It’s a bit of a four-letter word. It’s not a word that you would discipline your children for saying or even that you would feel bad about saying at a social get together. That being said, it’s a word that can definitely cause all sorts of emotional reactions with your nearest and dearest… we’re talking about termites.
They’re not the best in a variety of ways, but they can be the worst when it comes to your home’s structure, and more specifically, the foundation. That’s why we’re partnering today with the Restumping Melbourne, who are no strangers to the different challenges that any kind of damage to your foundation can then impact your home. Let’s dive in:
First of all, what kind of damage can termites cause? It really depends on the material that has been used to build your home. You may live in an older home that has a wood-based foundation. If that’s the case, termites will eat the wood right up. In newer homes, concrete foundations are much more popular. While termites won’t be able to eat the concrete, they CAN find the cracks within the foundation (if it’s not properly maintained) and build their own tiny communities. This is a bit of a domino effect, because while it doesn’t sound like an issue right off of the bat, the more termites join this community, the more issues you may begin to see over time.
So, what’s the best type of foundation to look for? We know that it’s not normally a question you ask right off the bat if you’re looking at a new home – or even if you’re just looking to update your current home. However, the key term that you need to look for is “poured-concrete foundation.” It’s not completely termite-proof, but if you are working with those that are rebar-reinforced, you have a much better chance of not having to deal with pesky termites. Concrete-block foundations on the other hand are much less termite-resistant. This is because you have the added issue of mortar, ergo more cracks, ergo more opportunities for termites to enter and burrow.
Why is it an issue when they burrow? Their next plan-of-attack is to build mud tunnels. Consider these their roads straight into your home. They grow them over time, as more and more termites join the party. The reason this affects you as a homeowner is that it puts pressure on any existing cracks that you have in your foundation.
We know that this is a lot of information to take in, but never fear. We have advice for how to check and adjust as well. The best thing to do is to work with a restumping, reblocking or underpinning company. They don’t just build the foundations; they can check on them or point you in the right direction as well. There are many prolific companies and experts in the industry and all you need to do is ask.
Questions? Check out the Restumping Melbourne site.
