ProLog Restorations Inc – Log Home Restoration Company

Insects that cause problems in log homes

You love your log home, but insects love it too. Yes, they are small, but they can do some pretty big damage. All types of wood used for building log homes can be vulnerable to certain kinds of insects. That’s why part of any regular maintenance plan for log home owners should be checking for signs that insects have invaded your territory.

Start by taking a walk around the exterior and interior of your home checking for signs of insects such as carpenter ants, termites, carpenter bees, or beetles. Signs can include irregular sized holes that are concentrated close together, small piles of sawdust, or seeing the actual insects themselves. If you’re wondering what to look for, here are a few common types of insects that log home owners should watch out for.

Termites

The first insect you probably think of when it comes to wood damage, and for good reason, is termites. When looking for termites, the good news is that they are pretty easy to spot. Aside from seeing the actual insect itself, small irregular sized holes with tiny piles of sawdust around them are a good indicator that termites are present.

While termites might seem inevitable, there are a few ways you can make your home less inviting to them to keep them away. Keep wood piles or any wood that might become wet or rotten well away from the walls of your home. Also be sure that the logs of your home have been treated with sealants or solutions that will keep termites out. If you find termites, calling a professional log home termite control expert is your best bet. They can investigate the extent of the termite invasion, any damage, and how to best get rid of them.

Carpenter Ants

Carpenter ants can often be found living between the logs in log homes. They thrive in areas where water from leaks or condensation builds up and is absorbed by the wood, making it porous and easy to chew through. Carpenter ants don’t eat wood but will chew through it and then discard it, damaging your logs in the process. Check between logs for areas that have become wet, look for piles of coarse-looking sawdust or tunnels and holes with ants coming in and out of them. Left to thrive, these colonies can do a lot of damage to a home, so be sure to call a log home carpenter ant specialist to investigate an invasion, get the ants out, and repair any damage.

Carpenter Bees

Carpenter bees look like a typical bumble-bee, but they love using logs as a place to build their nests. Signs of carpenter bees are usually round holes about a ½ inch in diameter that have been chewed into the wood, with tunnels branching off. While one bee may not seem like a problem, bees will return to the same next year after year, expanding and building more entrances and tunnels which will weaken and damage logs from the inside. Plus, leaving the holes to the tunnels open lets rain and moisture seep deep into the logs as well.

Plugging holes with thicker finishes or exterior caulks will usually do the trick for keeping these wood-damaging insects out. Just be sure to check every year for returning bees to stay on top of the problem.

Powder-post Beetles

Powder-post beetles are wood-boring insects that are considered second only to termites for the ability to damage wood and log homes, but if you keep a watch and use the right kinds of treatments and sealants you can stay ahead of them. Signs of invasion are similar to termites, clustered holes, sawdust piles and small beetles or their larvae. These beetles lay their eggs only on unfinished wood since the larvae are unable to bore through varnish or paint. So you can see why it’s important to treat your wood correctly right from the start.

The easiest way to keep these little destructive critters out of your wood and your home is to be vigilant inspecting and maintaining your log home. If you think you’ve got unwanted guests in your log home, give us a call and we’ll be happy to inspect and advice you of the best course of treatment. Our log home pest control experts are here to help at 877-477-6564.

JonInsects that cause problems in log homes

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