Did you know that termite infestations do not only occur in landed houses? Regardless of the property type, termites will definitely not hesitate to feed on any wood sources they find. This means that those living in high-rise condominiums have reason to worry about these pests as well. In condo complexes, the management might hire termites exterminators to treat all the units. Yet, if they don’t, you might find yourself having to deal with this impending problem by yourself. But first, which type of termites is most likely to invade your condo?
If you are living on the first floor, subterranean termites would probably be the culprit to the wood damage in your home. They live in the soil, requiring moisture from the ground but they can also colonise in wood that is wet. They will make use of any underground access into your place and can also enter through flower beds near your house.
But that does not mean that the upper floors are spared of termites. Subterranean termites can travel upwards through mud tubes formed several feet above the ground.
Apart from subterranean termites, drywood termites can also find their way to your home through the common walls within the building. This is why you can expect that your house will be the next to be invaded if your neighbour’s unit is already infested. Unlike subterranean termites, their nests are not connected to the ground as drywood termites do not require moisture or soil. Thus there is nothing holding them back from creating their nests in the internal wooden foundation of your home as well as any furniture made of wood.
Besides that, swarmers of both subterranean and drywood termites are always on the lookout for new places to establish new colonies, which is why they have wings to help them in their search. If your house has become their target, you will probably spot discarded swarmer wings near lighting fixtures.
Termites can do serious structural damage to your house. In order to eliminate them, it will involve removing particular pieces of wood to reach the colony. But do-it-yourself (DIY) termite treatments can be dangerous, ineffective and in the long run, could end up costing you more money. This is especially troublesome when you are planning to sell your house but on top of some minor repairs, you uncover even more damages caused by termites which your DIY methods did not manage to kill.
This is why early detection is extremely important. Take a look at our other articles for how you can spot the indicators of a termite infestation. If you do detect some signs of termites present in your condo property, call a professional to treat your home before it is too late. A termite exterminator is able to decide on what treatment is best to use based on the type of termite attacking your home.