Ready…set…goof off… Its Vacation time! Credit: Stuart, Flickr

Wow. August is already here, and summer vacation is still going strong. Before time runs out and you’re sending kids back to school, there’s a good chance you’ll be doing some last minute traveling.

But—don’t head out the door before considering what

We all know termites eat wood. It’s one of life’s well-known truths. In most cases, termites burn through a foot of lumber in about six months or so, but sometimes colonies move at a much faster rate.

August, prime time for all things unpleasant (sweltering heat, humidity, and bugs, bugs, bugs), is swarming season. Meaning, termites are on the prowl for new places to set up shop–putting your home at greater risk of structural damage.

Long story short, a termite infestation that goes unnoticed can spell big trouble for you and your home—creating an unsafe environment

Ditch Any Standing Water

If you’ve got a pooling problem, or happen to be an avid bird bath collector, you’ve got some work to do. Empty out any vessels containing standing water, and consult with a landscaper about getting better drainage–i.e. a system that directs water away from your home.

Subterranean termites rely on moisture to keep their colonies on the up and up. Reducing the amount of water not only helps you improve the efficiency of your home and avoid any mold problems down the road; it also prevents termites from feasting on damp wood.

Don’t Leave Food Out

You wouldn’t leave food scraps on your counter for fear of rats, right? Of course not. Take the same precautions when it comes to termite food. Termites thrive on cellulose–organic matter that includes sticks, brush, firewood, mulch and so on.

If you’re in a termite-friendly area, you’ll want to be extra careful about leaving wood and brush lying around the yard. Do a big clean up if you’re heading out of town–trimming overgrown bushes and lackluster vegetation. Anything touching the home is especially risky, as it functions as a direct bridge from the outside in.

Ventilation is More Important Than You Think

Before you head out of town, you’ll want to be sure that your home is getting proper airflow.

Good ventilation keeps things from getting moist. If unattended crawl spaces, basements, attics and other spooky corners of your home run the risk of becoming a real termite trap.

Put Down a Chemical Barrier

Looking for some extra protection? If you’ll be gone for a while or you’ve been burned by past infestations, it’s a good idea to get a pro onsite to lay down a liquid pesticide, stopping incoming termites in their tracks.

And while we understand many homeowners are wary about chemicals, most options are safe for people and pets. This option is a good way to prevent termites from damaging you home in the first place.

Termite Problems? Call Best Rate Repair

Termites can cause some serious—and costly—damage. If you’re concerned the damage is done, Best Rate Repair can help you rebuild your deck, patio or any other damaged wood on your property.

And, if you’re concerned about prevention methods, Best Rate Termite division will help you get your home in tip top shape—protecting your investment for the long haul.

What are you waiting for? If you’ve got even a smidgen of concern about termite damage, your best bet is getting a professional over to check things out.

Call Best Rate Repair at 855-440-6288, and we’ll get you a free quote in short order.

Will your home survive the termite swarm?
Photo credit: Mullica via Visualhunt.com / CC BY

Here in Southern California, it’s hot; it’s sticky. It’s also swarming season for Drywood termites.

As you’re busy keeping cool, termites are gearing up for expansion. Colonies are reaching capacity and are now on the hunt for new lumber on which to lay their eggs.

Now, if you see termites buzzing around your home, that means you’ve got a mature colony that is ready to take things to the next level and creates additional sub-colonies.

The bad news—flying termites, can spell big trouble for your home—laying waste to structures from the inside out. And that’s before the new babies are born.

To protect your home against future repairs, here’s what you need to know about swarming season.

The Lowdown—Swarmer Basics

As we’ve mentioned, when a termite colony becomes overcrowded, the colony sends out a group of adult termites known as swarmers.

Swarmers are part of the alate class of termites, adults who have the ability to sprout wings and scout new homes for the colony. When they find a suitable home, the swarmers will lay eggs into newly exposed wood—giving baby termites plenty of cellulose to chomp on when they hatch.

As they leave the nest in search of a new home—you may see some termites in route to their new destinations.

Now, simply seeing swarmers doesn’t necessarily mean you have an infestation, but It does mean there may be one nearby.

