We often like to think that our homes are safe from six-legged intruders. But that isn’t always the case. Bugs can thrive in a variety of different environments and circumstances. And, in addition to just being unsettling, some of them can also cause damage to your home’s foundation. The experienced professionals at WCK have seen firsthand the damage that bugs can do. And they’ve helped clients repair the foundation in their Hammond homes after an infestation. Learn more about some of the different types of bugs that can set up residence near a home’s foundation. And find out how the team at WCK can fix the foundation problems some of them cause.
What Kinds of Bugs Make Their Way to Your Foundation?
Certain types of bugs are especially drawn to the area near a home’s foundation. The moisture within a damp crawl space draws them in. And, while not every kind is harmful to your home’s foundation, they can indicate the existence of foundation problems. And when they find an entry point in a weakened foundation, sometimes it can lead to an infestation.
- Roly Polys. Also known as pillbugs, they like the moisture of crawl spaces and can often be found there. They have an armored exoskeleton and will roll up into a ball if they feel threatened. While they don’t pose a threat themselves, their presence can be a sign of foundation damage.
- Centipedes and Millipedes. Like pillbugs, these creepy crawlies are drawn to damp crawl spaces. They’re extremely long and walk on several sets of legs. While centipedes have venomous pinchers, millipedes do not.
- Cockroaches. No one wants to share a space with cockroaches. They’re known to carry diseases, and once they’ve entered a home, they can rapidly multiply. One of the ways cockroaches can enter a house is through a crawl space that hasn’t been sealed properly. Also, when homes settle too quickly, it can cause windows and doors not to seal properly, providing even more entry points.
- Carpenter Ants. As their name implies, these ants are attracted to wood. And, while they will nest in healthy wood, they’re especially attracted to rotting wood and damp conditions. They won’t eat the wood, but they will hollow it out and ruin its integrity as their colonies grow.
- Termites. Similarly to carpenter ants, termites attempt hollow out the wood supporting a home. And they can enter spaces that haven’t been properly sealed even if they’re incredibly small and narrow.
Do Bugs Mean It’s Time to Repair the Foundation Under My Hammond Home?
The presence of some of these bugs may mean it’s time to repair the foundation of your Hammond home. And this can be especially dangerous in the case of termites and carpenter ants, which actively damage the wood in homes. Of course, one of the first things you’ll want to do is contact an exterminator to eliminate the bugs and keep them from coming back. But the next thing to do is to get in touch with the WCK team. Call us at 225-664-5956 and get a free estimate to repair any compromised areas in your foundation. Trust WCK to ensure that your home’s foundation is secure.