A termite infestation is every homeowner's worst nightmare. If your home has recently been attacked by termites, your problems aren't over once the termites themselves have been destroyed.
A single colony of these wood-boring insects can do catastrophic damage to residential properties, and homes that rely heavily on structural timber are particularly vulnerable. If your home's floor is supported by a timber stump subfloor, the damage caused by termites may make it necessary to have your home restumped.
How Can Termites Damage Timber Stump Subfloors?
Termites consume timber and timber products as a source of food and extract chunks of wood from timber structures to return to their colonies. When termites invade a property with a timber stump subfloor, the wooden stumps are almost always the first source of food they encounter. This means they are likely to be damaged, even if you catch a termite infestation early.
Like all structural timbers, the timbers used to construct stump subfloors are treated with insecticidal chemicals, which prevents termites and other insects from eating the wood. However, If treated timbers are exposed to high levels of liquid or ambient moisture, the efficacy of these chemicals can be reduced. Termites also find it easier to consume damp wood than dry wood.
Because subfloor stumps are located close to bare earth, and often receive very little ventilation, they are prone to absorbing moisture from the soil and humidity from the surrounding air. Older homes and homes that have been exposed to recent flooding are more likely to have damp stumps.
How Can You Tell If Termites Have Damaged Your Stump Subfloor?
If your house has recently been infested with termites, it is always a good idea to have your home professionally inspected as soon as the colony has been destroyed. You may also be able to spot signs of stump damage yourself. If you see small holes on the surfaces of the stumps, or piles of what looks like sawdust surrounding the stumps, they have probably suffered internal damage.
If the subfloor has been badly damaged, you may also notice more general signs that your home is starting to subside. Cracks in the walls, bowed or uneven flooring and doors and windows sticking in their jambs are all tell-tale signs that your subfloor is losing load-bearing strength. Once this occurs, you will need to have your home restumped as soon as possible before the damage and subsidence gets worse.
What Are Your Restumping Options?
If your home's stump subfloor has been damaged, but the damage is limited to a relatively small cluster of stumps, you may be able to have your home partially restumped. This is much less expensive and disruptive than a full restumping project.
During the restumping process, jacks are placed around the damaged stumps to support your home. The damaged stumps are then removed and replaced. Replacement stumps are usually made from concrete or steel, which are immune to termite damage.
Unfortunately, your home may need to be completely restumped if a large colony of termites has caused damage to most or all of the stumps. While this option is more expensive, it may be a better long-term investment than partial restumping since removing all of the original timber stumps will make your new, concrete or steel subfloor impervious to future termite troubles. Contact a local restumping service to learn more.
Share28 March 2022
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