If you have never dealt with the trouble with termites in the past, be prepared for a long, grueling process of stopping them from destroying your home. Termites have one purpose, and that purpose is to eat wood. They can do this very quick, and in no time at all you have severe trouble within your home. They create structural problems, which is one of the more expensive areas to focus on in your home. While some termites take awhile to eat their way through your home, some species of termites can destroy your home within matter of months. It is not only important to kill the colony, but to repair, and prevent other termites from the ability to enter your home and finish the job the last colony started.

The Beginning
Termites begin by creating tunnels through the wood, creating more room for a bigger colony. The branch out from their starting place and continue to make an unstable environment for you and your family. While termite colonies work differently, the average size of a colony is 60,000 termites. Even brick and masonry homes can become unstable due to termite damage(not only strictly wood built homes are not the only ones affected). Normally, termites are hard to find until months of damage is already done. While this can create quite a lot of work, the most important part is killing the colony, repairing the problems, and creating a barrier to keep it from happening again.

The Ideal Environment
Termites thrive in damp, warm environments. Your home is at a higher risk of termite infestation if your home has wood paneling, or wooden support resting on the ground outside of your home. If you live in a wooded area, or have woodpiles near your home, this can also act as a breeding ground for termites. While it is possible to have a termite infestation without these things, those are just a couple of the bigger signs that termites will find your home an easier target.

The Damage
Not only can termites do structural damage, they can also create a foul odor due to fecal matter buildup. This can be in your walls, floors, and even outside of your home. Most of the time, walls and floors in which fecal matter is present will need to be completely replaced to rid your home of the odor. Fecal matter can also create discoloration in walls and floors as well.

The Time To Act
The moment you discover a termite infestation, it is important to do something about it. Usually, you cannot see the full extent of the damage right off the bat. Termites can be at work for years before the problem becomes noticeable. Not only can it cost you in repairs, but it can also decrease the value of your home. Usually, when buyers hear anything about termites, it will deter them from wanting to buy the property.