And chances are, if your neighbors have termites, they may soon be coming for any exposed wood—decks, foundations and more.

A Few Tips for Staying Safe During Swarming Season

The swarming season runs from August through December—and, depending on the size of the colony, swarming may happen more than once during this time frame. Here are a few tips to keep your home safe from winged invaders.

Cut off Their Supply

The termite diet consists primarily of cellulose found in wood. Meaning, any wood you’ve got lying around your house, the more enticing your home will be.

During swarming season especially—swarmers are on the hunt for exposed wood—so everything from mulch, firewood, untreated decks or twigs and stumps lying around—all present ample room to house a new colony.

Go for a cleaner look and ditch any extraneous wood, as well as any bushes or brush — your yard will look better, too.

Get Rid of Extra Moisture

We all need water—even termites. Make sure your gutters are in good shape, pipes aren’t leaking, and downspouts are working. Excess moisture, combined with plenty of cellulose create the perfect storm when it comes to infestation.

Keep water away from your home’s foundation, and you’ll be ahead of the swarming curve.

Treat Soil Before Any Major Home Projects

When building a new deck or another add-on, many homeowners forget to treat the soil for termites. While it may increase costs in the short term, skipping preventative treatment may lead to more expenses down the road.

Know When it’s Time to Call for Help

Look, termites can mean serious trouble for your home, and may cause unseen damage most people aren’t equipped to deal with on their own. While you may not know if you have an infestation or are the victim of a termite wood-binge, it’s a good idea to get things checked out.

Call Best Rate Repair at 855.440.6288 for a free inspection. Whether you need to rebuild your deck or better bolster your home against infestation—rest assured, swarming season has nothing on us.

It’s also a major boost to the value of your home—turns out, home buyers of all stripes love their decks.

According to Home Remodeling Magazine, homeowners upgraded their yards with a deck recouped about 80% of the remodel cost when they resold their home.

While decks tend to be one of the better returns on investment when it comes to add-ons and upgrades, they do come with a hefty dose of maintenance.

Here’s a little background info on protecting your deck against damage from pests, as well as the elements:

Beware of What’s Beneath

Deck life isn’t all just living in sun-drenched paradise. Being exposed to the elements and all, damage caused by termites, as well as wood rot can be a real issue for homeowners with decks.

It’s no surprise that termites tend to go after wooden decks like there’s no tomorrow. A veritable feast for these pesky little critters, unprotected decks are subject to damage in the form of structural damage. Termites bore through wood in pencil width tunnels, undermining the structure little by little. Meaning, if left undetected, your deck could become a real safety hazard, or at the very least, look pretty darn shabby,

Termites aren’t the only threat. Wood rot, which takes a few different forms is another issue facing our favorite backyard infrastructure.

Dry rot, for example, is a real messy problem and can cause an outbreak in your deck, and spread out from there. Identified by spore growth or by a “fruiting” fungus–dry rot begins in damp wood, but can spread to dry pieces of timber.

Wet rot, isn’t quite as destructive as dry rot, but it can cause some unsightly mold and undermine the structural of your deck. Wet rot, which often occurs in wet timber, can be identified by fungal growth, a damp, musty smell or dark and weakened deck boards.

Bottom line, if anything looks off, it’s a good idea to get help.

Maintenance is Key Here

What’s on the outside counts, too! Staying up to date on deck maintenance is just as important as all the small stuff you do to protect your home from damage inside.

Cleaning — Look, you need to clean your deck just like you need to clean your floors or your toilet. Deck cleaners are designed to get rid of dirt, mildew, mold and so on, making things look great, smell fresh, and most importantly, protect against wood rot down the road.

Plus, dirt covered decks don’t easily absorb stains or paint, leaving you with dark and dingy looking lumber–not ideal.

Painting and Sealing — Painting and sealing isn’t this one and done kind of thing. In most cases, you’ll want to repaint or re-stain your deck every year to ensure a proper seal. If it’s not obvious, painting and sealing can help prevent water from seeping into your deck, causing rot, mold, mildew or leading to an invitation for pests to stake a claim in the space.

