Think You Have Extensive Termite Damage?
Major termite damage will greatly affect the structural integrity of your home and can often result in ceilings or floors collapsing. However, if damage has not affected your home’s structure, it can still be impacted by ruined carpeting, walls, furniture, and flooring. Whether the damage is structural or aesthetic, immediate termite damage repair needs to be undertaken before conditions worsen.
Is It Possible to Repair Termite Damage?
It is rare, however, possible for some termite species to damage a house to destruction, however, this only occurs when an infestation is left untreated for years. The most destructive termite in the United States is the Formosan termite, which is a type of subterranean termite generally found in the southern U.S. and in coastal areas. For example, a large Formosan termite colony has been known to cause significant damage to a house in around 2 years, when not controlled or eradicated.
Other termite species do take several more years to cause the same amount of damage, only because colonies are not a big as Formosan colonies. In fact, some dry wood termite colonies are that small it would take over 2 decades for them to cause damage so extensive that a house is beyond repair.
It is not common for termites to destroy a home before the activity has been discovered by the homeowner. Once a colony gets to maturity, signs of activity are visible. Periodic inspections by a licensed technician will help homeowners to detect if there is a termite infestation, while the damage is still minimal and repairs are cheaper.
How to Repair Termite Damage
There are 2 ways to repair termite damage:
-
replace all the damaged sections of wood or
-
add a wooden support that is adjacent to the damaged wood.
In most cases, the repair is simpler and less expensive if you add a wooden support to damaged wood. This kind of repair will work for many structural and non-structural repairs. Repairs, however, that do involve replacing structural supports are more complicated. It is crucial that temporary support is provided to maintain a home’s integrity during these repairs.
If you would like to book an appointment with our termite damage repair service, please do not hesitate to call Mills Termite & Pest Control today at (803) 252-1467 if you reside in the Columbia, SC area.