Termites cause over five billion dollars in damage to homes and structures each year and are an extremely difficult pest to prevent and control. Considering your home is one of the largest investments you will make in your lifetime, it’s important that you take the necessary precautions to protect your home from termite destruction. While some improvements to your home can be beneficial, it’s important to consider how home improvements and alterations to the structure of a house can impact termite inspections and control.

Termites are incredibly secretive insects that can do significant damage to a home if left unchecked. Signs of termite damage include swarmers (flying reproductive termites), damaged wood, and mud tubes. Pest professionals are trained to know and identify the signs of a termite infestation and will check for any termite evidence during a detailed inspection.

The process of a detailed home inspection for a pest professional requires that they be able to access areas of the home that have not been completely covered by walls, floor, and ceilings. Oftentimes, unfinished areas like crawlspaces, attics, and basements are the last few remaining spaces that allow access to structural timbers that will show signs of termite damage.

Spray foam insulation can increase the energy efficiency of a home; however, it can cover structural timbers and cover areas that are needed for an efficient termite inspection and treatment. Furthermore, termites can also tunnel through insulation and easily gain access to other structural wood of the home. If you are considering making alterations to your home or having spray foam insulation installed, be sure to call us so we can help guide you in your decisions to increase the protection of your home from termites.