Protect your Investment!

Annual deck inspections are one of those preventative measures you don’t want to skip.
You wouldn’t just leave a bag of cash out in the open or your car unlocked—so be wise and protect your deck. While ongoing maintenance is the best defense against damage, sometimes it’s smart to get a second opinion.

Any sign of wood damage, nip the problem in the bud, so you’re not subjecting your home to structural damage down the road.

Call Best Rate Repair at 619-229-0116 for a free inspection and estimate, and we’ll take things from there.

Here in San Diego our wooden decks can take a beating. We not only have the hot sunny weather, but we also have the moisture in the air from our salty beaches. The combination of these two things create a perfect environment for, wet rot, dry rot and termite infestations.
Every year you should inspect your deck for any areas that could lead to a collapse. Let’s go over the different areas that make up a deck.

1) The Ledger: The ledger provides most of the decks integrity and strength; and is the piece of lumber that connects your deck to your home or any structure the deck is being built off of. The ledger supports the joists at one end and helps provide the stiff base for the framing to branch out off of. Now keep in mind, if you were building a free standing deck it would not have a ledger.

2) Footings and Support Posts: The footings are holes dug down into the soil to allow room for the concrete to be poured. A metal bracket called, post base connectors will be placed into the center of the wet concrete. Once the concrete is dry, the connectors will be secured and the support post can be installed. You may ask why concrete is poured to hold the post in place. 1) Allows posts to stay in place for years to come. 2) Helps prevent earth to wood contact, which will lead to wood rot.

3) Deck Beams: The deck beams are large structural beams that create the main support framing of the deck. The beams rest on the support post allowing you to continue building with the rim joists and joist framing.

4) Rim Joists and Joist Framing: The rim joist is the final joist that completes the row of joist supporting the floor. The joists are planks of wood running across the deck normally spaced 12”-16” apart; which are then secured to the ledger board with joist hangers. Hurricane ties are often used to connect the joists to the drop beams allowing a strong frame all the way around your deck.

5) Header: The header is the outer piece that connects to every joist at the opposite side of the ledger board.

6) Blocking: The blocking are small pieces of wood that are cut to size and inserted at mid span between all joists that span longer than 8’ and around the perimeter. This is to strengthen the frame, and reduces the bounce in the deck.

7) Deck Boards: Deck boards are the lumber that makes up the floor of a deck. These are the boards you will actually be standing on.

8) Railings: Railings are essentially a wall that branches up from the perimeter of the deck, ensuring that you will not fall off the side of the deck. Railings will also run down one side or both sides of the stairs.

9) Stringers: The stingers are the frame work of the stairs. The stringers will be attached to the rim joist securing it to the deck using a metal angle bracket. The stingers will also be attached to the landing on the ground.

10) Stair Treads: The treads are the horizontal planks of a set of stairs on which a person walks. The treads can be composed of wood, metal, plastic, or other materials.

11) Stair Risers: The riser is the “back board,” to the steps of the stairs, forming the space between one step and the next. Some stairs do not have risers, some have an open concept creating an open space between each tread.

Now I know you may be saying to yourself, well that is great that I now know the different areas of my deck, but what is it that I am looking for when inspecting it?

Take a look at the sealant/paint. You want to make sure none of the paint is chipping away allowing moisture to penetrate the wood. Make sure you are cleaning and re-sealing your deck annually.

Splintering of the wood. Wood that is soft to the touch or crumbling in your hand when you touch it.

Sagging deck boards. This can mean you have a moisture problem and you will want to replace any boards with this problem, before it leads to something more serious, like it breaking and someone falling through.

Check all brackets. Make sure screws, bolts, nuts are all secured and in place. Also make sure the lumber setting in the brackets are in good shape and not deteriorating.

Try to wiggle your railings at the perimeter of the deck and along the stairs. If they move then you have a problem that you need address right away. It could be something as simple as tightening some bolts, or something more serious like a wood rot, which in that case the wood would need to be replaced.

