Pests are a major burden to the UK economy. That’s because they cause millions of pounds of damage each year. Much of this includes serious structural damage, which is why we encourage clients to handle their pest control issues as soon as possible. By way of example, here are some of the ways in which pests can damage your property.
Watch out for these signs of structural damage
Roofs are one of the biggest issues when it comes to pests and structural damage. Many pests, such are birds and rodents, can damage roofs quite severely. With bird damage, one of the main problems is their faeces. Did you know that bird faeces contain acid? Over time, this can slowly wear away at brick and stone.
Pest birds cause damage by building nests as well. Their nests and feathers can block chimneys and vents. Nests can also block drains which leads to flooding. This flooding can then create water damage inside the property, and in time can lead to structural impairment.
Rodents are also a major source of structural damage. The reason why these pests are so destructive is because they gnaw on literally everything. For instance, these pests love eating their way through insulation. Rodents also love chewing on electrical cables. This can cause further problems with the electrical supply. It may even lead to an electrical fire hazard. Rats and mice have also been known to gnaw through concrete foundations in houses, as well as brick walls.
Damage from pests that eat through wood
Compromised wood integrity is probably the biggest issue that causes damage. Many properties contain significant amounts of wood. This includes roof timbers, floorboards and so on. These can be utterly destroyed by things that eat wood like carpenter ants, furniture beetles and woodworm. And don’t forget those gnawing rodents.
Finally, to a lesser extent, you have silverfish. These pests do not specifically cause structural damage. The problem, though, is that they mostly feed on paper. If you have wallpaper in your home, then this can become a serious issue. After all, wallpaper is expensive, and you do not want holes in it.
Ultimately, you must understand that pests cause an enormous amount of damage. Much of this damage is serious and will result in extremely expensive repairs being needed. Things may even get so bad that you have to move out the property. Bottom line: hiring a London pest control specialist is cheaper. It will also save you a great deal of pain in the long run.