What If A Log Home Gets Termites
With log homes on the other hand if termites do end up getting to your wood walls they are immediately visible.
What if a log home gets termites. It is true that being built of wood log homes may have potential problems with insects such as termites and carpenter ants that can cause structural problems. Termite damage in a log cabin depends on how much time the termites have had before being discovered. If termite damage isn t curbed a colony of termites could devastate a wooden structure from bottom to top. If you live in an especially damp humid climate such as the southern united states ensure that you choose high quality lumber.
Cover exposed wood surfaces with a sealant or metal barrier. During construction use a concrete foundation and leave a ventilation space between the soil and wood. Every year according to the united states department of agriculture usda. The logs need to be treated to prevent termites from even thinking about your home as a food source.
But there is no evidence that this is any more of a concern than it would be in a wood frame home. Log homes are not necessarily any more susceptible to termites than conventional houses. What do termites do. If a termite enters a log you ll notice a small bore hole with a tiny pile of sawdust.
Fortunately although termites can cause some of the worst structural damage there are ways to prevent that and protect your home from these pests. Termites live in colonies typically in wood or soil. The good news is that they are immediately visible. If termites are present in a log home there is one bit of good news.
Their point of entry will be obvious a small bore hole and a little pile of sawdust will be clearly visible if a termite enters a log and therefore homeowners will know to take immediate action. Your properly cured and seasoned logs should have a thick diameter and been treated to resist moisture. It can include chewed boards hollow logs walls covered in worm shaped lines and weakened support beams. Residences in 2017 alone termites were responsible for an estimated 1 billion in damage and approximately 30 billion in total damage to u s.
Make the structure less attractive to termites. Borate treatments are now a common prevention method. A termite infestation can result in serious issues in your home especially in log cabins where your home is their food.