It is no secret that termites are born to destroy. The havoc an active colony can wreak on a wooden structure often goes undetected until significant damage has been done.
The French military leader, Napoléon Bonaparte learned this the hard way when one of the ships built under his command became so thoroughly infested that it compromised the integrity of the wooden vessel. In the early 1800’s, the great warship le Génois had to be taken out of service and destroyed because of the sneaky little creatures.
In the past, termites have also destroyed much of the historic French Quarter of New Orleans, one bite at a time. Although over the years the city has done much to defend itself against the termite’s destructive munching, this may be a battle that will be fought for years to come.
Colonial Williamsburg is another bit of history that these vicious insects are invading. Although visitors to this historic spot may view many structures that were originally built during the eighteenth century, some of the structures, contracted primarily out of wood, had to be reconstructed. These reconstructions were caused by several factors, one of them being damage done by subterranean termites. Over the years, steps have been taken to reduce the threat that these termites pose to these historic structures, to ensure that visitors to the area may continue to enjoy and learn from this opportunity to see what life was like during this period in our nation’s history.
In their effort to survive, termites can be brutal, and thoroughly destructive. The historical or practical significance of a structure matters not. Because their inroads into anything made of wood is often invisible to the untrained eye, termite inspections by trained professionals who are well-versed in signs of infestation may be an investment worth making.
To learn more about how a termite inspection might benefit you, contact us today!