How much structural damage can termites cause to your property?

Termites get a lot of attention from homeowners, but the truth is that commercial properties are often extremely susceptible to termite damage as well. Termite structural damage at your place of business should always be taken seriously. Today, we’re going to discuss how two types of termites may endanger your business, what the fallout could be, and some telltale signs of a potential infestation.

Subterranean Termite Damage

As their name indicates, subterranean termites live underground where they construct an extensive network of tunnels. They will often gain access to your property through areas where shrubs, trees, flowers, and other vegetation are located. They will seek out any sources of wood and can burrow beneath pavement, sidewalks, and the foundation of your building by slipping through small cracks. At that point, they will slowly devour all sources of wood, causing a heavy amount of damage to your structure.

Drywood Termite Damage

Drywood termites can live underground, but they will often build their colonies within dry wood structures. Since their tunnels are located within a structure, they eat more wood to establish their colonies, leading to a bit more destruction than the subterranean termites. They also enter solid structures through cracks and gaps found that are often located in areas such as doors, windows, gutters, downspouts, and siding.

Potential Structural Damage Fallout

If left unchecked, it won’t take termites too long to cause extensive damage to your property, which makes termite control and prevention a necessity.

Here’s what your company can expect if you’re unfortunate enough to experience termite structural damage:

• High Repair Costs — Termite structural damage can cost many thousands of dollars if it isn’t caught early on. You may also be forced to replace any wood items that the termites have infested.
• Business Shutdown — If there’s enough damage, then your business may be forced to temporarily shut down for repairs. This can obviously result in heavy financial losses and an inconvenience for both employees and customers.
• Customer Loss — Believe it or not, but despite the fact that termites burrow, they can still be spotted from time to time. If they’re seen by your customers, don’t be surprised if you go a little viral on social media.
• Reputation Damage — Even if no one actually sees the termites, info being leaked about them is enough to hurt your reputation. This is why you should take care of the problem right away and then get a professional to help prevent future infestations.
• Insurance Issues — Many business owners are under the false impression that their insurance will cover termite damage. This can lead to a bigger financial problem, so be sure to check with your carrier just in case you need a separate policy.

Common Signs of an Infestation

The good news is that termites leave behind several different clues that will indicate a potential or current infestation. Here’s a list of some of the signs of termites to keep an eye out for:

• Mud Tubes — These are built by termites as conduits on the side of buildings or other structures.
• Dust Waste — As termites eat through wood, they will leave behind a sawdust-like substance.
• Discarded Wings — Termites will shed their wings as they mature, leaving behind an obvious clue.
• Bubbling Paint — Ingesting wood will often leave bubbles in the paint and may cause it to peel.
• Soft Spots — If you notice any areas in the wood that feel a bit soft, termites are likely to be at fault.
• Holes in Paper — Since paper is a wood product, you may find holes in books and other such items.
• Frass — This feces of termites looks like small pellets and is often found in piles that resemble sawdust.

Contact ProHealth Pest Control to Prevent Termite Structural Damage

As you can see, termite structural damage should never be taken lightly. ProHealth Pest Control can eliminate these harmful insects, in addition to other types of insects and pests, spiders, rodents, and more. If you have any questions about our organic pest control methods or like a free service quote, call us today at (727) 310-0521 to schedule a free consultation.