The Cost Of Termites

If you don’t know what a subterranean termite is, I hope you never learn first hand. These little home wreckers damage homes all across the country to the tune of $5 billion each year. THIS is not an insect you want anywhere NEAR your home!

What do termites do to homes?

• Termites do structural damage. They eat away at support beams that can cause a cascade of damage throughout your entire house.
• Termites eat through walls and chew up wallpaper.
• Termites eat through paint.
• Termites chew furniture, books, some photos, banisters, and door frames.
• Termites are able to eat through anything that is softer than their mandibles, things like foam, plastic, drywall–even thin sheets of lead.
• Termites eat cellulose. Cellulose is the most abundant organic compound in the world. It is found in many building materials, plants, and household items. These bugs don’t just wreck your home, they can consume precious memorabilia.

Do I have termites? Here are the signs:

• If you find an insect that looks like a flying ant but does not have the three distinct body segments of an ant, you’ve found a termite.
• If you have mud tunnels on your foundation that look like veins, termites are getting into your home from the soil.
• Sawdust in piles on the floor, running down the wall, or caked in a ceiling corner are a good indication that you have termites.
• Sometimes you can hear them if you place your ear to the wall.
• Look for damage around your house, like on your fence, porch, patio, or deck.
• Loose tiles or sagging floors.
• Bubbling or peeling paint.
• Tiny pinpoint holes in your drywall.
• bulging walls.
• Jammed doors or windows.

If you have termites, call a professional pest-control company. The cost of repairing termite damage can be in the thousands and can sometimes total a home. You have invested too much into your home to not protect it from termites! Get termite monitoring and wipe out termite colonies before they can harm your house. The best defense against termites is a good offense.

Contact Holder’s today for more information.