Termite Damage Signs

If termite damage is a problem that you are trying to solve, then look no further to know the signs of termite damage. Termite damage signs are not very difficult to spot, all you need to do is to be vigilant for the pest activity. Read on to know the signs you should look for..

Termites are the tiny pests that feed on wood and other materials, they can do serious damage to your house if not taken seriously.

Termites are small colonized insects

, their colony can contain upto 50-60 thousands of termites. The termite colony is founded by the queen termite and king termite, with many worker termites doing chores like feeding the eggs,etc. Termites are attracted towards moisture as moist place can be a good nesting source to them. There are some flying termites too, whose function is to be on the look out for new nesting grounds.

Now that you are aware of these lilliputian foes, you should know the extent of damage they are capable of. It normally takes 3 to 8 years for these pests to fully hollow out the wooden structure in the house. Nevertheless, a very active and hungry colony of termites can completely eat away entire wooden materials in a few months time. So beware of these termites, and look out for the signs of termite damage.

Termite Damage Signs If you are building a house, it is better to take some termite damage control measures beforehand. After all, prevention is better than cure. You can have pest control

treatment done while building your house against future termite infestations. If you suspect that your house has been invaded by these tini-tiny creatures, search for the following termite damage signs.

• See whether there are any mud tube trails inside or around the house. The termites when they find the source of food, build a tunnel of mud for traveling to the food. If you find the mud tube, break it to find any live termites. Dead or no termites doesn’t mean that there is no infestation, it may imply that the mud tube has been abandoned by the colony.
• If you find any swarmers, i.e, flying termites that would probably mean that the infestation is there. Swarmers, upon finding the potential nesting place, shed their wings and start a colony of their own, thus spreading the infestation.
• Look for loose wooden boards and drooping floor or wall paint. You can check the hollowness of a wooden board by tapping it with a metal. The infested wood would definitely sound hollow, may even get damaged by tapping forcefully.
• Find out whether there is any stagnant water pool near your house. If yes, then immediately get rid of it as the termites can enter your house from the nearby tree stumps and lay their eggs near the water.
• Get rid of any wooden waste, tree stumps or other rubbles; thus eradicating a food source to the termites.
• Signs that a home has termite are the sawdust on wooden material and damaged woods. Unfortunately, just by replacing these termite damaged wood won’t solve the problem. You have to seek help by calling professional pest controller and use his expertise in doing termite damage identification.

Termite Damage Treatment The professional exterminator would inspect your house for the extent of damage, and then suggest his opinion regarding termite damage repair. The termite treatment cost

might be a necessary evil which you have to put up with, but do not opt for spot treatment.

• Spot treatment: It treats only some affected spots, mainly the visible ones. The underlying problem can be resolved only with a complete termite control treatment.
• Liquid Treatment: The termite damaged wood can be treated with liquid treatment. The liquid termicide is easily available in the market and wouldn’t cost much.
• Fumigation: Fumigation process involves spraying the affected area with gases like Sulfuryl Fluoride or Methyl Bromide. This process requires evacuation of the house and covering all the edible stuff.
• Bait treatment: This is another termite damage solution which consists of placing wooden bait in a syringe at the affected area. It is a slow but effective process and also less environmentally hazardous.

More on

• Termite Treatment: Do It Yourself
• Termites in Furniture

Problems with termites can be controlled and repaired if it is treated properly. Find out the early signs of termites to restrict the damage. Once you put an end to the home invasion by these little critters, you can simmer down and enjoy the beauty of your humble abode.