The presence of common household pests like termites, ants, and rodents can lead to serious structural damage in any home or business. Without you being aware of it, termites can eat away wooden structures in foundations while ants can build colonies behind walls and compromise structural integrity. Rats, mice, squirrels, and raccoons also love to nest in lofts and attics and are notorious for chomping on insulation and electrical cables that can cause residential fires.
Unfortunately, this is the stark and scary reality for residents in Beaverton and the rest of Oregon—pests in your home can rob you of your peace of mind. And unless you nip your pest problem in the bud, there will be lots of sleepless nights and unending nightmares you’ll have to deal with.
STRUCTURAL DAMAGE CAUSED BY PESTS CAN RESULT IN COSTLY HOME REPAIRS. PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE.
Blame it on the generous rainfalls and wooded thickets across the Pacific Northwest—nasty bugs and rodents are a problem we have to deal with year after year. Pests will continue to be prevalent in our environment and the only way to prevent structural damage arising from pest infestations is to conduct regular inspections and pest control services to prevent these critters from invading your property.
Let’s take a deeper look at the different types of structural damage pests can inflict on homes and properties in Beaverton and the Portland metro areas.
Roof Damage Caused by Pests
Roof damage arising from pest infestations ranges from simple issues such as holes, cracks, and broken shingles to more serious problems like exposed electrical wirings and damaged pipes. What’s more of a concern, however, is that these issues can lead to a bigger headache—water leaks. Water leaking through your roof can cause moisture buildup which encourages the growth of mold and mildew. Moisture buildup will also cause rafters, ceiling joists, and framing to rot and compromise the structural integrity of your roof and ceilings.
Roof repair or replacement can leave a huge dent in your budget. It is always advisable to employ all measures to keep bugs and rodents at bay with regular pest control treatments as roof damage caused by pests can be outright devastating.
Pests that can damage your roof
Termites
Roof trusses, rafters, and decking are an easy target for termites for the simple reason that they love to feast on wood. The moment you suspect the presence of termites in these areas, be sure to call in a pest control expert. Termite damage is always easy to rectify when caught early. Better yet, have a termite specialist inspect your property on a regular basis.
Rodents
While rats and mice are a perennial pest problem in Beaverton homes, pay extra attention to these critters during the fall and winter months. It is during this time of the year when rodents seek shelter from the cold and your roof makes a perfect place for them to build a warm nest.
Birds
While generally not considered household pests, it’s worth mentioning that bird droppings on your roof can cause damage to roof shingles and sheathing. Bird poop contains uric acid and is corrosive by nature—they can eat through asphalt shingles, paint, and other roofing covers.
Insulation Damage Caused by Pests
Depending on the time of year, insulation helps regulate indoor temperature by keeping your home either warm or cool. The presence of bugs and critters in your insulation system spells outright trouble as these pests can chew through and leave holes that compromise heating or cooling functions. Moreover, these pests that have nested in your insulation can transport and accumulate food particles that lead to rotting and mold troubles. If left unaddressed, you may need to tear down your walls completely for insulation replacement.
Pests that can damage insulation
Carpenter ants
Known to clear tight spaces to build their nests, carpenter ants are a clear threat to your home’s insulation. In addition to wood, they will happily nest in Styrofoam or fiberglass panels as well as other types of insulation materials.
Raccoons
Raccoons typically make their way indoors through chimneys and attics where they can crush and damage insulation simply by walking or laying on it. They are among the most destructive pests you will encounter in the Pacific Northwest and are known to even tear up and move insulation materials around to create their sleeping areas! Never try to address a raccoon invasion on your own—these wild critters are host to ticks and fleas and are considered a primary carrier of the rabies virus.
Bees
Bees, particularly bumblebees, make use of dry, fluffy, and readily available materials to build their nests. Outdoors, they prefer dried leaves, dry grass clippings, and abandoned bird nests. When they find their way indoors, however, insulation materials are among their top picks.
Flooring Damage Caused by Pests
Hardwood continues to be a popular flooring option in Beaverton homes despite the fact that it remains a primary target for wood-boring pests such as termites, beetles, and certain ant species. These creatures can chew through, feed on, or even nest in wood flooring. If not spotted and treated early on, damage can get so bad that your floor will eventually crumble, disintegrate and collapse. Make sure you always keep a keen eye on any probable sign of pest infestation as hardwood floor replacement can get bloody expensive.
Pests that can damage hardwood flooring
Termites
Termites take the top spot when it comes to hardwood floor damage. Termites get nutrients from cellulose, an organic fiber found in wood and other plant matter. This explains why wood is their main food source, although termites also eat other materials such as paper, plastic, and drywall. Termite damage on hardwood floors isn’t easy to spot since they eat their way from the inside out.
Wood-boring beetles
Wood-boring beetles can invade and damage both hardwood and softwood. It is important to conduct regular pest inspections if you have chosen hardwood for your flooring material. It is usually the beetle larvae that feed on wood and create much of the damage without you noticing it. Damage only becomes evident when they reach their adult stage and emerge via small exit holes on the wood surface. Sadly, the structural integrity of your wooden flooring has been greatly compromised at this time.
Carpenter ants
Well-maintained hardwood flooring isn’t really at risk of a carpenter ant infestation as this ant species is more attracted to damaged, moist, or rotting wood. However, if your hardwood flooring has seen some aging or has been exposed to water damage, be wary of carpenter ants burrowing through and building their nests within. Furthermore, any moisture issues in your home can compromise even the hardiest of wooden flooring materials.
Foundation Damage Caused by Pests
The foundation of a home is probably the most important aspect of structural integrity since it supports everything from your floors, walls, windows, ceilings, and roofs. Any damage to the foundation can trigger a domino effect which can compromise the entire structure. Suffice it to say, the structural integrity of your entire home greatly depends on the strength of its foundation.
Home foundations built using wooden materials are greatly at risk of pest damage. On top of that, water leaks and moisture issues around the foundation are attractive to pests and create the ideal environment for probable infestations. Regular inspections for foundation issues caused by pests will greatly help in preventing the weakening of your home’s overall structure.
Pests that can damage your home foundation
Termites
While termites cannot cause direct damage to concrete foundations, they can find their way into any form of structural support made from wooden materials. This is quite common in homes where there is direct wood-to-ground contact in and around the structural foundation.
Carpenter Ants
Just like termites, carpenter ants love to burrow through and create their nests in wood, particularly moist or rotting wood. If you have any wooden structures around your home’s foundation, surely they have accumulated moisture from the atmosphere over time. As a result, they have also become ideal nesting grounds for carpenter ants so be sure to check for these pests as well.
Preventing Structural Damage with Beaverton Pest Control Services
Any form of structural damage caused by pests can result in costly repairs in your Beaverton home. If you suspect the presence of ants, rodents, and other pests in your property, get professional pest control services the soonest you can to prevent further damage that will compromise your home’s structural integrity.
Ant & Garden Organic Pest Control provides safe and eco-friendly pest control services in Beaverton and the Portland metro areas. We recommend yearly inspections just to make sure you don’t have hidden issues that can escalate into full-blown pest infestations and can cause irreversible structural damage. Call us today at (503) 713-9590 or drop us a message here.
