Termites are comparatively small but usually live in colonies and can cause a substantial amount of damage to anything wooden. Research shows that an average termite colony can consume 6 inches of wood in just five months.
That may not sound like a huge amount, but consider your home missing six inches of wood, especially if it is in a structural beam.
Of course, it’s not just the floorboards and structure that can offer food for termites, your wooden furniture can do the same.
It’s important to know the signs of termites in your furniture. This will allow you to contact your local termite control, remove and cleanse the furniture, and check the rest of your home. Termite infestations are always better caught early before too much damage is done.
Holes In Your Wood
One of the biggest signs that you have termites in your wooden furniture is when you see small pinprick holes. These are the entry and exit points for the termites as they eat their way through your furniture.
The holes will gradually become more numerous. This reflects the quantity of tunnels that exist under the surface. If the termites create enough tunnels the wood will disintegrate.
Termite Sightings
If you see a termite in your home there is a good chance you have more than one. The biggest question will be where are the termites coming from? Narrowing down the search will help you to find the colony, which must be eradicated.
All you have to do is watch the termites, they are most active at night, and see where they are going.
Cracking & Blistering
The greater the number of tunnels inside a piece of wood the more likely it is that it will crack or you’ll see blistering on the surface. This is especially true if the furniture is painted. The paint will blister, leaving the furniture looking tired.
Dealing With the Issue
The great thing about furniture is that it can be moved. That means taking the infected piece of furniture and putting it in the garage, outhouse, or anywhere else you have.
You can now spray the furniture with a heavy duty pesticide to kill the termites. It is particularly important to kill the queen.
To help know how successful you are simply place the furniture on a piece of newspaper. The termites will attempt to escape and as they die they are likely to fall to the floor.
By having a newspaper there you’ll be able to see how many you are killing and look for the larger queen. Knowing you have killed the queen will ensure the colony has gone.
You will then need to assess your furniture to see if it is still useable, needs replacing, or can be repaired. Don’t forget, while you should be able to deal with a piece of furniture yourself, it is equally important to get the professionals to check the furniture and your house.
