House Destroyed by Termites

Of the numerous species of termites that exist, only three actually cause a lot of problems in North America, especially in the U.S. Termites threaten wooden structures because wood products and materials are their primary food. This is why they will build nests in areas near their food source, such as a forest or a house. Because these pests can cause so much damage, it is not uncommon to find news headlines and reports proclaiming that a house has been destroyed by termites.

Why termites are after your house

Termites subsist on dead plant material, such as leaves and wood. They will also consume animal dung, which usually contains plant matter. Since most houses are built with wooden materials, termites will target it sooner or later. Termites don’t deliberately target homes, however. They cannot distinguish between wood found in a tree and wood found inside a house.

The rate of termite destruction

Of the numerous termites you’ll find in a colony, only the worker termites will attack your home. Workers are programmed to take care of the colony. That is, create shelter, nurture the eggs, feed the colony and look for food. A house destroyed by termites is often a house destroyed by the worker caste.

How fast can a termite destroy your home? A colony consisting of about 50,000 workers is capable of eating a 2 x 4 12-inch long piece of wood in about 8 - 9 weeks, provided the conditions are ideal. In a termite-infested home that is left untreated, a house can be destroyed in about 10 to 15 years.

Preventing destruction

There are ways you can prevent your house from being destroyed by termites. Prior to construction, for example, you could specify to have the ground treated by pesticide in order to prevent termites from boring underneath. A building can also be designed so that no wooden material comes in contact with the soil. Typically, a termiticide treatment cost will range from $300 to about $1,000.

There are also chemicals that may be used for maintaining the quality of the wood and discourage termites from damaging it. Generally, it’s cheaper to treat a home prior to infestation in order to prevent it from being destroyed by termites. If there is already termite damage, treatment cost can average at about $1,500.

A home should also undergo professional inspection and not just prior to selling or refinancing. Prior to purchase of a home, it is very prudent to have an engineer and a licensed termite/pest control specialist inspect the structure. An engineer will check the structural integrity of the house while a termite specialist will check for any damages that may be attributed to termites. He or she can then recommend treatment and solutions to control the infestation and prevent further damage. This will help avoid the likelihood that you house will be destroyed by termites.

Ensuring home integrity

The one person who can check for a house’s structural integrity is a licensed engineer. However, his services are best paired with that of a termite control specialist. A termite specialist can spot damages caused by termites on the structure and an engineer can assess whether or not the structure is still treatable or will require replacement. A house destroyed by termites is an unnecessary expense, considering that it can be avoided. The important thing is to be aware of what you’re supposed to do to prevent an infestation and what you can do to treat it.