Drywall is a common building material that is used to cover the walls and ceilings of a building. Since this drywall consists of plaster and paperboard, it is also a favorite target for termites. Let’s take a look at what happens when termites start an infestation in your drywall.
Signs that there is a termite infestation in the drywall
Termites will usually leave very few outward signs of their presence during an infestation, and when they infest a large piece of wood, the termites will eat it from the inside out, meaning that damage will not become visible until it is extensive. However, since drywall is so thin, the damage may become apparent much sooner. Damaged drywall may start to buckle and it will look water damaged as the termites destroy its structural integrity. You may also notice mud tubes coming out of the ground and connecting to the drywall, or there may be tiny holes in the drywall with wood shavings below them on the ground. Any of these signs should indicate that there is a termite infestation present.
Removing termites from the drywall
The big issue with having termites in your drywall is not the actual fact of attacking the drywall. Drywall is cheap and easy to replace, and an infested piece of drywall can just be taken off and destroyed. The real problem is that it’s likely that the termites have infested other areas of your home if they are present in the drywall. In this situation the control and repair costs are much higher.
There are three main termite species that will infest the home – drywood, dampwood and subterranean termites. Of the three species, the first two generally create mild infestations, which are easy and relatively cheap to treat. It takes a long time for one of these two species to grow a large colony, because they build their colonies inside of wood, but if the infestation is widespread, then the home will need to be fumigated.
Subterranean termites on the other hand are capable of doing a lot more damage. These termites build their colonies underground, and these colonies can grow to millions of members before they infest the home. In these situations the damage to the home can be extensive if the infestation is not caught early on.
For more information on how termites infest drywall and what you need to do to remove them, contact us today.
