One common mistake that homeowners in Godfrey, IL make is confusing termite damage and water damage. This is because termite nests are highly moisturized, and they can look like water damage in your home. There are also some similar signs that both problems share. For example, both can cause the paint on your wall to bubble up and peel. Repairs for both of these damages are both very expensive so no matter which of the two problems you have, it is important to take steps to fix the problem. Here we want to explain some ways you can determine if you have water damage or termite damage.
Water Damage
If you have water damage in your Godfrey, IL home, you can usually tell because the water damage will create square-shaped patterns in the wood. The pattern has been given the name “cubicle rot,” which refers to the cube-shaped square pattern. As the water damage increases, the wood will expand and crack further.
Drywood Termites
Whenever drywood termites consume wood, they will eat the grain of the wood. They will create large galleries to make their nests and connect them through tunnels. While these pests can cause damage over time, their small colony size means they will not be able to cause as much damage as other termites.
Subterranean Termites
Since there are so many different types of termites that can come into your home and cause damage, it is important to know more about them. Subterranean termites will eat the soft springwood while leaving any harder summerwood. Springwood on a tree can be identified by the lighter-colored rings around a tree while summerwood is darker-colored rings. Once the termites have eaten all the springwood, the summer wood will appear to look like a honeycomb.
Dampwood Termites
Dampwood termites are one of many kinds of termites that will only feed on wood that has already been damaged. They will typically be found around damaged trees, but they can make their way into homes that have water damage in them. If you find that you have these kinds of termites in your home along with water damage, you will have to address both problems.
If you have a termite infestation in your home in Godfrey, IL, you need to act quickly to have them removed as repair for the damage can be expensive. Do not hesitate to give our team of expert exterminators at IMEL Pest Control a call today!
