American property owners spend more than two billion dollars to treat termite damage every year.
But that figure does not cover the total cost of termite damage. Termites are peskier than most people give them credit for. They cause damage in multiple ways, and determining the true cost of damage requires some work.
How much damage do termites truly cause? What are some of the hidden ways they cause damage? What are the different costs of repairs?
Answer these questions and you can determine the true extent of termite damage. Here is your quick guide.
How Much Damage Can Termites Cause?
Termite damage can be hard to detect. Termites are very small insects, which makes them hard to see. They stay in dark spaces out of sight, and they produce little sound or smell.
Because they are small, termites can burrow into the foundations of homes. They can eat the wood there, destroying a house at its base.
They can also go up into walls and crawl into the top floors of a house. They can eat wooden furniture and the interior structures inside walls.
This is the biggest threat that termites pose. Walls and floors can collapse in on themselves. If too much strain is put on a foundation, a house can fall down.
Hidden Dangers of Termite Damage
But termite damage presents other risks. Termites create mud tubes, which are tunnels that connect to garden spaces outside. Other insects, like ants, can enter through them, causing another infestation.
Termites use bacteria to break down food, just as humans do. But they can drag in dirt and mud that contains infectious substances.
Termite Damage Repair Costs
The costs of termite damage repair vary depending on the situation. Infestations you catch early on will cost less.
A service provider will need to conduct an inspection of your home. They will go into your basement and check your foundation. They will also look into your walls and wooden furniture for signs of insects.
They will use insecticides and boric acid to get rid of the insects. If you have an advanced infestation, they will need to conduct room-by-room cleaning. This can be expensive.
You may also need to replace damaged furniture and personal belongings. On rare occasions, you may need treatment for a bacterial infection. This can cost thousands of dollars.
Don’t hire the first service you see. Do research on how much to treat termites and check multiple websites for information.
The True Cost of Termite Damage
You cannot describe the cost of termite damage in one figure. Termites can destroy a house from within, eating away at its internal supports. They can collapse walls and floors.
Their tunnels can help other insects enter the house. Curing that infestation has its own costs. They can spread bacteria that contribute to disease.
The cost depends on how advanced the infestation is. Don’t pick the first service provider you come across. Compare prices and find the most affordable one.
Improve your home by honing in on the facts. Follow our coverage for more home improvement guides.
Leave a Reply