Floorboards that are soft and feel weak under your feet, droppings that appear in piles or pebbles in various places in the home, and doors and windows that are warped are big clues that your home is infested with termites. The irony of these very small pests is that they wreak great havoc on a home when left unchecked. Not only do they have the potential to destroy the home, but they leave unpleasant clues to their presence
Termites are bad news for any homeowner. At a minimum, the home will require a pest control inspection, and at worst, homeowners will have to bear the cost of termite treatment and the structure will need to be repaired. The home sustains damage, but more importantly, this damage can have long-reaching effects, even after the home has been repaired and treated for the pests.
Keep reading to learn more about the damage that a termite infestation can cause in your home.
Structural Damage
The most damaging thing that termites do is weaken the structural and foundational parts of the home. The three main areas termites affect are the walls, the ceiling, and the foundation of the structure. Combined, termites can destroy a home while costing its owners a fortune in repairs.
In the walls, homeowners might find mud walls or tunnels which termites use to journey to food. The mud walls can appear as small piles of mud creeping up the side of the wall.
Subterranean termites are found underground or in the foundation of the home. If the home has a basement, this is usually the first place of entry for these pests and usually where their nest is found. Entering the home is not difficult because cracks and holes in the foundation are common entry points in the home.
When found on the ceiling, the infestation has reached a point of serious damage. Usually, when the infestation is this bad, homeowners might see these mud tubes on the ceiling. This can also mean that the termites are moving up a floor in a multi-story home.
Termites basically spend most of their day eating at wood, which can be found in the walls, floors, and ceiling of a home. This destruction combined with the moisture found in homes can be destructive. Some experts say that it can take anywhere between one and eight years for a termite infestation to grow into a real problem for a homeowner.
Impact Resale Value
This damage has the potential to affect the resale value of the home. If the home has a record of being treated or has had to be treated more than once, this can impact the homeowner’s ability to sell the home at fair market value. The best way to address this issue is to get an inspection prior to the resale of your home to ensure that there is a record of the home being infestation-free.
Human Health
There is also an impact on human health as well. Like other bugs, termites also leave humans with bites, which can be uncomfortable. In any case, the red soreness is a mild effect in comparison to the costs to repair the home.
The Good, The Bad And The Ugly
One obvious effect of a termite infestation is to the homeowner’s bank balance in terms of treating the home and making any repairs. The human cost, in addition, soreness from bites, has the potential to be expensive in the short term, with doctor’s visits and lotions needed to treat them. Long-term, however, the homeowner might also have trouble selling the home for what it’s worth without another inspection. It definitely pays to do your best to keep your home free from termites.