First things first, let’s discuss the most expensive thing these little buggers like to destroy! If you own or are considering buying a home that is hosting a city of termites, your first concern should be their impact on the house’s framing. The framing of the home refers to all of the wood that sits behind the drywall and flooring to form the home’s structure.
You’ve heard people refer to wall studs, this is what we’re’ talking about. The studs are the vertical pieces of wood that make up the walls of a building. They’re sturdy and strong which is why people hang heavy objects like cabinets and large mirrors onto walls where there are studs. And in most residential homes these studs are made of delicious termite approved wood.
Your home’s joists are the horizontal beams that support the floor and the roof. As you can imagine, these are extremely important to the security of the home. If you’ve ever been in an old home where the floor sagged and bounced, it’s likely due to joists that have weakened due to some kind of damage.
Termites love to make meals out of the studs and joists in your home, and this is the likely the most expensive thing you’ll have to address. Each of these elements is expensive and complicated to replace, in part because it requires completely removing the walls, ceiling, or floors that cover them. When homes go too long without termite control the damage to these areas can be severe.
Drywall
Often people don’t realize that termites eat drywall. Drywall is made of cellulose, which is the substance in wood that termites eat, so drywall is an easy snack for a hungry and growing colony. It’s not likely, but definitely possible, that a colony of termites would eat your drywall yet totally avoid the wood structure behind it. If this does occur your bill for repairs will be much lower as you’ll only need to replace the drywall itself and not the structure that holds it all up.
When a home goes too long without termite control, especially in the state of Florida, it becomes more and more vulnerable to infestation. And even though this list is short, it is not comprehensive, there are other places in and around your home that can be vulnerable to termites as well.
If you’re wondering about the state of your home remember this, termites like many other bugs, enjoy dark damp environments. So any place where you may have water intrusions, like a damaged roof or leaky shower, are ideal places for termites to make their home. For more termite control information or to schedule a free estimate with a member of our team, contact us today.
