Why You Need Termite Repair If You Live in California

Termite repair is crucial to protect your roof and other portions of your house from the damaging effects of termites and prevent future infestations.

No one wants to think about having pests in their home. But if you’re a homeowner, you must take care of infestations when they happen. Termites are common, and they will do lots of damage if you ignore them in your home for too long. Here’s why you need to be vigilant against them, how to receive termite repair for the damage they cause, and how to stop them from coming back.

Termites In CA

Termites are a serious problem in California, as they find the climate agreeable and food is plentiful in many areas. Every kind of termite feeds on cellulose-based plant material, including wood. With so much of your home made up of wood, if they get into your home, they can cause serious damage.

There are three different types of termites you need to be on the lookout for:

• Firstly, there are  Drywood Termites. As the name suggests, they get into the dry wood in your home, especially in the attic and rafters. These termites enter through vents and small cracks in the wood, creating nests.
• Next, there are Subterranean Termites. They get in your home through cracks in the foundation, creating tunnels called ‘mud tubes’ to make their way to the wood.
• The last, and most destructive, type of termites are Formosan Termites. They create large colonies compared to other types of termites, and they can also eat their way through wood much quicker.

How to Know You’ve Got Termites

It’s hard to spot termites as opposed to other pests, as they don’t leave a lot of evidence that they’re there. In some cases, you won’t know you have them until the damage is already done. Don’t despair though – if you are vigilant, you will be able to spot the signs that termites are getting comfortable in your house:

• ‘Mud tubes’ running up your walls. These look like pencil-thin extrusions from the ground, and they are the tunnels that termites are using to get into your home.
• Peeling paint on wooden surfaces.
• Wood rot, or wood that appears to have been eaten away.
• Termite feces, which looks like tiny wooden pellets.
• The presence of winged termites, which may be alive or dead.
• Roof damage, such as slipped or missing shingles, or water stains on your ceilings.

If you’re not sure, a pest control operative or a contractor can come and inspect your home for you. They’re experts in seeing the damage termites will do, so they can tell you if your home has termites.

The Damage Termites Do To Your Home

Termites will damage any wood in your home. If a termite infestation is left unchecked long enough, those wooden sections of your home will take major damage. Termite repair will help restore your wood patios, decks, and roofs as well as other wood surfaces.

The biggest danger of termites is the threat to your roofing. Your roof is shingled on top, but underneath it’s comprised mostly of wood. Termites will get into those rafters and eat away at them, until they’re almost hollow and can’t take the strain of holding up your roof. If left long enough, the rafters will collapse – leading to the roof collapsing and needing replacement ASAP.

As you can see, it’s essential that you get on top of termite infestations and get termite repair as soon as you see them. Left long enough, they will cause damage that makes termite repair more and more expensive.

How to Get Termite Repair For Your House

There are two ways you can repair damage caused by termites in your home. You can replace the section of wood that was eaten away, or you can add a section of wood to support the damaged part(s). If the damage was extensive, then you’re better off replacing that entire wood section. If you caught the damage early on, then it may be possible to add more wood to support the structure.

Either way, it’s often best to call a professional to handle it, rather than trying to fix the damage yourself. Of course, you’ll also want to call in pest control first to drive out the infestation, so the termites won’t cause more damage after termite repair is made.

Controlling Termites

When you call a pest control company, they’ll first do an examination to ensure that you are dealing with termites. If they see that they are present, they’ll then recommend a course of action to you.

This usually comprises of a barrier insecticide treatment. This stops termites from entering and prevents termites in your home from getting back outside. If they can’t get out, they can’t reach the moisture they need to survive.

How to Prevent Termites in Your Home

Now that you’ve got rid of the termites and got termite repair for the damage, you need a way to keep the termites out of your home for good. There are ways you can ensure that they won’t come back:

• Seal up gaps around your home, such as gas and water lines. Termites can use those spaces to get into your home – remove the access so they can’t get in.
• Wood-to-ground contact around your home gives termites an easy way into your home. Look around your house and see if there’s any wood contacting the ground; a contractor can help you address the problem and remove that access.
• Remove food sources for termites to make your home less attractive for them. If you use landscaping mulch, use a cellulose-free version, and keep it at least six feet away from your home.
• Fix any moisture problems in your basement or roof. Water helps termites live, so fixing this problem makes your home much more hostile to them (therefore not worth infesting).

Termites are a real problem. You need to be on guard to ensure they don’t find a way into your home. Following these tips will help you keep them out, and keep your woodwork safe from these persistent pests.