Massey Blog

Unfortunately in the Southeast, the conditions are perfect for termites to be active year-round.  Termites will typically slow their activities in the colder months and there are only a few short weeks in the South when the weather is too cold for extensive termite activity. 

Even in these colder times, termites are not greatly affected because homes are built with the ability to control the temperature inside.  So, when homeowners turn on their heaters, the conditions inside the home become favorable for termite activity to continue.

This is why it is important to have your home inspected annually by a professional company.  Trained Termite Inspectors can identify signs of termites that may not be seen by homeowners.

Massey Services provides Free Termite Inspections and we'll provide you with a written report of our findings along with recommendations for Termite Protection programs customized for your home.  Sign up for a free inspection or call us at 1-888-2MASSEY.

When exterior sidings on a home extend below the soil or come in direct contact with the soil, termites can build their mud tubes between the foundation and the siding. To reduce the risk of termite infestation and to be able to see an infestation, all exterior sidings should be about 6-8 inches above the soil. This is especially true with a stucco coating on wood-frame wall construction.

On the outside, a wood-framed wall coated with stucco appears to be solid concrete with no way for termites to get in.  However, stucco coatings are applied to a wire mesh that is attached to the wood sheathing of the wall. When the wire is installed below the surface of the soil it creates a gap that is wide enough for termites to tunnel behind the stucco into the home. Because they are tunneling behind the stucco, the tunnels are not visible and this can result in an infestation going undetected for a long time.

If your home is constructed of wood-framing with an exterior coating of stucco extending below the soil, it is highly recommended that you have an annual termite inspection by a professional. A proper inspection will determine if the stucco is providing a hidden avenue for termites into your home,

Contact Massey Services for your Free Termite Inspection.  We will also provide you a detailed report of any findings along with our recommendations to protect your home.

Termites, by nature, rarely come into the open and most of the indications of a termite problem are hidden or difficult to see to the casual observer. Although, it is best to have a trained professional inspect your home for termite infestations, there are some things that the typical homeowner may see that would let them know if there is an existing termite infestation in their home.

Signs of a Termite Infestation

• Dead termites on widow sills, around doors or on or near furniture.  This is the most common way homeowners find out they have termites.
• Mud tunnels on exterior foundation walls.  These are about the diameter of a pencil and are found around the foundation of the house or in the garage.
• Termite Damage.  Sometimes homeowners accidentally discover damage by bumping into a damaged baseboard or wooden post and the wood cracks, exposing the termite damage.
  

Massey Services provides Free Termite Inspections and recommends that homeowners get an inspection at least once every year.

Did you buy a new home? A pre-owned home? You may not know this, but pre-construction termite treatments don’t last forever. And because termites thrive in the Southeast, all homes are susceptible – and damage is not covered by Homeowners Insurance. Ultimately, the cost of termite protection is probably a fraction of what it would take to repair damage caused by termites. If you’re not sure what kind of termite coverage you have, it’s a good idea to contact the company that provided the initial treatment on your home and get a copy of your termite coverage.  Most of the time termite companies place a sticker on your water heater or inside the breaker box that will have their contact information.  If you can’t identify the company that provided the initial treatment, it’s a good idea to call a qualified professional to get a termite inspection.

Massey Services has been in the business of protecting homes from termites for more than 75 years and we currently provide service to over 180,000 satisfied customers throughout the Southeast. Contact Massey Services for your free, thorough termite inspection today.

Termites cause more damage to homes and businesses each year than all the fires, floods, and natural disasters combined.  Termites are found throughout the U.S. but are more densely populated in the Southeast.  In fact, up to six colonies can thrive in a single acre plot, with each colony containing thousands or even millions of termites.

You should also realize that termites can get into any home or business structure, including brick, block and stucco. They enter through tiny cracks and crevices in the foundation, eaves and walls in, under and around your home. These cracks don’t have to be huge holes or gaps – termites can get through hairline cracks no wider than 1/64 of an inch! 

With so much potential for damage, it’s important to have a termite inspection every year. If you haven’t already, contact Massey Services for your free, detailed termite inspection today.

For most people, termite swarms are the obvious signs of infestation. However, because of drought conditions, termites haven't swarmed as much in recent years. This doesn't mean they're not getting into your home – it just means you have to look a little harder for signs that they’re present.

Here is a quick list of small, but important signs of termites:

Termite wings. These are often found after a swarm and are typically found in small piles near windows or other light sources

Shelter tubes. Made of particles of soil, wood and debris, these allow subterranean termites to move out of the ground to outside entryways.

Bathroom signs. Many infestations found in a home are found in bathrooms. Signs include loose tiles, soil particles, exit holes [small pinholes] and cracked grout.

Small holes in wood or drywall or blistered paint. When termites damage wood within your home, they often create holes in the drywall. Because termites eat wood from the inside out, they usually hollow the wood along the grain. This can cause ripples in the exterior of the wood itself, or cause the paint to blister.

Damaged wood. This can include wood that sounds "hollow" when it is tapped with the handle of a screwdriver, wood that is soft when probed with a sharp object or a thin gritty gray-brown film on the surface of damaged wood.

Of course, the key is to not wait for any signs. You should have a termite inspection by a termite professional at least once a year. Contact Massey Services for your free, thorough termite inspection today.

Unlike subterranean termites, drywood termites don’t live in the ground. Instead, they develop their colonies right inside the wood that they eat. They most often get into your home by flying and entering through small cracks in unprotected wood or even nail holes. Once they embed themselves inside wood, they eat the wood from the inside out, grow their colonies, and spread to other areas of the structure.

Massey's termite experts utilize two effective methods to fight drywoods. One is to provide localized treatment right in the areas of termite activity. This involves using a penetrating dry foam Termidor ^® treatment either directly into the wood or into the wall voids around the suspected areas. If drywoods are identified throughout your structure, we provide whole-structure tent fumigation. This assures that 100% of the structure is treated and eliminates all infestations.

The best protection against any type of termite is a yearly inspection by a termite professional. Contact Massey Services for your free, thorough termite inspection today.

Did you know that the landscaping around your home might be a little too termite-friendly? Termites are attracted to moist, shaded environments, which makes mulch beds a potential haven for them. As a general rule, keep mulch at least six inches away from the foundation of your home. Termites get into your home through tiny cracks and crevices in your foundation and allowing mulch to pile up against the foundation is an open invitation.

Find more helpful information in our Termite Home Maintenance Tips area.