If you’re a homeowner, you take care to make sure that your house is termite-free. If there is a termite infestation, you make every attempt to handle it quickly and effectively, to protect your home from damage. If you own commercial properties, it’s just as crucial to protecting those properties as it is to protect your home. A termite infestation can be just as detrimental to a business as to a residence, and it’s important to know the signs to look for, in order to protect your commercial property from termites.

Proceed With Caution Before Purchasing Any Property

Make sure to get a termite inspection, and if there are termites, have them eradicated before you buy. After you buy, have a termite inspection every year, to keep your property free from infestation. Staying ahead of termites is the best way to keep them from doing substantial damage to your property, which can cause thousands of dollars’ worth of damage. Your insurance may not cover the cost needed to repair or replace structures damaged by a termite infestation, and if the structure in question is your company, you may face even more loss as your business operations take a hit.

If Your Business Is Residential Housing, You’re in a Unique Position

You have the benefit of people living in the property, and if they’re paying attention, your tenants can alert you to signs of a termite infestation before it becomes a major problem. To that end, it’s important to educate your tenants on signs that indicate the presence of termites, so that they can help you stay aware of any potential danger to your property. On the other hand, if you miss the early signs of termites on a rental property, it can lead to myriad issues. As a landlord, you’ll be responsible not only for treating the property but also for relocating the tenants temporarily while the work is being accomplished and the termites are being eradicated. This is a legal requirement, and if you don’t take responsibility for the livability of the property and the habitation of your tenants, you can be prosecuted.

Occupants of Commercial Properties May Be Slower to Spot Termite Damage

It’s easy to notice signs of a termite infestation when you live on the property. You might see the insects themselves, or you might notice droppings or discarded wings. You may find mud tubes on the outside of your house, or you might actually see damage to the wood in your home. If the building under attack is an office or store, though, it’s possible to miss the signs. People often pay more attention to their homes than they do their places of business, and employees can walk past damage day in and day out without ever noticing it. If you own the building but rent it out to another business, you may be far enough removed from the daily workings of the property that termites onsite can escape your notice.

Commercial Structures Require Special Considerations Prior to Termite Treatment

While treatment methods for commercial properties are similar to treatments for residential buildings, there are a few additional aspects to consider. First, commercial structures are typically larger than residential homes, and they’re constructed differently. Enlisting the help of an expert in termite control is crucial because the professionals know how to tailor treatment to meet the needs of your unique property. Another consideration in treating a commercial structure is the type of business occupying the space. It can be difficult to arrange an inspection of commercial properties because it needs to be done at a time that won’t disrupt the operations of the business located on the property. Similarly, when treatment options are being discussed, you’ll need to take business operations into account, to find a treatment that’s as minimally disruptive as possible.

Make Sure Your Property Manager or Hoa Manager Knows How to Spot the Signs of an Infestation

No matter what type of property you own, it’s important to make sure someone is paying attention so that you can avoid potential termite damage. This might be you, or it might be a property manager or HOA manager, or even your tenants themselves. Whoever it is, emphasize the importance of remaining vigilant, and educate that person on the signs of a termite infestation, which include:

Hollow sounding wood- knock on it to check for a hollow sound
Wood that seems to be crumbling easily
Paint that is bubbling or peeling
Drywall with small pinholes in it
Floors, especially laminate floors, that bubble or sag
Loose tiles
Sheetrock on ceilings that are sagging or discolored
Mud tubes on walls or beams and in crawl spaces
Winged insects that look like ants temporarily swarming in or around the property
Termite droppings and discarded wings

At MightyMite Termite Services, we can help you keep your residential or commercial property safe from termites, using treatments that are naturally derived and have a low impact on the environment. We diagnose and treat infestations with the most effective methods and unmatched warranties, solving your termite problems the first time, with an industry-best “no call-back rate.” That, combined with our experience, technology, and highly trained professional staff, makes us the leading extermination company in the Bay Area. Additionally, having amassed years of experience as a leading termite exterminator for commercial businesses, we understand the unique termite control needs of the commercial sector, and we aim to provide excellent service, utilizing industry best practices to solve our customers’ termite problems in Northern California. To take action against termite infestation, contact MightMite Termite Services today. We can help!