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 Subterranean termites cause over
1 billion dollars in damage to homes throughout the United States each
year. That's more than the combined damage from fires, floods, hurricanes,
tornadoes, and earthquakes. However, a typical homeowner's insurance policy
does not cover the threat of termites. That is why it's important to take
the necessary steps to protect your home.
Although termites are
more prevalent in the South, no one is exempt from the threat of them invading
and causing serious structural damage It's been said many times, there are
two kinds of homes: those with termites, and those that will eventually
have them. Termites can be found in new and old homes, and even dwellings
built on concrete slabs. A concrete slab does not eliminate wood to ground
contact. Virtually all homes have a wood frame, so no matter how the wood
is separated from the soil, termites can work their way in from the ground
below. All termites need is an opening greater than 1/64" and they can
build a tunnel. In slab-type homes they can be very difficult to detect.
Never seeing termites
swarming in your home does not necessarily mean you are termite-free. When
termites swarm, it usually lasts less than an hour and happens once or twice
a year. You could miss seeing the swarm, and sometimes they may not swarm
at all.
Termite damage can go
undetected for years, but it can lead to wood and plaster cracks, sagging
floors, loose wood trim, siding, wallboards and more. In time, major repairs
to your home may be necessary.
 Termites are one of the most organized, efficient, and
persistent pests you will ever encounter, and it's likely you will see no
evidence of their presence until damage has been done. They are very
attracted to moist areas like basements and crawl spaces. Termites don't
know the difference between the wood in your home and the wood in the
forest. They live in colonies in the soil. Colonies revolve around a king
and queen, and their only job is to reproduce. Worker termites commute
between the colony and sources of nourishment, which include wood fibers
and other forms of cellulose which they eat, digest, and share with other
members of their colony. They stay busy 24 hours a day. Worker termites
rarely break through the surface of wood, instead they hollow it out from
the inside. So, most of the damage they cause is invisible.
Dodson Bros. can
protect your home from termites by treating the soil around and beneath
your home with a termiticide (a pesticide effective against termites),
which hinders their movement into your home. Termites already in the home
cannot return to the soil, so they expire from a lack of moisture. Termites
on the other side of the barrier cannot reach your home so they seek other
sources of cellulose. The termiticide barrier must be maintained and
renewed periodically, depending on moisture and other conditions, in order
to remain effective.
Common signs of
infestation are: Wings near doors or windows, mud tunnels near the
foundation, or swarming termites near light sources. It takes a licensed,
trained professional to spot termite damage. Call the Dodson Bros. office nearest you today
for a FREE INSPECTION!
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