Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Termites Costly In Damage Done To Homes

by Lamar James

Extension Communications Specialist

People who take termites lightly in Arkansas can pay the price, in some cases with a devalued home that needs thousands of dollars in repairs, says Dr. Don Johnson, an entomologist for the Cooperative Extension Service, University of Arkansas.

"Termites are well adapted to Arkansas and thrive on wood in your home," Johnson said. "In Arkansas, our problem stems from the subterranean termite, which lives in the soil and moves up into wood to feed."

The problem is compounded by the fact that termites reproduce quickly, and queens can fly to new locations. In fact, wood doesn't necessarily have to touch the ground for termites to reach it.

"Termites can construct an earthen tunnel up your home's foundation to the wood if you have a crawl space under your home," Johnson said. If your home is on a slab, termites can enter through tiny cracks in bricks or the slab and work their way into wood -- all the way up to the attic.

Johnson said that termites can weaken structural support and eventually cause the floor of a house to collapse. The damage may not be noticed until it is severe, because the pests work in hidden areas.

"The best control is through prevention," says Johnson. "You need to have your home checked annually for infestation by a reputable pest control company."

New homes are treated for termites when they are built, he said, but they still need to be checked periodically by trained inspectors.

Homeowners usually sign an agreement with the company to provide periodic inspections for a fee -- usually under $100 a year. "It's a small price to pay for peace of mind," noted Johnson. There is a tendency for homeowners to let existing contracts lapse. This is a bad idea.

"If you sell the house, you have to have a guarantee from a company that a home is not infested," he said. The only way a company can guarantee that it is termite-free, if it doesn't have an inspection contract in effect, is by treating it.

Treatment will cost several hundred dollars, Johnson said.

Why is treatment so expensive? The companies routinely remove all debris from the house and drill through brick veneer, porches and carports to apply chemicals. They also will dig trenches next to foundation walls and flood them with water and chemicals.

Most people don't have the equipment or know-how to do the job adequately or safely, Johnson said.

"I would not attempt to treat my own house, even though I know how to do it. There are too many risks involved. The chemicals involved, for instance, are hazardous to humans."

The Extension entomologist offered this advice to homeowners: