subject: Overcoming An Infestation Of Termites [print this page] The way termites usually get into your property is by first invading an area that you don't often use. They can infiltrate a garage, shed, or even basement fairly extensively before any homeowner would even notice the damage. They can actually burrow through wood, leaving few external signs of damage until it is too late.
Once it is chewed on wood no longer serves its home construction or security purposes. It can stop being safe to walk across the floors, climb the stairs, or even soak in a filled tub, as the weight may be too much weight for the wood. A homeowner will never know the extent of the damage until he or she breaks open the wood or tries to put a large amount of weight on the damaged area.
The next possible way for termites to establish an infestation in a home is when it has been left vacant for an extended period of time. Occupants are not the deterrent in a normal situation; the presence of regular pest management is what usually keeps them at bay. But once the house is empty and bugs and local animals are left to their own devices, decay and destruction become unavoidable.
This is why home inspections are critical before moving forward with a home purchase. The previous owners may have suspected or even known of termites causing a problem in the framework or the wooden siding, porch, or shed. The previous owners may also have been oblivious, because it may have occurred after they moved out. Either way, for the new residents it is paramount that termite removal be performed for the sake of safety, sanitation, and the protection of real estate. No one wants their house to be eaten out from under them, after all.
Termites crave nitrogen in their diets, which causes their feeding patterns and subsequent swarms. It is important for homeowners to take charge of protecting their homes. Whether they live in a newly constructed sprawling estate or a 30-year-old fixer-upper, they need to make sure that no wooden parts of the house are making contact with the soil and that they are using water spouts that take the water away from the foundation.
For all these precautions, in the end no home is really safe unless it's made of glass and metal with no fibrous elements. It is wise to have termite inspections performed each year, but if an infestation is already underway you must first understand what type of termites your home is dealing with and then seek professional inspection and fumigation.