Make sure your check the ledger board if the deck is built off of a structure. The leading cause of deck collapse is due to some type ledger board failure. Think about it, the ledger board is holding up one whole side of the deck and if it fails the whole deck is coming down. Check the hardware used to attached the ledger to the structure. Do you notice any bolts backing out or any splits in the wood? If so call a licensed contractor like Best Rate Repair to come out and assess the problem and get it corrected as soon as possible.

There are several other scenarios that can cause a deck to collapse. Be sure to perform a once over every year. Call Best Rate Repair today at 619-229-0116 or email us at info@best-rate-repair.com and we will send you the 10 point deck safety checklist from NADRA (North American Deck and Rail Association) to help you perform your annual inspection. If after you have performed your inspection and you feel like you need a professional to come out, call Best Rate and one of our deck specialist will come take a look and address any areas of concern. We want to help you make sure your deck will be safe, and around for many barbecues to come.

A contractor can be a great asset for your wood damage repairs as long as they specialize in wood damage repairs like Best Rate Repair and Termite. Before you hire just anyone, you will want to make sure they are licensed and reputable. Hiring the right contractor for your job can make the difference when it comes to the budget, safety, and stress.

A contractor is a person or company that undertakes a contractor to provide materials or labor to perform a service or do a job. There are several different types of contractors based on their specialty and type of project they can perform. Some good examples would be: a concrete contractor, a roofing contractor, a general contractor, etc. If you are looking for a specific job to be completed, like a new deck built, you would want to hire a general contractor specializing in deck builds like Best Rate Repair and Termite.

When doing research on a specific contractor you will want to check reviews on websites such as, Angie’s List, BBB, or Yelp, just to name a few. You may also want to visit the company’s website, there you will get a feel of the company and the type of work they perform.

One of the most import things about hiring a contractor is making sure they have a valid license for the state in which you live. Most states will require a license to be obtained by a contractor performing work of $500.00 or more. Here in California, you can go to the Department of Consumer Affairs Contractor’s State License Board (https://www2.cslb.ca.gov/OnlineServices/CheckLicenseII/CheckLicense.aspx). There you can look up a contractor’s license to verify information, such as a complaint disclosure, the status of the license, as well as what type of insurance the company may have.

When it comes to hiring a contractor the license they obtain is very important. It can mean the difference between a well versed contractors who knows safety policies as well as current building codes, or a hired handy man who has no more experience than yourself.

When hiring a contractor they not only have an in house crew that is highly skilled for your specific job, but also a team of skilled, licensed subcontractors that they work with on a regular basis. Again don’t be afraid to ask questions. Here at Best Rate we have long working relationship with all of our subcontractors, and have constant communication with them at all times when subcontracted to perform a job for us. We will also assign specific in-house crewmen that specialize in the skills needed for your specific job.

It is a great idea to take the time to collect several different estimates from different companies. Keep in mind it is not always a good idea to let the price dictate which company you contract. If you go with the cheapest estimate there is a strong possibility you will get cheap work; literally! Also, it is a good idea to avoid the estimate that is substantially lower than the others. Often this means that contractor will do things to cut cost and cause more of a headache. You get what you pay for. Don’t be afraid to ask questions; it is okay to ask why certain items are priced higher than a competitor, by doing this you may find that the higher cost is worth the money. This is a great opportunity to get to know the contractor you are looking to hire and to get a feel of how the company operates.

Never except a verbal agreement over a written proposal. Get everything in writing! Also once you receive the estimate, and you feel the verbiage is not clear or you would like more details, call the contractor and work out the details and ask for a revised proposal. Here at Best Rate our estimators will write up a detailed report list all repairs to be completed as well as the cost. Our proposals will be emailed to you within 48 hours from your appointment.

While work is being performed it is possible for additional items to be found that were not visible during the initial estimate. Best Rate calls this a supplemental contract, this contract will be an additional cost to the original proposal. Make sure you keep all estimates together, that way once the job is completed and you are invoiced, you will want to make sure all work was charged accurately.

