Termite / Wood-Destroying Insect Damage Repairs

Termites, carpenter ants, powderpost beetles, and other wood-destroying insects cause damage to wooden structures. In many cases, that damage is slight and requires only elimination of the pest problem, not repairs or replacement of the wood.

Sometimes, however, longstanding infestation of wood-destroying insects cause significant enough damage that professional repairs become necessary. For example:

 

Damaged joists are a frequent casualty of infestation by termites and other wood-destroying insects. Signs of a problem may include: sagging floors, crushed joists at the wood sill or masonry bearing point, a separation at the floor and joist towards the end of the joist, or visible insect damage itself. This situation should be visible in unfinished areas.

The picture on the right illustrates subterranean termite damage to a floor joist. Note the rough appearance of the damage, the presence of mud and debris inside the galleries, and the existence of shelter tubing leading from the joist to the sub flooring. This tubing eventually terminated in the soil, where subterranean termites actually live.

 

In contrast to termite damage, carpenter ant galleries usually appear smooth in appearance, almost as if they have been sandpapered. The damage in the picture on the right was caused by carpenter ants.

Carpenter ants don't eat wood. They excavate it as a place to live and raise their young, and they are very good housekeepers. Any frass, dirt, or other debris inside the galleries is regularly swept away through openings between the galleries and the outside world.

Carpenter ant damage can become quite severe over time and sometimes necessitates structural repairs.

 

The damage in the picture on the right was caused by powderpost beetles.

Powderpost beetles get their name from their habit of making tiny holes in the surface of a piece of wood -- so small that to the untrained eye, the wood might not look infested at all. (Click here for a photo of the outside of a beam infested by powderpost beetles.)

But inside the wood, hidden from the untrained eye, powderpost beetles are happily munching away, until the wood contains little more than "powder." Over time, they can cause tremendous damage that threatens the structural integrity of the house and the safety of the people who live in it.

 

Wood-Destroying Insect Repairs

It is always better to have an experienced contractor perform wood-destroying insect repairs. Many wood-destroying insects attack primary or load-bearing structural members such as sill plates, beams, and joists.Few homeowners possess the knowledge, skills, or tools to properly carry out their own repairs.

But we do.

Here are some pictures of Eliminex at work performing structural repairs:

 

 

At Eliminex, we have the skills, tools, and experience to properly and safely repair most damage caused by wood destroying insects. We are fully certified and insured for wood repairs in New Jersey and, all of our repairs come with a 10-year guarantee. Most structural damage repairs can be done at the same time as our Subterranean Termite and Carpenter Ant Treatments if a Real Estate Certification Inspection directs you so.

So don't take chances trying to repair wood-destroying insect damage yourself. Contact the professionals at Eliminex.

 

Note: We only perform multi-day projects only in Middlesex County, New Jersey. Smaller repair projects will be offered in our usual extended service region only in conjunction with a complete subterranean termite remediation treatment program. Severely damaged homes may require an inspection by a structural engineer, at the homeowner's expense, to assess the buildings's essential structural integrity and design a repair plan.

 

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