The holiday season is quickly approaching and I can’t wait to purchase gifts and decorate my house for the holidays! Plus, with guests coming over, I was thinking it gives me time to tidy up and maybe even buy a few new things for my own home for decoration.

Then, the other day I heard an unbelievable story about a termite infestation inside a home that made me really think about what I am buying and bringing inside.  A woman bought some new baskets and decorative items to brighten up her home before her holiday guests began arriving. The items were made of wood and unbeknownst to the owner, they were infested with termites.  She started noticing small piles of dust around the wood floors of her home within a few months of the purchase but couldn’t figure out what it was.

After about one year of a growing problem, she finally contacted us and we discovered a complete termite infestation in her home – all caused from this one little purchase!

Now, I’m not saying I won’t decorate my home or buy anything new, but I’ll definitely be inspecting anything made of wood for traces of termite damage. And I’d recommend to anyone that they do the same. If you see start seeing tiny piles of powder around your house or small holes in your drywall, don’t wait to call!

Now who’s ready for some shopping?

What to do in a termite swarm

Homeowners may never actually see termites because they live in the ground or potentially in the walls of the home.

Most of the time, a termite swarm  is the only time homeowners actually see termites or find out they have termites before damage is discovered. Mature termite colonies will produce winged reproductive termites that will fly off from the colony in great numbers. This is nature’s way of termites spreading and establishing new colonies. Termite swarms can occur both  indoors and outside.

When termites swarm indoors, they will come out of walls or wooden construction (baseboards, door frames, posts, etc.) through small holes. These are called “exit holes” and were created by worker termites. A swarm will last about 30-40 minutes and the swarming termites will fly toward a light source, typically collecting around windows and sliding glass doors. If these termites can not find soil, they will die in a few hours from dehydration. Often homeowners come home from work to find many dead swarmers (or sometimes just their wings) on window sills, counter tops, around furniture, etc. This is the aftermath of a termite swarm.

Some Do’s and Don’ts if you see a swarm:

• DON’T panic.
• DON’T spray the swarmers with a can of insect spray. They will die naturally in the air and emptying a can of insect spray is unnecessary.
• DON’T try to seal the exit holes. Swarmers must escape and sealing the holes with tape or other materials will only cause them to make new holes to escape from.

• DO try to contain them. This can be done by shutting the door to the room that they are swarming in. Sometimes, a clear plastic baggie can be attached over the exit hole so the swarmers fly into the bag.
• DO vacuum them up and throw the full bag into the garbage. The swarmers in the bag will die and they can not spread.
• DO save a bag full of insets to show a trained inspector.
• DO call a reputable termite company. A trained inspector will be able to make a positive identification of the type of termite and recommend the best control method to solve the problem.

Think you’ve had a swarm in your home? Want to learn more about our Termite Treatment Options? Schedule a Free Inspection or call us at 1-888-2MASSEY (262-7739).

So you have a brick home and think it’s impervious to termites?  Think again!

Every year, termites cause millions of dollars in damage to homes in the US, damage that is not covered by homeowners insurance.  These tiny insects find cellulose material in any home construction type, including brick and steel framed homes.

Subterranean termites reside in the soil and can form tunnels, called mud tubes, up the base of the foundation and get into homes.  Once in the home, they tunnel their way into baseboards and wall studs without you even knowing.  Subterranean termites can also gain entry through plumbing openings in bathrooms and kitchens.

Drywood termites live in the wood they eat and find their way into homes through cracks and gaps in the eaves.  Once in the home, they are typically found in attics or rafters.

In both cases, termites eat wood from the inside out and most homeowners don’t know they have termites until the damage is discovered.

So no matter what your home construction is, you should have a termite protection program in place.  Contact Massey Services to get a Free Termite Inspection and to find out about our termite protection programs.

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 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.

Because termites need water to survive, excess water near the house can encourage termite activity. Here are a few common moisture issues:

• Inadequate property grade. Ideally, your home should sit on a small “hill” as opposed to in a “bowl.” If the finished property grade drains towards the foundation, water from rainstorms or sprinklers can accumulate next to your house and can create moisture conditions which can lead to termite infestation, as well as wood-decay. What to do: You may need to modify the physical grade of your property in order to drain excess water away from the structure.
• Lawn sprinklers spraying walls. If water from sprinklers regularly contacts the walls of your house, you are providing enough moisture for termites to survive within the walls. Spraying the walls can also lead to wood-decay. What to do: Adjust your irrigation heads to keep them from hitting the house.Check your irrigation system frequently for proper coverage.
• Lack of rain gutters. Rain gutters serve to divert water runoff from the roof away from your house. Without them, excess water can accumulate around your foundation, which may create a build up of moisture, a condition that attracts termites. What to do: Make sure gutters drain water away from your home. Make sure that water is drained no less than 3 feet from your foundation.If you have overhangs or eaves, make sure they are long enough to keep water runoff away from the exterior walls.

Check our Termite Home Maintenance Tips area for more information.

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 Servicesfor your free, detailed termite inspection today.

Due to ongoing drought conditions over the past few years, termites haven’t been swarming like they traditionally would. The danger with not seeing swarms is that termites are still very active – just not in sight.They’re moving, eating and reproducing underground, often right under or around your home.  In fact, they never take a break, making them a year-round threat. Termites silently get into your home through tiny cracks and crevices in, under, over and around your home. Because Termites are largely undetectable until damage is done, we recommend a termite inspection at least once a year.  Contact Massey Services for your free, thorough termite inspection today.