Over the years, termites have spread across 49 of the 50 U.S. states, which means nearly every home, office building, shed, garage, and other wooden structure is susceptible to their damage. While these pests may look harmless, they can cause significant amounts of destruction when they’re in groups (or “colonies”). In fact, termites cause around $5 billion in property damage every year and can ruin nearly any piece of architecture if given the time, so you definately should be worried about termites.
Here are a few more reasons to be worried about termites:
Buildings of Any Age
Many people think termites only feed on buildings that are old, decomposing, or rotting, but that’s simply not the case. Termites can feed on a building that’s 100 years old or 10 years old – the age of the wood doesn’t matter. This means if your home or office is fairly new, it’s no safer than a home or office that was built decades ago.
Average Repair Costs
Because termites attack the structural parts of your home, repair costs can quickly add up. In fact, you could pay anywhere from $4,000 to $8,000 to completely eliminate your termite infestation and restore the areas that they’ve destroyed.
Strength Risks
If your termite infestation has gone undetected for a long period of time, you could be faced with structural damage that actually compromises the strength of your home. This means you may have to deal with a weak foundation, collapsing ceilings, unreliable walls, and more.
Resale Value
If you’re planning on selling your home in the near future, a termite infestation is one of worst things to happen to it. Not only will you deter any potential buyers, but you’ll have to actually repair any structure damage before you can continue your sale process.