They silently chew through walls, floors, ceilings and even wallpaper with scissor-like jaws. They feast on wood 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. And with upwards of 2 million members in a single colony, they can cause serious and costly damage to a home or building in a matter of weeks or months.
They are termites and they have struck again, this time at a church in Virginia according to the News & Advance.
Holy Cross Catholic Church in Lynchburg fell victim to a massive termite infestation forcing the congregation to clear out for a full year while a $1 million renovation took place.
Unfortunately, termites cause more than $5 billion in property damage every year. Worse still, is the fact that damage caused by termites is not usually covered by homeowners' insurance policies, making prevention and education key in protecting your home from termites.
NPMA experts offer these tips to help homeowners prevent termite infestations:
- Termites love moisture. Avoid any moisture at the foundation of your home.
- Divert water away from your property through properly functioning downspouts, gutters and splash blocks.
- Remove old form boards and grade stakes, which may have been left behind after a home was constructed.
- Termites may create mud tubes to enter a home. Routinely inspect the foundation of your home for signs of mud tubes.
- Keep firewood away from direct contact with your home.
