How Do Termites Affect Walls?
WouterTermites are small insects that live and eat through walls. They can damage wood paneling, floors and even drywall. They like to feed on cellulose materials. They also require moisture to survive. When termites eat through your wood, they leave large grooves along the wood grain. They can be quite difficult to detect.
If you are unsure about whether your home has a termite infestation, you can find out by removing a drywall panel from a section of wall. You can then listen to the wood in that area and compare the sounds. If there is a rustling sound, you have an active termite colony.
Termite colonies can also leave faint lines on the wood. These lines may indicate that there is a tunnel under the wood. These tunnels will expand as the colony grows. This is important to know because it can indicate extensive termite damage.
Termites also leave droppings, which are called frass. These pellets are light brown in color. They are made of digested wood. These are the early signs of a termite infestation.
You can also detect a termite colony by examining the walls. If there are holes in the wood, it is likely that the colony has weakened the anchors for the windows and doors. This can cause them to wobble and move.
Termite colonies are known to build mud tubes under walls. These are small passageways that termites create to enter and exit their colony. They are about the width of a pencil. They are constructed under the wood and debris and can be found inside and outside the home. They are created to provide a route to the food source.
