Paying off a home loan can take 20 or more
years. Finding out, 10 years into a mortgage, that the biggest investment a
person will make has been seriously damaged by termites is that last thing any
homeowner wants. The value of the home you are still paying for can be
seriously compromised. Termites are hard to detect and by the time they are
noticed, the cost of repairs can be huge.
- Termite damage repair in the U.S. is estimated to cost upwards of $ 5 billion a year.
- About 600,000 homes are affected annually.
- The average cost of repairing termite damage is around $3,300, but it can often go much higher.
Repairing
Structural Damage
Termites can literally eat away at the
basic structure of a home. Repairing structural damage is essential and must be
done quickly, to protect the integrity of the building. On an average, repairing
structural termite damage can cost about $3,000 but can escalate to a much
greater amount, depending on the extent of the damage.
Repairing
Cosmetic Damage
No one wants to live in a rundown home with
visible signs of termite damage. A home is a reflection of those who live it in
and a damage done creates a negative image about its residents. Termites can
cause discoloration in sheet rock, peeling paint and even buckled floors.
Besides the appearance, these can result in health hazards from tripping on the
uneven floors, inhaling of dust and chemicals in the paint and other
complications. The average cost of cosmetic repairs on termite damage is
estimated to be about $2,000 but it can easily go much higher. For example, if
hardwood flooring has been damaged, the repair cost is much more than that of
replacing a few tiles.
Extermination and
Control Costs
Before any termite damage repair
can be done, the termite infestation will have to be controlled. The cost of
this will vary depending on the extent of the damage and the type of treatment
being done. Many homeowners are shocked at the repair costs they will have to
bear and because of this often try DIY termite control methods. The hype around
termite control products and the amount of information on how to go about it
that is available online make is seem like a simple and easy way to cut costs.
However, DIY termite removal is never as effective as that done by a professional termite control service
and any marginal savings will be more than offset by the high risk of the
termites returning. Having to repeat termite damage repair after a short time can
ruin a family’s finances.
Prevention
Is Best
Regular termite inspections/treatments by professionals
are the most economical way to protect a home. Not only will the treatment be
effective, the best companies offer a guarantee on the work they do, so the
homeowner can rest easy, knowing that he is protected against future termite
infestation and the subsequent repair costs. Termite treatment is like a
medical checkup. Nothing may appear to be wrong, but the checkup may reveal an
incipient problem that, if caught early, can be treated more easily than if the
condition is discovered later.
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