nuisance of themselves. This is not the case with subterranean termites. Subterranean termites are moisture pests. If they come out into the air, they dry up and die.
Termites Don't Sleep
These insects are simple organisms. They do not require sleep to recharge. Under the right conditions, they can feed on a home 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. And they don't need flashlights to do their job. Termite workers are born blind and equipped with all the instincts they need to do their job at peak proficiency without the need for sight.
Termites Leave Few Signs
When subterranean termites damage your home, they consume the evidence. Unlike carpenter ants, which push frass out of their tunnels, termites eat the wood and carry it back, inside their gut, to share with the other termites in their colony.
How Much Damage Can Termites Do To Your Property?
Over time, these insects can completely total a home. Walls will begin to bulge, floors will begin to sag, ceilings will begin to dip, and the structure will begin to warp. Even when termites are caught early, the damage they do is inside the wood is hard to track and it is difficult to know how significant the damage is.
Homes Are Not The Only Property That Can Be Damaged By Termites
These insects are equal opportunity infestors. Not only do they present a threat to homes, they can damage businesses as well. There is nothing unique about a home. Termites are just as attracted to the wood of a business building.
How Termite Infestation Begins
So what does extensive termite damage look like? In order to fully understand the end result, homeowners must know how it begins. In the spring and summer months, when the air is warm and the humidity is plentiful, termites emerge from their subterranean burrows after the long winter. Their first mission is to find food.
Your Solution: General Pest Control Termite Extermination
While there is a lot to fear when it comes to termite damage, there are easy steps to be taken to avoid catastrophe. Protect your home from these destructive insect menaces and prevent your home from suffering the consequences of inaction against termites, call General Pest Control.
How many different types of termites are there?
There are approximately 2,800 different types of termites. Only a few types can cause damage to your residence. Subterranean termites leaves external grain intact while forming tunnels inside the wood. Damaged wood breaks easily and the type of damage from subterranean termites can be hidden behind a home’s walls. Drywood termites have a smaller colony size and cause damage at a slower rate than subterranean termites. A termite specialist can identify the type of termite that may be residing in and consuming the wood in your home.
Can termites be covered by insurance?
Termites can damage the home and additional property on or near an infestation. Damage may not be covered by insurance and homeowners that do not address a termite issue before making repairs will continue to have termite problems. Termites require proper identification, treatment and controls to prevent a return. Treat termites at the first sign of an infestation to reduce the likelihood of extensive property damage. Contact a licensed professional to accurately identify and treat a termite infestation.
How much damage can termites do in one year?
I have baited my house for termites and it says that it could take from 6 to 24 months to kill the colony. I need to know if I need to do something else, so I need to know how much damage they can do in the 6 to 24 month period.
Answer
Unfortunately, it is nearly impossible to say how much damage can be done in a year because it depends on the size of the colony. However, termite damage is normally not very fast. For your situation we would recommend performing an in ground soil treatment with a product like Termidor or Fuse.
