Munch, crunch: is your home about to become lunch? That’s not good. Termites cost Americans more than $5 billion in damages annually, according to Termites.com. How can you avoid termite damage and manage it if you discover that it’s present in your home? 

What Kind of Damage Can Occur?  

According to Termites.com, “… termites are wood-destroying insects capable of damaging a home’s structural timbers, including posts, floor supports, ceiling supports, subfloors and wall studs.” Your home’s infrastructure could be in danger from these enthusiastic, wood-loving insects. The problem could be a minor, cosmetic one, but it could also be a problem so large and serious that it causes a floor or wall to collapse.

Be Vigilant 

The problem with termites is not just that they eat your walls, it’s that they do it from the inside, leaving a deceptively good-looking shell that appears to be sound. It’s only when those structures begin to crumble and impact the rest of the house that many people notice the damage. The first step to managing termite damage is to be ever-vigilant. What should you look for when you’re looking for termite problems? 

• Winged insects in and around the home 
• Floors or walls that sag
• Loose flooring 
• Very small holes in the drywall
• Bubbling paint 
• Windows or doors that won’t close

Conduct regular inspections of your home to make sure that termites have not damaged it and ask a professional to come in and inspect your property if you’re unsure. Pest control experts are termite experts, and they know how to look for potential termite problems and termite entry points. They will likely recommend ways to prevent termites from entering your building, such as adding screens to open vents.

Manage Water on Your Roof, Walls, and Foundation 

Wet wood is easy to enter and destroy, and if you have a wet roof, walls, and foundation, your home could be a termite magnet. Wood can be wet for several reasons: 

• Water backs up from the gutters onto the roof
• Snow and ice damage the roof and the structures underneath 
• Water flows down your siding when gutters overflow 
• Your yard isn’t sloped properly, so water from the gutters and your garden stays near the foundation

To avoid future termite problems, you need to work on these water issues. This will allow you to maintain a dry space that will be far less attractive to pests.

Repair and Replace Damaged Areas 

Termite damage can be serious, and the types of repairs that you need to do depend in part on the type of home, how long the termites have been present, and the type of termite. You’ll need to work with professionals to make sure that they control the termites before you do any work on the building. You can either replace the structures that the termites have damaged or add supports if the structures are not too badly damaged. In any case, you must both remove the termites and remove the reasons why termites entered the building before you can consider repairing the building.

At Harry Helmet, we’re here to protect your home. Whether it’s through a sound roof, strong walls, or a solid foundation,  we’ll help you keep your home functioning at its peak. Contact us about our roofing and gutter replacement options that will help you keep your home dry and pest-free. Learn more about gutter guards today.

Written by Del Thebaud