Termites are small creatures that look similar to ants although paler. However, these creatures are capable of causing a huge amount of damage. It is known that a standard colony can eat six inches of 2×4 wood in as little as 5 months.
Naturally, the damage is spread across several timbers. But, you can imagine the issues you could be facing if this was all from one structural support! They are capable of causing considerable damage and, if left untreated for long enough, can even cause a house to collapse.
That’s why you need to contact your local pest control expert if you think you have termites.
Don’t forget that termites are generally difficult to spot as they live in a colony under your home and eat the wood that you can’t normally see. You’ll need to click here and familiarize yourself with the most common signs of a termite infestation. This will help you to catch the problem early.
The Cost
This is subjective as the exact cost will depend on how long the colony has been active. The longer it has existed the more damage they will have caused.
In Australia, termites are considered moderate to high risk in all parts of the country except for a small strip west of Melbourne. In fact, there is an 80% chance that your home is within 25 meters of an existing and active termite colony. That means it is simply a matter of time before they make their way into your home.
It explains why an estimated 32% of Australian homes have termites.
The annual cost of repairs thanks to termites is $1.5 billion. That’s funds that insurance companies and homeowners need to find. Most houses will find a bill of between $3,000 and $6,000 is delivered to eliminate the termites and repair the damage.
Although, as already mentioned. This does depend on the amount of time the termites have gone undetected and, therefore, how much damage they have done.
Additional Costs
It’s not just the cost of eliminating the termites and repairing the damage. If your house has had termites you need to disclose it during the sale. This will usually lead to a further termite inspection and potentially a reduced offer by buyers.
In other words, your termite infestation could cost you thousands more.
Preventing The Issue
The simplest way to prevent a termite problem is to have an annual inspection performed by the pest control experts. This will identify any issues and eliminate any termites. Best of all, the inspection company will help you identify the best way to keep the termites out in the future.
Implementing simple measures like concreting around the edge of your home and keeping wood piles as far from the house as possible, can prevent them from targeting your house. There are usually much easier targets for them to try.
An annual inspection is significantly cheaper than dealing with a termite infestation. It’s a worthwhile investment for any homeowner.