Keep in mind that communication is the key. The estimator cannot read your mind and vice versa. If communication is not clear you could end up with work completed that you are not satisfied with. Here at Best Rate we strive for customer satisfaction, we want a long lasting relationship with all of our customers. We hope that they feel so confident in the work we have performed that they will refer us to their friends and family.

We would like to introduce our office staff to you.

Lilly Chavarin – Office Manager

I am the Office Manager with Best Rate Repair & Termite Company. In this role, I lead an awesome staff providing all aspects of what an office entails, AP/AR, Contracts, Payroll and most of all Customer Service. I’m going on 7 years working with Best Rate and I’m a big believer in working together as a team, supporting cross-training techniques to help one another when needed.

I am a San Diego native, born in Chula Vista, & raised near the Spring Valley area. Went to Morse High School, transferred & graduated from Mount Miguel High School. Before graduating I began working in the automobile dealership industry. Starting as a part-time night receptionist, moving on to full-time as the Service & Parts department cashier and processing repairs orders and taking in Sales Deposits, I was then given the opportunity to move into the business office. I learned AP/AR, contracts, inventory and eventually Payroll & HR.

Mary Allen – Accounting Department / Administrative Assistant

I am a native Californian, San Diego born and raised, and being the eldest in the office I remember a lot of the growth changes here in San Diego; like when Mission Valley was a dairy farm and the ferry rides to Coronado before the bridge was built.  I have been with Best Rate for 3 years now and really enjoy working here with an awesome group of people who are more like family than they are co-workers!

Katie Thompson – Termite Division / Marketing

I am married to my high school sweetheart, and we are going on 15 years. We have two adorable kids, a boy (6) and a girl (2). We love going to the desert and spending time on our boat at a local reservoir here in San Diego. I love hanging out with my family and friends and making memories. I always have a smile on my face and I am very outgoing and easy to get along with. I graduated from Valhalla High School and started working in the pest control and termite field right away. I have been in the termite industry for a total of 6 years and with Best Rate for a little over a year. Prior to working with Best Rate I was a Site Leader for an after school program in Lemon Grove. While working as a Site Leader I met the owner of Best Rate at a chili cook off and the rest was history. I love working here, the people are amazing and we are truly a family! I am apart of both the termite division as well as the marketing department.

We here at Best Rate understand that having a termite infestation can be very stressful and I will do my best to explain things clearly, and honestly. I am a team player and always willing to assist others when in need.

Jordanna Culver – Termite Division

 I have been with Best Rate for 8 months, starting as a receptionist but moved my way up to taking care of the termite reports, invoicing and scheduling. I was lucky enough to get hired at this company with no experience in the field, and I love it! Especially after working in retail and the restaurant industry for a couple years. I am highly driven and a very inquisitive person, so I do my best to ensure everything is clear regarding your termite treatment and repairs. I am a San Diego native, graduated from Grossmont High School in 2013 and currently attending college to further my education. In my free time I enjoy rock climbing, going to the beach, and trying new things. I look forward to assisting you with all your repair and termite needs.

Suzanne Anelli – Accounting Department / Administrative Assistant

I was raised in a military family, which brought us to San Diego in 1985.  I have an amazing husband, 6 wonderful children, ranging from 18 to 26, and a beautiful 4 year old granddaughter.  My husband and I are longtime Disney fans and spend every Sunday visiting Disneyland and California Adventure.

I am one of the newest members of the Best Rate family.  I bring with me over 20 years of administrative and accounting experience.  I truly love my job.  The owner has created a family-like atmosphere that makes coming to work enjoyable.

Drywood Termites
Drywood termites only live in a few areas of the United States, but unfortunately San Diego is one of them. These termites typically live in smaller colonies directly inside the wood they feed on. Though no one wants termites in their home, if you have to have any unwanted termite guests, drywood termites are preferable to subterranean termites just based on the colony size alone. That’s because drywood colonies grow slowly and stay relatively small. The reason their castes grow slower then subterranean termites is due to the fact that the Drywood queen just does not lay as many eggs. Now don’t get me wrong just because there colonies are smaller they will still do a large amount of damage to your home if not taken care of in a timely manner. When it comes to termites no matter the species, you never want to leave them untreated because it is guaranteed the will damage your home.
A Drywood colony can grow up to 10,000 (ten thousand) members, and they commonly spread by a process called “swarming.” During a “swarm,” potential queens and their mates fly short distances to start their own colonies. If the original colony is already inside your home, these new monarch wannabes may just find a new corner to lay down roots. Over the years, this could happen again and again until multiple colonies are all growing and feeding inside your home. Yikes!

