Why Should You Maintain Termite Protection On Your Home?

Is termite protection a home expense worth justifying? Why should you hire a trained and certified termite protection professional? Just how at risk is your home to termites anyway? A few minutes of reading now can save you thousands of dollars in damage down the road. First, it is critical to note that…

Your Home Is Exposed to Termites.

Subterranean Termites in their natural setting work as beneficial insects. They live in the soil and must maintain contact with the ground or some other moisture source to survive. Termites become a problem when structures that contain any cellulose (such as wood) are built in the territories they inhabit.

Since your home is built in their habitat, it is not a question of whether your home is exposed to termites. All homes are exposed to termites. The important question is whether your home is properly PROTECTED from a termite attack.

Termite Damage is Expensive.

Consider the following sources…

“Americans spend more than $5-billion every year treating for termites and repairing the damage they cause” (http://pestcontrol.basf.us/reference/fact-sheets/general-termite-facts.pdf).

“Each year, termites cause more than $5-billion in property damage—costs that aren’t covered by homeowners’ insurance policies” (https://www.pestworld.org/pest-guide/termites/ ).

“It is difficult to establish the exact amount of damage caused by termites, but estimates of yearly damage of $1 billion are common, and some are as high as $7 billion. These numbers may or may not include the cost of treatments (both preventive and curative), repairs to damaged buildings, loss of property value, and damage not immediately attributed to termites (such as wind damage to weakened structures)” (https://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/pubs/misc/misc_hg064.pdf).

It is estimated that over 50% of homes have no termite protection whatsoever and many have termite protection that has not been properly and professionally applied. Termites only need a gap or void the width of a piece a paper to enter your home. Therefore, it is important to have a well-trained, certified and experienced professional maintain coverage of your home against termites and inspect it annually for termites and termite damage.

Termites Can Be Hard to Spot.

Termites build shelter tubes from the ground into the structure (or food source) they seek to inhabit to protect themselves from their enemies and to help maintain a moist surrounding. These "tubes" can be built inside walls, porches, chimneys, under decks, behind outside veneers and other areas that they may not readily be seen. Isolated, above ground infestations may occur in the buildings where termites have access to water from condensation, leaks or other sources. Therefore, termites and potential termite access points can be difficult to spot to the untrained eye.

Subterranean termites are found in every state except Alaska. In a mature termite colony, there may be several hundred thousand workers. Due to the secretive nature and voracious appetite of termites, termite infestations are usually discovered after the damage has been done. Since termites can quickly do thousands of dollars of damage before the damage is discovered, the best way to protect a structure against a termite attack is with a combination of preventative treatments and regular inspections by an experienced and certified professional. Don’t let your unprotected home become your local termites’ next meal.

Your home is probably the most expensive purchase you will ever make. With a little time, effort and knowledge, you can protect that home for a long time.