How To Spot Termite Damage

When it comes to termites, sometimes you can’t see what damage they have done right away. You have to know what to look for to know if you have a termite problem. There are eight key indicators that you have termites causing damage in the place that you have worked so hard to build.

• Blistered/sagging floors
• Cracks in the walls and ceilings.
• Foundation damage
• Sticking windows/doors
• Damaged decking or wooden fence posts
• Hollow-sounding wood
• Mud tubes on exterior walls
• Signs of swarm

Blistered or sagging floors is one of the number one indicators of termites in the house. Don’t make the mistake of thinking you’ve just trailed in too much lake water.  This isn’t water damage, it;s actually a sign that you need to call McCauley for a free inspection and estimate. Another sign of termites is cracked walls and ceilings. These pests burrow inside the walls and eat away at door frames, walls, flooring, etc. This can eventually cause foundation damage to your home. If you’ve planned on leaving this home to your loved ones, the last thing you want is for them to have to deal with foundation problems.. Sticking windows and doors may be another sign of termites burrowing deep inside the cracks of them. Whenever termites eat away at the cellulose found in timber, the cracks it makes may cause your windows and doors to shift. This is why they stick and why you need to have someone out to inspect it as soon as possible.

 Have you been outside on the deck and noticed the railings or fence posts seem damaged? It may look as though the wood has taken on a honeycomb like structure, but there is nothing sweet about this. That means a nest of termites is chewing through your outdoor wood and will surely be making it’s way inside if they haven’t already. This wood, and the wood inside of your house that the termites have nested in will most likely sound hollow. You can test this by knocking on them, gently, and listening to hear if it sounds structurally sound or as though it has been hollowed out.

Another major sign that you have a termite problem is mud tubes on the exterior walls. To protect themselves from high temperatures, termites create little mud tubes that look like straws to travel from one area to another in your home. These are very visible and if you notice them, you need to call McCauley right away.

The last, and one of the most obvious signs of a termite infestation is when you can see tiny little wings in areas such as window sills and basement floors. Termites migrate to different areas of the house to reproduce and grow their colonies. Whenever they do this, they twist off their little wings and leave them in piles. They may look like small bugs at first, but take a closer look and you will notice the abundance of wings. You don’t need to wait until you have seen every sign to call for an inspection. It is better to be safe than sorry, so call McCauley today. 

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