TERMITES
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WHAT ARE THEY?
Termites are little insects that help nature with the essential job of
turning fallen trees and other material back into soil. Without these
guys we would not have trees and the human race would not exist as we
know it.
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WHAT IS WRONG WITH THEM?
They will also turn the wood in your house back into soil if you let
them! Luckily, termites are not as aggressive in the northeast as in
some parts of the country. Nevertheless, they still affect somewhere
around 20% of the houses here. As I like to say, there are two types of
houses-ones that have termites and ones that will.
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WHAT SHOULD I DO NOW?
Have a Home Inspector look for evidence of termites as part of the home
inspection. If he finds termite damaged wood, he should tell you what to
do. Minor damage may not need any repair. Major damage may need to be
evaluated by an engineer or contractor to determine repair costs.
If your Home Inspector sees any evidence of termites or other wood
destroying insects, then a pest control company should advise you as to
what treatment, if any, is appropriate.
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WHAT SHOULD I DO WHEN I OWN THE HOUSE?
Have a pest control company inspect for wood destroying insects about
once a year. There's usually not a charge for this inspection. Because
insects conceal themselves they often are not detectable, particularly
when they are getting started. The sooner you catch them, the better.
Wood destroying insects will generally not do serious damage to a house
in a one year period in this part of the country. |