The Southeastern region of the U.S. can include South Carolina, depending on who you talk to. Now, stepping away from the nuances of region names that spurs neighbors into mumbled arguments, South Carolina does experience termites. This comes with the notion that this particular region of the United States experiences a termite “season.”
That’s not quite true, but it’s evident that these devious creatures make a grander appearance at certain times of the year. Unfortunately, if you see termites or residue of termites, you already have a substantial amount of damage at hand.
There are Different Types of Termites
So the season change is a big deal in South Carolina. If you have a pool, you’ll start thinking about winterizing it soon, and you’ll need to think about clearing out the gutters. But what about the inner workings of your home? Termites come in five different species throughout this region of the U.S. In Anderson, the turn of the season is when you’ll likely see them most often when the sun is out, and the temperatures are high.
The species include:
- Dampwood termites
- Drywood termites
- Conehead termites
- Formosan termites
- Subterranean termites
Homeowners in South Carolina will most likely see dry wood, and subterranean termites more than other species. Both the dry wood and subterranean termites enjoy burrowing in structures, aka your home and are more than a little destructive. Subterranean termites can take down a whole building and can go for years without detection.
Regardless of which type you suspect of moving into your walls, or under your home, you should lookout for a few key signs:
- Dropped wings (more on this in a moment)
- The residue of chipped drywall or wood granules near walls.
- Holes or spaces in floorboards.
The dropped wings are what leads to the myth of a termite season. There is a swarming season or a breeding season for termites, and that’s when you see the most evidence including dropped wings.
How Termites Get To Your Home
Do these creatures sprout wings and fly into homes like locusts? Kind of, but less obviously. You should expect to see swarms in the summer months and even through to the fall given the eastern climate. Swarms are a way for termites to find new locations for nests, build nests, and cultivate a colony.
The biggest concern for South Carolina residents is roofing and termite damage. Because of the old structure of houses, and thick foundations, subterranean termites, are easier to spot. You can easily see mud tubes, or caked mud the side of your home. Drywood termites, however, swarm in and nest in open wood on any floor. The most common entry point for these pests is the roof. They will often come up and enter through damaged shingles, sheathing, or soffits.
Homeowners can take proactive steps to protect their home by having regular roof inspections. Not only will a roofing contractor notify you of termite damage and possible entry points, but of the presence of any nests as well.
When To Take Action
Because there isn’t actually a termite season and these pests are quite active year round you need to take preventative action. The best way to stave off a termite infestation is to keep your roof, siding, and wood-to-ground areas in top shape. These pests look for damage so they can quickly invade, burrow, and reproduce to create a colony. Roof sheathing and soffits should be well maintained throughout the year.
However if you do notice dropped wings or damage to your roofing that looks suspicious, contact your local pest control company. Then make sure to call in a roofing contractor to begin repairing the termite damage.
After you’ve taken action against these damaging pests, you’ll need to start fixing what termite damage was done. As termites can go for years without detection, it’s possible that the wood within your roof’s structure was compromised. A roofing contractor can help you understand the options for carpentry repair and replacement. Not every termite infestation will lead to a roof replacement.
Contact Your Roofing Contactor
Whenever you notice a pest problem, you’ll need to do more than just call pest control. Animals and invasive species such as termites wreak havoc on the structure of your roof. From nesting to colonizing, it’s clear that the support over your head is no longer reliable.
Contact Anderson Metal Roofing & Shingles for a free consultation. You can have a roofing contractor come out and assess the damage of an infestation. They’ll go through all of your options and provide you with all of their recommended repairs.
