Summer Renovations and Pest Control
Wood-destroying insects (WDI) are a big problem everywhere. They include wood-boring beetles, termites, carpenter ants, carpenter bees, and a few other pests that eat you out of house and home. Summer is prime time for home repair and remodel. When you are ripping out that wall, you discover why the house has squeaky floorboards, doors and windows that are hard to open and close, and other structural issues that decrease the livability of a home. Inside, we discuss wood-destroying insects and the problems they cause.
Sagging Fencing
There are many reasons why a wooden fence begins to fall apart. Sometimes it is wood rot, and sometimes the damage is the result of infestation by carpenter bees, carpenter ants, or beetles. Fences make good neighbors, and a solid fence improves privacy, adds value to your home, and beauty to your yard.
Carpenter bees attack untreated wood. They drill into posts and boards to create a nest for laying eggs. The dens or galleries start small but female bees use the nest year after year, expanding them when they need more space. Carpenter bees have a lot of “bark” but not a lot of bite. They can sting you, but only once and then they die. They will damage homes, siding, decking, fencing, and if they can get to the underside of your home, they will damage the support beams.
Carpenter Ants and Foundations
Termites are not the only wood destroying insect that damages the foundations of homes. Carpenter ants are another likely suspect. Carpenter ants chew wood to create galleries similar to carpenter bees. The colony of ants does not eat the wood; they live inside of it. Wood is an excellent insulator, so it keeps the colony warm in winter and cooler in summer. It is also easy to defend. Over time, a large colony of carpenter ants can cause severe damage to the wooden supports of your home’s foundation. They may damage the support to decking and roofs too. The difference between carpenter ant damage and termite damage is that the termites eat the wood. A termite infestation left unchecked can topple a house.
Wood Boring Beetles
We mostly hear about wood-boring beetles when trees in the area die suddenly. Pines are especially susceptible to borers. Wood-boring beetles are well-known to cause damage to fences but not in the way you might suspect. The lumber for the fence came from living trees, and the beetle eggs were already in the wood. That is how that works. They hatch and begin to chew the wood, making tunnels. When they become adults, they emerge and fly off to find living trees and hunt for mates.
If you encounter wood damage during summer and fall renovations, give us a call. We are certified to deal with wood-destroying insects and many other pests. We offer a wide range of comprehensive services throughout the Bryan and College Station Communities. We work with residential, commercial, multifamily units, and real estate agents for home buyers and sellers.
