Termite Identification & Prevention

Termites are social insects that can cause major damage to trees, building materials, and our home's structural wood. These insects are one of the few organisms able to successfully convert cellulose into a usable energy source.

The termites in our region live together in large colonies, divide their members into different castes (groups) and work together to ensure the success of their colony. They nest under the ground, travel through the soil or inside mud tubes they create, and prefer to feed on old, wet, or decaying wood. Reach out to us today for termite control today!

Termites aren't insects you have to worry about biting or stinging you, contaminating your family's food, or spreading disease-causing pathogens, but they are still dangerous.

The best way to describe termites is destructive. Termites enter our homes without fanfare; they move quietly inside our walls, where they feed on the interior of structural wood located behind walls, under floors, and above ceilings. These destructive pests can work undetected for years before you discover them or, more likely, the damage they have caused.

In addition to the damage these pests cause, a big issue associated with termites is that most homeowners insurance companies don't cover the cost of termite repair. You will be left to take care of the cost of repairing the damage termites have caused to your Marietta home.

When you call Georgia home, it is never a question of if termites will find a way onto your property and into your house, but rather a question of when! Subterranean termites thrive in warm, humid climates, making our region a place where these pests thrive.

Since many different types of termites live throughout our state in large numbers, they can become a problem on any property and find their way into any home. Things that may make your property more prone to a termite infestation include having woodpiles, and wooden structures in your yard, like decks, playsets, and fences. Having a property with or near many trees can also put you at more risk for a termite infestation. Still, it is essential to understand that termites are also successful in suburban and urban areas.

If trees or wooden structures on your property have attracted the attention of termites, it's only a matter of time before they will find a way into your home. Termites move inside through pieces of wood, making direct contact with the ground – wooden steps, posts, trim, and siding. They can also move inside through cracks in the foundation, or homeowners can accidentally introduce them inside a piece of already-infested wood.

Once inside, termites will use your home as a food source, tunneling through wooden floor joists, support beams, and wall studs to gather food to bring back to the nest. Termites work day and night to gather enough food to feed their large colonies. While the damage termites cause doesn't happen overnight, a termite infestation left to its own devices will, over time, cause significant problems inside Georgia homes.

Since termites stay largely out of sight, knowing a couple of typical signs of a termite infestation can help you identify an infestation. If termites are in your home, you may notice termite droppings on the floor that look like wood-colored pellets or mud tubes on the ground or running along the foundation or basement walls. Additionally, floors that "feel" spongy when you walk across them or blistered paint on walls could indicate a problem with termites.

The best way to get rid of termites and guard your home and bank account against their damage is to partner with an experienced local professional. Here at Maple Leaf Lawn Care & Pest Control, we can provide the inspection and environmentally-friendly treatment services necessary to maintain a termite-free property. We use the Sentricon® Elimination System with Always Active™ to eliminate current termite infestations and prevent their return in the future. At your first thought that there may be active termites in your home, don't hesitate to contact us today to learn more about termite control in Marietta, GA.

A termite infestation can be a nightmare to deal with. You can work to prevent issues with these wood-eating pests with the help of the following prevention tips. 

• Never stack firewood or wooden construction materials near your home.
• Remove fallen trees, tree stumps, and other yard debris from your property.
• Create an 18-inch barrier between soil or mulch and your home's foundation.
• Consider switching wood mulch in garden beds near your home to rubber mulch or rocks. 
• Ensure your home's gutters, roof, windows, and doors are in good condition to help keep moisture out of your home.
• Quickly repair leaky pipes.
• Use dehumidifiers in humid areas of your home.
• Eliminate wood-to-soil contact on your property.
• Seal cracks in your home's foundation. 

The best prevention step you can take is to partner with a professional. For effective general pest control, call Maple Leaf Lawn Care & Pest Control today.