Question 1

I saw a swarm of flying termites — what does that mean?

Accepted Answer

A swarm points to an active, established colony somewhere nearby, since swarmers are the reproductive termites a mature colony sends out to start new ones. Sweeping up the dead swarmers doesn't fix anything — the colony behind them still needs a full inspection and treatment plan.

Question 2

My house is brick — can it still get termites?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and brick veneer arguably makes it harder to spot. Check the weep holes along the base of the brick line along with any hairline mortar cracks, since those are the openings termites use to travel from the soil into the wall cavity, usually well out of casual view.

Question 3

Will my homeowners insurance pay for termite damage?

Accepted Answer

Almost never. Insurers treat termite damage as a preventable maintenance issue rather than a sudden, covered event, the same way they handle a slow leak nobody addressed. Ongoing termite protection is the real substitute for coverage that doesn't exist here.

Question 4

Do I need to pre-treat for termites before adding onto my house?

Accepted Answer

Yes — treating the exposed soil before a new addition's slab gets poured is the standard approach, and it's far cheaper than treating around cured concrete afterward, which usually means drilling through the finished slab to reach the soil underneath.

Termite Control in Winston-Salem, NC

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