How Much Damage Can Termites Cause in Florida?

Termites can cause a lot of destruction over the course of their lifetimes. Depending on how long an infestation has been growing, termite damage can mean anything from a single chewed-through board to an entire beam being consumed. After infesting a building, it can take anywhere between 2 to 8 years to notice the signs of damage they cause. In the United States alone, termites cause billions of dollars a year in damages as they make their way through the homes of millions unnoticed.

The Perils of Termite Destruction

Termite damage is infamous for a number of reasons, including the following:

1. Termites don’t discriminate. Don’t be fooled into thinking your home is immune to termites; it isn’t. Termites feed on cellulose, an organic material found in wood, so every standard home construction type is at risk, as well as many items inside the home.
2. Termite colonies infest fast and grow fast. Termites create colonies in which some members with wings, called swarmers, migrate to start a new colony each year. This means that during warmer season termites could enter your home without any sign of early contact, and before you know it, they’re jeopardizing the structural integrity of your home. Some species can lay up around 1 million eggs in a single year!
3. Termites can eat through a standard 2″ x 4″ in months. The average-sized termite population can eat through one foot of a 2″ by 4″ board in about half a year.
4. Termites cost homeowners in the U.S. an estimated $5 billion a year. What’s more, a standard home with termite damage takes an average of $3,300 annually to repair. That’s not pocket change.

The Extent of Termite Damage

Although they may work slowly, the danger of termites lies in the fact that an infestation can go unnoticed for a long time. Since these wood-boring insects are largely silent, it’s difficult to notice them until the damage has been done. Bottom line, any homeowner is susceptible to getting termites, and the amount of damage caused by infestations widely varies from case to case. Termite damage can get costly quickly, which is why regular inspections are of the utmost importance.