How to Repair Termite Damage in Home or Business

repair-termite-damage

Termites can cause great damage to a home if not detected early. As there are a variety of different types of termites from those who prefer wet wood and those who prefer dry wood there are termites for every occasion. With the slightest little opening in your home caused by water damage or rotting wood, termites could get in and start feasting on your dream house.

Little by little they could be eating away on posts and beams that could cause incredible damage that will end up costing you thousands of dollars. You will need to look for the signs periodically of termites to make sure that you detect it early if you do end up with termites. The sooner you detect the termites the sooner you will be able to repair your home.

Annual inspections are always recommended, but you can also see for yourself with some minor signs such as shed wings and small piles of feces which are just some ways to determine if you have a termite problem. Some severe cases will cause walls, floors, and/or ceilings to swell and you may see some flying around. They look like small ants with wings. They vary in color from white to brown, depending on the type of termite it is and they don’t all have wings.

The termites with wings are venturing out to find new areas to build another colony. This is where the severe damage is caused. They will find any new damaged areas that they could feast on. As the numbers grow the food is limited and will need to find other areas that they could eat. Call upon a professional exterminator to get rid of these creatures so you can start the process of making repairs. Once you have an exterminator come and treat the areas to destroy the termites, then you will need to make sure they are all gone before starting to repair termite damage.

Remove Damaged Wood

You have a choice to either remove the damaged wood or place a new piece of wood that provides added support. Even if the wood is damaged you may not have to pull it out and just put new wood next to it or on it, depending on where it is located. Adding new wood without removing the damaged wood can be more cost effective. If there isn’t enough space for the new wood and damaged wood then you will need to remove the old wood. If the damaged wood is visible then new wood is needed.

Sometimes the damaged wood is so bad that it will need to be completely removed. If the area that is ruined is a beam, post or the floor then chances are you will need to completely remove the rotted wood and replace with new wood. Have an expert replace the wood as this can be too dangerous to try on your own. The ceiling could collapse or cave in due to the damage and if it hasn’t you may not completely know how to remove it to prevent it falling on top of you and others working on the area.

Call Upon A Contractor

You will need to get several estimates from different contractors. Analyze their reputation and credibility before having them repair extensive damage. As it is it may cost you tens of thousands of dollars and you don’t want to pay even more if the job is done incorrectly. Sometimes the damage is so bad that you will need to get your foundation repaired and it is required by law to have a state code officer overlook the work that was done before everything is complete.

Check Your Insurance Policy

You may be surprised that you will have some of this cost covered by your insurance. If you bought the home new then you should contact your lawyer as this should not be something you needed to worry about right away and it should have been as part of the inspection process before you bought the home. You should have also have been told about it from a previous homeowner if you bought the home several years old. With termite protection in your insurance there is a guarantee on possible damage caused by termites. When you try to sell your home you will need to reveal that there was termite damage and you repaired it.

Take the following steps when starting repairs:

  • Have an exterminator get rid of the termites.
  • Call upon a qualified contractor to give estimate of damage and start repairs.
  • Make repairs by replacing damaged wood or adding new wood alongside the rotted wood.
  • Replace damaged wood with new wood if visible or is a beam or post.
  • Check your insurance policy for termite coverage.
  • Alert new homeowners that there was termite damage when deciding to sell your home.
Published
Categorized as Termites

By David Jackson

I enjoy learning about new pest control strategies and sharing what I learn at NeverPest.com. I aim to create a reliable resource for people dealing with all sorts of pest issues.

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

I accept the Terms and Conditions and the Privacy Policy

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.