If you have discovered signs that your home has been infested with termites, it is essential that you hire a termite elimination specialist. The termites can cause significant damage to your home and the cost of repairs will be much greater than the cost of hiring a termite exterminator. But if you do find the termite infestation late, you may be able to repair the damage that results from termites.

When A Home Can't Be Saved

There are some homes that are damaged by termites beyond repair. However, the majority of homes that are damaged by termites can be restored to normal. Even the worst termites would take decades to do enough damage to a home to make it irreparable. When the home has reached a point where it cannot be repaired, the roof, ceiling or floor might collapse. The structural integrity of the home might be jeopardized. Under these circumstances, it is recommended that you hire a licensed contractor to inspect your home and determine whether the repairs can be made and to have the contractor perform these repairs, rather than doing so yourself.

Repairing Surface Damage

If the damage is only to the surface, you can usually repair it yourself. During early stages of termite damage, this is the most common type of repair that is needed. Fissures in the wood can be repaired by purchasing affordable wood hardening compounds. Make sure to choose a wood hardening compound that is suitable for the type of wood that you will be repairing. A wood sealer is also a good option because it can kill termites. 

Fixing More Extensive Damage

The wood that is damaged by termites is repaired using one of two methods. Either the wood that was damaged can be replaced by wood that is not damaged or the damaged wood needs to be supported by a new piece of wood that is attached to provide support. Attaching a new piece of wood to the damaged wood is the least expensive option. However, depending on the extent of the damage, this may not be a practical solution.

To make sure that the repairs made to your home are not in vane, it is necessary to have a termite inspection in the future to make sure that the termites were killed off. While there are some warning signs that you can look for yourself, you are better off hiring a professional.