Subterranean Termites
Subterranean termites are usually much worse house guests than drywood termites. Though they live in the soil under our homes, they create mud tubes as a way of sneaking into your home, these mud tubes protect termites from predators and allows them to travel through your home. Unlike the drywood termite, subterranean termites must have moisture to survive. Subterranean termites can cause huge amounts of damage, because their colonies grow quickly and they grow to grand proportions. Remember how a drywood termite colony typically maxes out at 10,000 members? A healthy subterranean termite colony can grow to 1,000,000 (one million) members. Subterranean queens lay a lot of eggs in a short period of time, thus making there caste grow rapidly. Once a colony has grown too large for their galley, they will swarm and branch off and make sub colonies. So you could have multiple castes of subterranean termites just under your home.
Subterranean termites can cause massive damage based on the sheer number of their workers constantly chewing through your house. As the colony grows, they expand their territory, munching a path of destruction through your home. It’s been estimated that subterranean termites can cause more damage to U.S. homes than storms and fire combined!

Why You Need Yearly Termite Inspections
Drywood termites and a subterranean infestation could cause serious destruction. That’s why it’s smart to get a termite inspection each year so you can stop the termites before they can really chew through your home. If you don’t catch the termites in time, then make sure you use a reliable extermination company like Best-Rate Termite to get rid of them, and then call Best-Rate Repair to fix or replace the damage. We can send a reliable, respectful, and honest wood repair expert to your San Diego home to assess the damage and provide you with repair or replacement options.

It can be impossible to tell if termites are inside a piece of wood until the damage is extensive.

Termites are perfectly fine when they help recycle dead tree stumps and branches in the forest. In fact, they are better than fine. Their eating habits help clear out dead trees so that new ones can grow in their place, and their waste fertilizes the soil. The problem occurs when termites mistake your patio, attic, or the wood support beams in your home for dead tree stumps. How do termites cause so much damage, and why it is so hard to spot a colony that can have tens of thousands of members crawling around inside your home?

Big Colonies, Big Damage

A single termite looks so small and innocent, but there really is power in numbers. Even a small subterranean termite colony can include thousands of termites. Each of those termites needs to eat constantly. Think about 10,000 termites gnawing away at your deck 24/7 for months or even years! It’s no wonder that some reports have put the yearly cost of termite damage at over $5 billion!

What’s so frustrating is that most homeowners have absolutely no idea that they are playing host to a huge colony of unwanted visitors.

Why Termites Are So Hard to Find

Termites are masters of hiding, and they have a habit of eating the wood in your home from the inside out. That means that even exposed wood that you can see every day may look completely fine on the outside but be slowly hollowed out on the inside.

When we look at the way that termites get into a house and eat wood, we have to first distinguish between the two main types of termites: subterranean and drywood termites. Both species are common in San Diego but have very different personalities.

Subterranean Termites

Subterranean termites need moisture, which is why they will almost always sneak into your home from the ground. Some of the ways they typically get into the house are mulch that is placed next to a foundation, a wooden patio, a wooden deck, a crawl space, or even a pile of chopped wood next to a house. It’s stunning how good subterranean termites are at getting into a house. They can squeeze through tiny cracks in your foundation, holes in concrete, or even the gaps around plumbing. They are extremely hard to spot, because they create and then travel through small mud tubes, which protects them from the environment. If you didn’t know what you were looking for, you could never notice these mud tubes in the corner of your garage or right in the crack where your patio meets the foundation of your home.

