Termites Water Damage
The most common culprits of ceiling destruction are subterranean termites and drywood termites.
Termites water damage. Not only do they need water for hydration but they need water to digest the cellulose of the wood too. Where to look for both termite damage and water damage. Because termites create high moisture nests signs of termite damage are often similar to signs of water damage. When drywood termites swarm into your house and make a home in the attic space or on your ceiling.
Aforementioned termite damage is quite similar to water damage bubbling wallpaper dripping ceiling sagging floors and bulging walls. Termites thrive in moisture. Water attracts termites another problem with water damage is that it can attract termites. Normally they live underground in a cool damp environment so wood makes a great replacement home and this can cause serious problems for you.
Termites require moisture to survive so this is the perfect environment for them. Carpenter ants damage. Termites prefer living in water damaged wood as they need to be surrounded by moisture. A slow leak may occur over a period of time creating water damage in the subfloor under the toilet.
Drywood termites enter at the roofline while damp wood termites prefer basements bathrooms and other locations where water leaks are likely to occur. Some people also call this pocket rot or dry rot. Since treatment and repairs for water damage and termite damage are very different contact a licensed termite inspector for help determining whether wood damage was caused by termites or water. Moisture or water attracts termites.
When termites cause damage to your ceiling their damage resembles water damage. Again this will cause the wood to always be wet leading to decay and attracting those destructive termites. The cellulose of the wood is the main food of termites but they also need water. When the ceiling is damaged it begins to sag and buckle.
The link between termites and water. Tens to hundreds of thousands in colonies could be busily eating away at a home or building for years causing structural damage that can go unnoticed until it has reached an unsafe level. Telltale signs one may find in their home are. Once the cells are overloaded and can no longer absorb moisture the cells explode and the wood becomes water damaged.
Early detection is crucial in limiting the scope of a colony s destructiveness but it can be difficult to do. Other termites that cause structural damage include the drywood termites kalotermitidae and the damp wood termites termopsidae. Carpenter ants prefer the type of wood which has been unstiffened through water damage. For example both problems can cause paint to bubble and peel.
If you are thinking that by removing wood that you can get rid of all termites then you are wrong. Homeowners spend billions of dollars annually to treat infestations and repair termite damage. Termites are quiet and cryptic.