Spotlight on pests: Termites

When you own a home, there seem to be many things to consider at once, but it is important to stay on top of maintenance. While some tasks can be fixed with simple DIY repairs, such as caulking a window for drafts, problems like pest detection, prevention, and remediation require professional help.

Roof components that are made out of wood are susceptible to wood-destroying insects and pests like carpenter bees and termites. How can you both identify a potential termite problem and get help before the problem gets worse?

What do they look like and where do termites live?

Termites often have longer wings than ants. They also have four wings of the same length. Their bodies are more rounded than the bodies of ants and have a wider waist and less segmented body than ants. Also, termites have antennae that are straight, not shaped like an L as ants do. 

There are two types of termites: underground and dry wood termites. Drywood termites are the ones that you should look out for when it comes to your roof. These are the ones that feed on wood can grow colonies inside of it. You can find colonies in your roof beams, eaves, and rafters. They can even live under wooden shingles!

Subterranean termites are the ones that like to build in the soil and other hidden places like drywall, carpet, and even clothing! 

Both types of termites are dangerous to homes and need to be removed as soon as you see signs of them.

What are the signs of termites?

Great news! Even an untrained person can spot some common signs of termite infestation. Here’s what to look for:

• Wood that looks “eaten away”, has holes, or sounds hollow when tapped.
• Dead bodies of termites anywhere, but most commonly founds in points of entry, the attic, or around the roof caught in spider webs.
• Loose roof tiles or shingles due to damaged wooden sub roofing.
• Anything that looks “off” and different about your roof, like misshapen areas, slopes, etc.

Where can roofing termite damage happen?

Termites can inhabit any component of your roof that is 100% wood like eaves, ceilings, soffit, fascia boards, attics, and more. This includes the space around fireplaces. These vulnerable places can get eaten away and case leaks in the home.

If you have any doubts, you can get a roofing inspection to make sure everything looks in good shape. it’s also not a bad idea to call in any pest control pros if your roofing inspector notices anything suspicious.

Let Us Take Care of your Residential Roofing Needs Today

Whether you need a new roof, new gutters, or a small roof repair, you can count on Noble Roofing’s dependable residential roofing services. Call us today at (703) 404-0505 to schedule your free and no-obligation in-home inspection and estimate.