Hi,
On June 2, I had pressure treated lumber delivered from Home Depot to build a deck. We installed the posts that day and completed the deck over the next 2 week-ends. Today on July 30, I notice there is a chunk of wood missing from one of the corner posts. This is about 5'-6' off the ground. It is obvious this is bug damage - likely termites. Looks like the post is being eaten from the inside out. How does a PT 4x4 start deteriorating from bug damage in less than 2 months? Is that even possible unless it was already infected?
I can also tell you several weeks ago I was outside and it was lightly drizzling and I saw a steady stream of small flying insects coming out from under the deck. I never saw bugs flying in the rain. I identified them from pics on the Net and they are Formosan subterranean termites. I am shocked, I dont even have a foundation to my home. When I saw this I did grab a can of bug spray and spray in the area they were coming from but I couldn't really tell where they were coming from. I only saw some on the ground as they were getting ready to launch. I sprayed the area but I wish I could have found where they were coming from.
I called Home Depot and they are going to have their insurance company call me.
I am very worried for my home now. I have a manufactured home that is about 30" off the ground so I dont even have a foundation.
Should I be worried for my home and do you think the termites were in the lumber when it was delivered?
Thanks for any help anyone can give. I am very upset my brand new deck already has a post that needs replaced and even more upset to think I am now infested with termites. If I wasnt already but I just dont see how a post can be eaten up to the point it shows already in less tahn 2 months? I do have a wood fence that has been up for at least 12 years (it was here when I moved in and I have only made a few repairs on it) and I dont see any termite damage on any of those posts or rails.
On June 2, I had pressure treated lumber delivered from Home Depot to build a deck. We installed the posts that day and completed the deck over the next 2 week-ends. Today on July 30, I notice there is a chunk of wood missing from one of the corner posts. This is about 5'-6' off the ground. It is obvious this is bug damage - likely termites. Looks like the post is being eaten from the inside out. How does a PT 4x4 start deteriorating from bug damage in less than 2 months? Is that even possible unless it was already infected?
I can also tell you several weeks ago I was outside and it was lightly drizzling and I saw a steady stream of small flying insects coming out from under the deck. I never saw bugs flying in the rain. I identified them from pics on the Net and they are Formosan subterranean termites. I am shocked, I dont even have a foundation to my home. When I saw this I did grab a can of bug spray and spray in the area they were coming from but I couldn't really tell where they were coming from. I only saw some on the ground as they were getting ready to launch. I sprayed the area but I wish I could have found where they were coming from.
I called Home Depot and they are going to have their insurance company call me.
I am very worried for my home now. I have a manufactured home that is about 30" off the ground so I dont even have a foundation.
Should I be worried for my home and do you think the termites were in the lumber when it was delivered?
Thanks for any help anyone can give. I am very upset my brand new deck already has a post that needs replaced and even more upset to think I am now infested with termites. If I wasnt already but I just dont see how a post can be eaten up to the point it shows already in less tahn 2 months? I do have a wood fence that has been up for at least 12 years (it was here when I moved in and I have only made a few repairs on it) and I dont see any termite damage on any of those posts or rails.
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