Have you ever thought of building as a type of artwork? If you were to interact with a few construction workers or contractors, and then talk to them about their work, you might come to see it this way. Designing and building a whole structure requires some sort of artistic intellect. It might be a different sort of artistry than one would use to create a painting or a drawing, but it is art nonetheless.
On this blog, we are going to write about construction and contractors. We aim to do that from a range of perspectives, which should keep things interesting.
Termites can cause substantial damage to a home, but their effects may go unnoticed for months or even for years. Termites burrowing through your home can chew away at baseboards, structural elements, and other hidden parts of your house. While there may be a few telltale indications to the trained eye, the signs of an infestation may look like wood rot or be barely noticeable at all.
Unfortunately, this damage often continues until it becomes much more severe or you tear the wall down for a project such as a remodel. This latter case can be particularly disheartening since it can turn an otherwise exciting renovation into a battle against pests. If you find yourself in this situation, follow these three critical steps to complete your remodel and avoid future damage.
1. Schedule an Immediate Inspection
Termite problems won't go away on their own, and they can often be more extensive than you might realize at first glance. If you discover termites behind a wall during a renovation, there's a reasonable chance that they're entering your home from somewhere else. Your top priority should be determining the extent of your infestation and the damage to your house.
Although you probably don't want to delay your ongoing remodeling work, it's best to temporarily pause construction and hire a pest control company to inspect your home as soon as possible. Termite damage may affect many parts of your project, so completing an inspection before continuing work is critical to avoid more surprises.
2. Determine an Attack Plan
A pest control expert can advise you on the best solution to deal with your termite problem after completing their inspection. Many pest control companies will use multiple methods to attack a termite problem. Depending on the extent of your infestation, it will likely be necessary to guard against additional termite entry and destroy the current colony.
Since you're already renovating your home, you may also have an opportunity to use some additional methods. For example, some building materials contain termiticides. These materials can help control future outbreaks and protect the newly remodeled part of your home from suffering damage years down the line.
3. Keep up With Inspections
Sadly, termites aren't always a one-and-done problem. Although liquid barriers and similar techniques can help prevent additional infestations, they don't last forever. If your home has a termite problem now, there's a reasonable chance it will be vulnerable to termite infestations in the future. An ounce of prevention can be worth a pound of cure in these cases.
Plan to have a qualified pest control company inspect your property at least once per year. These inspections can help you detect infestations before they become a problem while also allowing you to re-apply liquid barriers and other preventative measures. By keeping up with inspections, you can ensure your renovated home is much less likely to fall victim to another termite infestation.