4 helpful wood repair tips for fixing termite damage

While wood is considered a sturdy, durable, and versatile material that can be used in any part of your home, it can be susceptible to many factors that can cause extensive, unsightly damage.

Over time, due to harsh weather conditions, UV rays, and pests infestation, you might begin to notice the deterioration of wooden structures in your home. Not attending to a damaged wooden structure can be a safety hazard in your home.

Due to warm weather conditions, termite infestations in San Diego aren’t uncommon. Wood damage due to termites is unavoidable unless the wooden structures of your home are fully protected.

If you notice any of the following on the interior or exterior of your home, therefore, your home may be infested with termites:

• Maze-like patterns on wooden structures
• Buckling on ceilings or walls 
• The appearance of water damage
• Mud tunnels on home foundations
• Hollow parts in walls and floors, which can be noticed if knocked

Spotting such damages is quite unsettling, especially when it’s in your own home. There’s no reason to panic, however, as most of these damages can be fixed with the help of an expert.

Here are 4 common but effective procedures to fix damaged wood once all traces of an infestation have been eradicated.

1. Replacing damaged wood

In the case of extensive damage caused to the wooden structure, completely replacing the damaged sections of wood is the best option.

A professional wood repairer will carefully remove the damaged wood and scrape the internal wood to further separate any damaged parts.

Before installing the new wood, high-strength wood sealers can be injected deep into the remaining structure to extend its durability and ensure a more stable structure.

2. Adding wood support to damaged sections

If termite damage to the wooden structure is minimal, support can be added to the existing structure instead of completely replacing the wood.

Installing steel or cement columns to support the structure can reinforce its strength and stability without the risk of termite damage in the future.

Steel plates are sometimes drilled into the wood as reinforcement to transfer the weight of the structure evenly between the wood and the steel.

3. Applying wood fillers

For minimally damaged wood that mainly consists of holes, applying wood filler can prevent the damage from worsening.

A professional wood repairer will clean out any debris that’s deposited in the hollow damaged wood before adding the filler. 

Without using too much pressure, the damaged wood is then filled up with the wood filler and the excess can be scraped off for an even surface.

The filler is then left to dry for 24 hours and can be sanded for a smoother finish.

4. Using wood sealants

Once a damaged wooden structure is treated for termites by a professional, a sealant can be applied to cut off the air supply to any remaining termites deep inside.

Sealing wood with a quality sealant can also protect the wood from any water damage which may further weaken it.

Make sure all wooden structures and surfaces in your home are protected from moisture as termites thrive in damp conditions.

Hire a professional for wood repair

Hiring a professional that specializes in wood repair in San Diego can guarantee that the wooden fixtures in your home look good as new.

A professional will assess the levels of damage and evaluate what needs full replacement and what can be salvaged, which can save a lot of your time and effort.

Expert repairers will only use top-of-the-line materials to deter any termite infestations from occurring in the future while giving your home’s wooden structure a more durable finish.

Make sure you get in touch with a professional painting service in San Diego that specializes in repairing damaged wood.