Termite infestations can leave significant damage to your home. Aside from the inconvenience, you will also need to spend considerable money on repair costs. In the United States, the cost of termite damage repairs adds up to 5 billion dollars each year. This translates to an average of $5,300 to repair any structural or cosmetic damage brought by termites.
Typically, fixing termite-damaged wood will have you remove or replace the damaged wood. The ballpark estimate above typically covers pulling out the drywall, replacing some wooden structures, and purchasing wood hardeners or a wood filler.
Repair Costs for Termite Damage
Fortunately, the sooner you deal with termite infestation– the less you'll spend on repair costs. If not, you are easily looking at thousands of dollars. Repairing structural damage will easily add up to $5,300 or more. Costs will vary depending on the treatment type, damage degree, and property location. (Related: Termite Treatment: A Cost & Consumer Guide)
Minor repairs (cosmetic) may only cost you a few hundred dollars. Meanwhile, more extensive damage brought by severe termite infestation (more than five years) will cost you thousands.
Homeowners who want to save on termite damage repair costs may opt for a regular termite inspection. This allows you to address the issue before it gets out of control.
2 Types of Termite Damage
Small Infestation Damage
This pertains to discoloration in the walls or on the floors. Termite tunnels can cause your hardwood floors to bend or buckle or the sheetrock to be discolored, and the paint chipped away. In most cases, repairs for cosmetic damage will only cost you a few hundred dollars.
Structural or Property Damage
This refers to a more extensive type of termite damage. When termites feast through structural beams and walls in your home, repairing this will be rather costly. Total costs will vary depending on the situation and extent of the damage, but you are looking at spending thousands of dollars in fixing structural repairs.
Extensive Termite Damage Repair Costs
Your termite repair project may uncover hidden problems, so ballpark estimates on the internet may not be accurate for your situation. Extreme cases of termite damage may cost as much as $125,000– significantly when termites damage the structural integrity of your home badly. When sills and floor joists are damaged, you will spend $200 per foot on support sills and $150 to replace joists.
We recommend hiring a termite exterminator with prior experience to get a more accurate upfront estimate. Every repair will be made to code, as they precisely know the post-damage inspection requirements.
What Kind of Damage Termites can do?
Let's look at the typical damage that termites can do to your property.
How Do Specialists Fix the Damage Brought by Termites?
A termite specialist may fix any termite damage. However, repairing it may be difficult if you deal with compromised structural beams and other extensive damage. Here's how the pros usually handle termite damage repair:
How to Prevent Future Termite Damage
As the adage goes, prevention is better than cure. Here's how to protect yourself from breaking the bank in dealing with extensive termite damage repair costs.
Avoid Storing Wood in the Yard
Storing wood outside your home can easily invite termites. Always keep in mind that these pests gobble wood before you know it. So if you're planning to store wood, make sure it is appropriately stored and away from your home. Better yet, please place it in a fenced location.
Check Your Entire Home for Termite Activity Regularly
Perhaps the most important thing you can do to prevent residential termite damage is to have regular check-ups. Professional inspectors ensure that your property is free from any lingering termites.
Homeowners planning to buy a new property must ideally check the place for termite presence. You wouldn't want to make such a hefty investment, only to find the place is swarmed with termites. Remember that your homeowner’s insurance does not cover termite damage repair costs. So, purchase wisely! (Related: Does Homeowners' Insurance Cover Termite Damage? We Help You Figure Out)
Lessen Touching Base Between Soil and Wood
Termites are known to build tunnels to access food sources and moisture areas in your home. So if you lessen the touching base of your home’s wooden structures and the soil, you can block their path effectively.
Take Appropriate Precautions
As much as possible, avoid taking wood home unless you ensure it has been treated accordingly to off-ramp termites. Another thing you can do is to ensure all vents are clear so dry air can circulate inside well. Regularly airing out your attics, basements, and crawl spaces may also help.
Other Effective Ways to Prevent Termite Damage
Termite Treatment or Prevention Costs
With all things considered, repairing termite damage can be rather expensive. You should know how much you need to set aside for termite infestation repair. But, it's more important that you always keep an eye out for any signs of termite activity in your home.
The sooner you diagnose and address a residential termite problem, the better it is for your budget and family's well-being. If you want to protect yourself from extensive termite damage repair costs, invest in regular preventative measures and professional assessments.
You'll find it less expensive than paying the professional repair bills brought by a full-blown infestation.