Drywood Termites

Drywood termites are even sneakier than subterranean termites. They don’t need as much moisture as their cousins, so they don’t require contact with the ground. That means they can get into your house from any floor. These guys usually invade by “swarming.” That happens when a reproductive pair grow wings and fly away from their colony in search of a new place to put down roots. They may end up floating through an open window or making it to your roof or doorway where they can skitter inside. When they find a tasty sources of wood, drywood termites burrow inside and set up shop. You may never see them, because they live inside your wood. They could even be behind your insulation eating themselves silly on the buffet of you house.

The Invisible Damage

Because both drywood and subterranean termites eat wood from the inside out, you may never notice them until the damage to your home is extensive. As a homeowner, it really is a smart idea to get regular termite inspections. An inspector knows where to look for termites and what to look for. He or she will be able to recognize the mud tubes of subterranean termites and the “frass” that drywood termites kick out of their tunnels. If you do find that you have a termite infestation, your termite inspector can recommend a treatment plan for your home. (Treatment differs depending on whether your houseguests are subterranean termites or drywood termites.)

Once the termites are gone, it’s time to do a damage assessment. Even if you wood looks fine on the outside, that doesn’t mean that it is! If support structures in your home have been hollowed out, they may represent a danger that you need to correct. If you live in the San Diego area, contact Best-Rate Repair. We can take a look at your home’s termite damage and either repair or replace the damage. We can also recommend the termite inspection and extermination services of our sister company, Best-Rate Termite. Contact us today to schedule a termite inspection or a termite damage repair consultation.

A termite colony needs workers, soldiers, and reproductives to survive.
Photo credit: USDAgov via Visualhunt / CC BY

If you close your eyes and image a termite in your mind, chances are you are thinking of one specific caste of termite – the worker termite. That’s because worker termites make up the vast majority of any termite colony. They are in charge of building and repairing the tunnels of the colony, so if you ever pull away a piece of termite-infested wood, all the little critters scurrying beneath are the workers. However, there is more to a termite colony than just the workers. If you want to know what could be really going on behind the walls of your house, then you’ll need to learn more about a termite colony structure.

The Termite Caste System

As we just mentioned, termites live in vast colonies. In order for the colony to function, each termite needs to have a specific and important job. (You won’t find any art history majors in a termite colony). Most termite colonies are built upon a system of three distinct castes: the worker, the soldier, and the reproductive. Every termite is born into a specific cast, which means that its job is set for life!

Workers, Soldiers, and Reproductive

The lowly worker termites get the worst jobs in the colony. They have to feed themselves, the soldiers, the immature termites, and sometimes even the reproductive class. They also have to build new tunnels, repair old tunnels, and continually search for new food sources. As if that weren’t enough, they also have to work as glorified babysitters, caring for the eggs and immature termites.

It’s not like soldiers have a much better life, though. These huge-headed termites with their menacing mandibles must fight and die for the colony. Their greatest foe is usually ants. Despite their mean-looking mandibles, the soldier termites are kind of a comical bunch. One of their favorite fighting moves is to simply block the entrance to their tunnels with their giant heads. Those wicked mandibles also make it impossible for them to feed themselves, so the workers have to feed them.

The upper class of the termite caste system are the reproductive. This may just include a single male termite and the colony’s queen who produces all of the eggs in the colony. However, in a larger colony, a queen may not be able to lay enough eggs to keep up with the amount of termites that die. In this case, she will call upon the help of secondary queens to help her lay eggs. These secondary queens may also swarm during swarming season to go out and establish colonies of their own.

So Who Is Eating Your House?

If you have a termite colony somewhere in your home, then you really don’t need to worry about the termite soldiers. It’s all those thousands of workers who are doing the real damage. They are the ones who chew up cellulose to feed themselves and the rest of the colony. These are also the guys who can chew through other materials in order to keep building tunnels to new food supplies.

Of course, even though the queen gets the workers to do her dirty work, she is the real culprit. As long as the queen is alive, she can just keep laying more eggs to create more workers. That is why it is so important to destroy a whole colony if you discover an infestation in your home. Killing a small group of workers with a termite trap will only slow the damage; it won’t stop it.

