How Do Termites Destroy Home?

How Do Termites Destroy Home? Termites are known to be tiny insects that feed on wood. When they are out in nature, they play quite a significant role in our ecosystem. They help plants grow by breaking down wood and turning it into soil rich in nutrients.

On the other hand, termites become a problem when they feed on the woods found in our homes. Termite infestation is what many homeowners fear because of the numerous damages they cause.

These damages destroy your home in terms of creating structural destruction, safety hazards, and many more. In this article, we will discuss the various problems that arise from a termite infestation.

Structural Destruction

Because termites live off of wood, they gnaw through the wood used in the foundation of our homes. They destroy floors, support beams, walls, ceilings, stairs – basically everything made from wood.

Once they have penetrated through these, the structures of your house weaken and become unstable.

In addition to that, termites do not only feed on wood. The cellulose component of wood is what termites are drawn to, and this component can be found elsewhere.

A few common examples are your countertops, cardboards, papers, carpets, leaves, and cotton clothing.

Safety Concerns

As we previously stated, termites destroy the structural integrity of your home. That unfortunate instance causes your home to have a safety hazard. Since your wooden structures are weak, there is a possibility that your roof may fall.

Moreover, even a part of your house may collapse because the damaged posts can no longer support your home’s weight.

What makes termite infestation extra alarming is their ability to work quietly. This poses a major safety concern because the damage they do is not noticeable.

A colony or two of 60 thousand termites may already be chewing through your wood. Termites take years before completely compromising an entire home, and until then, you will barely suspect their presence. Termites are often called the “silent destroyers.”

Fire Hazards

Some termites are known to penetrate through electrical components. As a result, they may damage circuit boxes and wire trunkings that can potentially cause short circuits and start fires.

Termites are attracted to these electrical components because they may also contain cellulose.

Health Issues

Termites are not poisonous to humans; however, they still pose a threat to our health. They do not transmit any diseases, but their presence creates harmful bacterias. The environment in which termites thrive is moist and humid.

This condition usually comes with molds and fungus, which releases spores that may negatively affect people with allergies.

Home Aesthetic

Apart from causing structural destruction, termites also ruin the aesthetic of your home. This damage may entail bubbling wallpaper, chipping paint, uneven surfaces, buckling wood, drywall holes, and many more. A termite infestation may cause your home to look aged.

Moreover, the water damages that your house has may also be caused by termites. They also cause your home to adopt a foul stench that is extremely difficult to get rid of.

Property Value

A significant amount of structural and aesthetic damage done by termites to your home causes its property value to decrease.

No one would want to purchase a home destroyed by termites. Even if you have repaired the damages, there is no guarantee that your home will be back to normal. In addition to that, some buyers use a past termite infestation as a bargaining chip for a lower price.

Repair Costs

A termite infestation results in a lot of damage that is heavily costly to repair. More often than not, you would need to replace the damaged part entirely. Furthermore, termites usually cause damage to not just one but multiple things.

How To Spot A Termite Infestation?

Given the heavy ramifications of a termite infestation, we want to make sure our homes are safe. To do this, we have to understand the types of termites and where you will most likely spot them.

There are thousands of different species of termites around the world. They are classified into three main groups: subterranean termites, dry wood termites, and damp wood termites. All three groups are present in Singapore.

Subterranean Termites

This type of termites lives underground. They inhabit areas that are away from humans and rely on moisture found in the soil. With that said, you will most likely spot this type of termite in your garden.

Drywood Termites

As their name suggests, this type of termite thrives on wood. They especially feed on dry wood such as your doors, walls, stairs, cabinets, and such.

Dampwood Termites

This type of termite also thrives on wood, but they prefer the wood to be moist. As a result, they often live in decaying trunks in forests. However, you may also find them on neglected wood surfaces at your home.

For example, you had no idea that your sink was leaking and completely drenched the wooden sink door.

As a general check-up, regardless of what type the termites are, you should periodically check the following spaces in your home:

• Flooring and skirting
• Storerooms
• Pipes
• Exterior wall
• Outdoor area
• Wooden door and window frames
• Storage areas
• Unused cabinets

Once you have spotted a termite infestation, then it is best to remedy the situation right away. By doing so, you will save yourself from a greater hassle and salvage your home.

How Do Termites Destroy Home? – Key Takeaway

Termites are tiny insects that can become such a pest when they inhabit our homes. A termite infestation can cause a multitude of damages such as structural destruction, safety concerns, fire hazards, and health hazards.

They also destroy home aesthetics, decrease property value, and cost a lot for repairs. Given these dire consequences of a termite infestation, it is crucial to be able to spot one.

You may do this by being knowledgeable about the different types of termites and where you will most likely find them.

The three main types of termites are subterranean termites, dry wood termites, and damp wood termites. A few common areas where you may spot termites are floors, pipes, drywall, storage areas, and cabinets.