When (Not if) you get Termites

When moisture meets wood, whether it comes from the inside or the outside, you will get termites.  They are relentless, they are hungry, and they cause an estimated $5 billion in damage every year.  And if that damage is on, or deep inside, your house, there is a strong chance that you will not see it until it is extensive or your house is crumbling.

Moisture meets wood in more places than many of us imagine.  Improper flashing that leaks imperceivable drips behind the siding can moisten the framing of your house for years, and provide exactly the environment that termites love to call home.  Over time, that wood will deteriorate and leave behind a porous, structurally unsound shell of its former self, leaving parts of your house vulnerable to collapse.

While it is possible to see termites, they are nearly microscopic, and it is much more common to see, and have to live with, the evidence they leave behind, which is often wood framing meant to support siding or stucco that becomes dependent on it for structure.  This arrangement will fail.  And that failure can be disastrous.

---

There are, however, ways to combat the damage done to your house by termites.  Here are a few basic tips for preempting termite infestation:

1. Keep an eye out for moisture or water damage around your house.
2. Look for damaged siding near hoses, gutters, or downspouts.
   
3. Clear soil away from any wood on your house (siding, bottom plates, etc.).
4. Keep firewood stacked off the ground and away from your house.
5. Get your house inspected by a licensed contractor for water or termite damage.
   

If you do identify termite infestation or damage, address the problem with a licensed contractor immediately.  The longer you wait to solve the problem, the more replacement or rebuilding will be necessary. 

- Jon Leon Guerrero