We tend to think of termites as feeding/injuring wood only. Termites actually feed on almost anything that contains cellulose, the main component of wood, including wood paneling, paper products, cardboard boxes, art canvases, the paper covering of sheet rock, carpeting, etc. While foraging and feeding, they may tunnel through non-cellulosic materials, such as plastic and foamboard. According to some research, a colony containing 60,000 workers could consume the equivalent of one foot of a 2" x 4" piece of lumber in slightly over 5 months. In reality, the amount of damage that termites cause depends on many factors. In areas with cold winter temperatures, termite activity (and feeding) often declines, but does not necessarily stop. If the termites are well-protected from colder temperatures (e.g., underneath a slab), then activity may continue year-round. From a practical perspective, serious termite damage usually takes about 3-8 years.

Look for these signs of termite feeding:

• Wood that sounds "hollow" when it is tapped with the handle
• of a screwdriver.

• Soft wood that is easily probed with a knife or screwdriver.

• A thin gritty gray-brown film on the surface of damaged material.

There is no accurate method for determining the age of recently discovered damage. You need some reference point, i.e., some point in time when it was known that there was no damage to this particular wood. This is one reason why annual inspections (and keeping your records of these inspections) are invaluable.

NOTE: These inspections are not a guarantee that you do not have termites or damage in visually-inaccessible areas, such as inside walls. However, the inspections can reveal conditions that might suggest that damage does exist and further investigation is needed.

Contact us for a free inspection and estimate to protect your home or call us today for a free no-obligation estimate at 619-472-6666. Our friendly staff will be happy to discuss your structural damage problems and needs.

Termite damage in crawlspace:
A. Floor joist B. Subfloor