Discovering termite-infested wood or termite colonies in the heart of your home is quite distressing. Unlike other home repair tasks, termite damage cannot be ignored or postponed. That’s because wood-chewing pests are active 24 hours a day, seven days a week, quietly feeding on anything wooden they come across.
Fortunately, termites generally leave enough damage to make a home completely uninhabitable.
Once you discover an infestation early, you most likely have enough time to remedy the situation and conduct repairs. But how much does it cost to repair termite damage? And what are the repair solutions?
Keep reading.
Termite Damage Repair Costs
Nationwide, homeowners spend approximately $5 billion to control termites in their homes and fix the damage they leave behind.
If you’re among the 700,000 homeowners who face a termite problem, the mitigation of a termite infestation will cost you an average of $5,000 in structural repairs. Note that termite damage repair is different from the treatment—the process of removing the pests. The national average cost for termite treatment alone is $575.
What are the Types and Symptoms of Termite Damage to Expect
During or after a termite infestation, you are likely to face any of these types and signs of damage:
Holes and Tunnels in Wooden Structures
If you notice holes and maze-like paths carved into the wood, the infestation may have been going on for some time.
Termite Droppings
Other signs to look out for are insect wings and droppings that resemble sawdust.
Damage to Cellulose-based Items
Termites don’t just feast on wood, they also damage any material that has cellulose, such as books, wool rugs, carpets, and picture frames.
Destabilized Ceilings and Uneven Floors
You may start to notice your ceiling buckling, floors blistering, walls cracking, and windows and doors beginning to stick.
Termite Damage Repair Options
Before you start searching for termite damage repair solutions, you’ll need to have addressed the infestation. Working with a termite treatment expert is the only way you can be 100% sure every single termite has been eradicated, and the threat of future infestation has been eliminated.
The expert will also highlight other damaged areas that you may not be aware of and put measures in place to prevent their reappearance.
If your home is structurally compromised and unsafe to live in, the specialist will alert you, allowing you to move out until comprehensive repairs are made.
Once the treatment process is complete, you can now reverse termite damage with these repair options:
Cosmetic Termite Damage Repair
If the termite infestation was detected early, you’ll most likely be dealing with some aesthetic issues. Cosmetic damage can be in the form of chipped paint, wallpaper damage, furniture destruction, or discoloration of walls or flooring.
If the termite infestation was detected early, you’ll most likely be dealing with some aesthetic issues.
Cosmetic damage can be in the form of chipped paint, wallpaper damage, furniture destruction, or discoloration of walls or flooring.
Cosmetic repairs may be the most affordable, averaging $3000, and are the easiest to deal with as you don’t need special skills.
Small Termite Infestation Damage Repair
For minimal damage to the main structure, the solution is to use wood hardeners to fill in the gaps and strengthen the wood. After your house is treated for termites, clean off any remaining tubes or trails, then examine the wood underneath for damage.
Special solutions called wood hardeners are used to patch up small holes, cracks, and damaged areas while providing resistance to future rot. Use wood filler instead for deep grooves that have been scooped out.
Make sure you pick a wood hardener or filler that matches the type of wood. Also, experts recommend applying a wood sealant to cut off the oxygen supply for any remaining termites. It will kill any colony inside and protect the wood from future intrusions.
Don’t wait for the issues to get out of hand so you can request an inspection. Termites can cause a lot of damage at lightning speed, and some signs are hard to notice without a trained eye. It is recommended to use a termite control service as well as have regular termite inspections.
