If you have termites, you have wood damage. You may be in the very early stages of an infestation, so the damage is minimal—but it still exists.

Drywood termites live inside the wood and consume it from the inside out, feeding on both the soft springwood and the harder summerwood. The damage they leave behind is typically smooth and clean. Subterranean termites, on the other hand, eat wood from the outside in and follow the grain. Their damage is more irregular and channelized, and it’s usually packed with dirt and droppings.

The biggest cost associated with a termite infestation is often not the treatment itself—whether localized or fumigation—but the cost of repairing the damaged wood. Many homeowners pay to have the termites treated but leave the damaged wood in place. This can increase the long-term cost of termite control, because it may lead to paying multiple times to treat the same areas.

Here’s how that happens. A homeowner notices termite droppings on a trash can lid or beneath a patio cover and calls a termite company. An inspector finds additional areas of infestation and sells a comprehensive treatment that includes a full-structure warranty. However, the homeowner never repairs the damaged wood. Years later—after the warranty has expired—the homeowner sees termite droppings again and contacts a different company.

The new inspector documents the existing damage and includes it in a new treatment plan. Since several years have passed, the homeowner can’t be sure whether the damage is old or new. When asked, the inspector explains that there’s no way to know for certain and that a new full-structure warranty can’t be issued unless those questionable areas are treated. The homeowner ends up paying again for areas that may have already been addressed in the past.

The best way to avoid paying multiple times to treat the same termite damage is to repair the damaged wood—or to maintain your termite warranty without letting it expire. Homeowners who renew their warranty year after year with the same company not only reduce the risk of new damage, but also benefit from consistent documentation. That history makes it clear what damage is old and what is new.

If you think you may have termites, contact California Termite today to schedule a free termite inspection. Not only can we help eliminate the termites, but we can also repair the termite-damaged wood—helping you protect your home and your investment.