Once the colony is taken care of, it’s time to assess the damage. If a colony was big enough or was inside your house long enough, it could have done a lot of damage. That might mean that you need to repair or replace wooden support structures. That’s why it is a good idea to call on a wood repair team like Best-Rate Repair to review the damage. We will give you an honest assessment of the damage and a recommendation to repair or replace it. If you suspect termite damage in our San Diego home, give us a call today!

Will your home survive the termite swarm?
Photo credit: Mullica via Visualhunt.com / CC BY

San Diego is blessed with year-round gorgeous weather. Unfortunately some blessings also have a downside. San Diego’s temperate weather also makes it an inviting home for three different termite species: subterranean, drywood, and dampwood termites. Each different type of termite has its own characteristics, including its own swarming schedule. As September approaches, it is time for young drywood termites throughout San Diego to pack their tiny termite suitcases and leave the nest to go out into the world and try to create their own colonies.

Yes, drywood swarming season has begun!

What Is a Drywood Termite Swarm?

A termite colony can only support so many termites until things start to get a little crowded. That is why each year special termites called “alates” take flight to try and find a new place to start a colony. Drywood termites tend to swarm between August and November, with September being their prime takeoff month. Usually, drywood termites swarm at dusk or at night, and some researchers believe they are drawn to bright lights, which is what brings them to the bright windows of your unsuspecting home.

The swarm is a dangerous journey for a drywood termite, and the vast majority don’t survive it. If you thought Oregon Trail was risky, these little termites are poor fliers and have even worse vision. They basically launch themselves outward and hope that the air currents bring them to a hospitable place. In most cases, termites face injury, starvation, or attack from birds, ants, and other insects. It almost makes you feel bad for the little guys…almost.

How Drywood Termites Form New Colonies

While most drywood termites don’t survive the swarming process, a small amount achieve success by encountering a source of wood that provides safety, food, and enough moisture to survive. Unfortunately, the termite’s new home might just might be your house! Termites can sneak in through a number of different avenues. If the exterior of your house has exposed wood, damaged eaves, crawl spaces, cracked fascia boards, or wooden decks with chipped wood, any of these places could be a paradise for pioneering alates.

When a male and female alate find a good home, they will shed their wings, establish a nest, and get busy growing the colony. The young queen will be begin laying eggs, which will hatch into workers that will eventually start gnawing more tunnels in the colony. Over many generations, the colony could grow to be as big as a few thousand members. At that time, the termites will begin swarming again each year in the fall and winter. If the colony is inside your walls, swarming termites could spread multiple separate colonies throughout your home, exponentially increasing the hidden termite damage taking place!

How to Prevent Swarming Termites from Invading Your Home

It is very difficult to stop tiny termites from getting into your home. One single crack in an exposed wooden structure is like a huge welcome sign to them. However, you can definitely make the process harder. Here are a few things you can do:

• Do not let any wooden structures get too close to your house, including wood piles and mulch
• Regularly stain wooden decks and patios
• Regularly re-paint the siding of your house
• Check window sills for damage and cracks
• Place mesh coverings over attic and crawlspace vents

How to Spot Termites in Your House

Termites are the world’s best players of hide-n-seek. You could have thousands of termites in your house and never know it, because they are very small and live deep inside your wood where you can’t easily spot them. However, there are ways to track termites.

During a swarm, drywood termites have to come out into the open. If they are swarming inside of your home, you may see them. They kind of look like tiny flying ants. Another big tell is finding their translucent wings on the floor after they shed them. Look closely after you sweep up, especially between the months of August and November.

Drywood termites don’t like to keep their poop piling up in their tunnels, so they will actually kick it out of their tunnels. Their poop, called “frass,” looks like tiny grains of sand or salt and pepper. If you notice small piles of this sand-like frass on the floor, especially in a corner, near a window ledge, or near a doorframe, chances are that you have a drywood termite infestation.

Of course, the very best way to discover if you have termites is to schedule regular termite inspections. Afterwards, you may need to bring in a wood repair team to assess the damage and determine if the affected wooden structures can be repaired or should be replaced. If you live in San Diego County, contact Best-Rate Repair. We will give you a fair and honest assessment of any termite-related wood damage in your home and a competitive repair or replacement price.