Recognizing and Addressing Termite Damage

When left unchecked, termites can cause some severe damage to homes, potentially costing you thousands of dollars in repairs that may or may not be covered under your insurance. Some of the types of damage your flooring contractors in Fort Worth, TX might uncover if you’re dealing with termites in your hardwood floors include:

• Mud tunnels: Termites construct mud tunnels to travel through the house to search for moisture and food. These tunnels serve as shelter, and often extend from the soil to the actual floor.
• Mold: Mold attracts termites, who love moisture and dark, humid places. If you uncover mold in your home and have noticed other types of wood damage, there’s a good chance you’re dealing with termites.
• Holes: You might notice small holes in the floor boards, or hollow-like empty wood.
• Soft wood: Use the end of a screwdriver and knock on the wood. If the wood is soft, it is decomposing and likely affected by termites. If it’s hollow, that’s a sign that termites are doing damage beneath the surface.

Dealing with termite damage to your floors

It is possible in some rare circumstances for termites to damage a home’s hardwood floor to the point where it cannot be repaired, especially if the infestation has been left unaddressed for many years. This is more likely to happen here in the southern parts of the United States, and in coastal areas. But again, it is rare—in many cases you will be able to repair the damage the termites have done to your wood.

There are two main steps you can take to repair this damage: you can either replace damaged boards of wood entirely, or add a wood support adjacent to damaged wood areas. When we’re talking about termite damage to hardwood floors, replacing boards is generally the simplest way of fixing the problem.

Any repairs that involve replacing structural supports are going to be much more complicated. If you have a wooden subfloor that’s been affected by termite damage, this is also going to require some more significant work than just replacing a couple of the floor boards. In these complicated circumstances, it’s a good idea to work with professional flooring contractors in Fort Worth, TX to make the necessary repairs.

Preventing further damage

If you know your home has been affected by termites, then it’s important you prevent further damage from those termites before you start making repairs to your hardwood floor. You should call up a pest control specialist to have them come in and eliminate the infestation. Only after the termite problem has been resolved should you proceed with repairs, so you can avoid the termites simply eating away the new wood you put into the area.

Annual termite inspections and treatments in more termite-prone areas can be helpful in preventing these infestations from occurring and in keeping your wood floors and other fixtures in great condition.

For more information about dealing with termite damage in hardwood floors, contact New Creation Construction to speak with one of our experienced flooring contractors in Fort Worth, TX.

Categorised in: Termite Damage, Termites