Winter Remodel in Midland or Odessa? Check for Termite Signs Before You Cover Them Up
Late fall and winter are when a lot of Midland and Odessa homeowners finally tackle indoor projects. New flooring before the holidays, a bathroom update, swapping out old baseboards or a worn front door. Those projects open up the parts of a house you almost never see, and that makes them one of the best chances you will get to spot termite activity. Subterranean termites stay active under our warm slabs through the winter, so what you find during a remodel is worth a closer look.
Local tip: look before you cover it up
Check the tack strip and slab edge. When carpet comes up, look along the walls where the tack strip sits. Thin, pencil-wide mud tubes on the slab or crumbly, soft tack strip can be a sign termites are coming up through a crack or expansion joint.
Tap the baseboards and door frames. Termites eat wood from the inside out. Trim that sounds hollow, crushes easily, or has small mud-filled spots is worth photographing before it goes in the trash.
Look behind tubs, sinks, and toilets. Plumbing comes up through the slab, and those openings plus a little moisture are a favorite entry point. Bathroom remodels often expose them.
Watch for wings. Small, see-through wings piled near a window sill, door, or light are left behind by swarmers. Even one pile is worth mentioning to a pro.
Save what you find. Snap photos and keep a piece of damaged wood in a zip bag. It helps a technician tell termite damage from old water damage.
Why it matters now
Once new floors, trim, and paint go in, the signs are hidden again, sometimes for years. Finding activity while the slab and wall bottoms are open lets you deal with it before you spend money on finishes. It also beats finding out in spring, when swarm season hits the Permian Basin and damage has had more time to spread.
If you are already planning a project, a termite check fits easily into the schedule. It is much simpler to treat or repair while the room is torn up than after everything is put back together.
What Tejas does
Our licensed technicians can come out during or before your project, look at what you have uncovered, and inspect the slab edge, plumbing penetrations, door frames, and the outside foundation line. If we find active termites, we will walk you through treatment options, such as a soil treatment around the foundation, and explain what to expect so your project can keep moving. Midland and Odessa customers are served from our Midland yard at 3112 E County Rd 139.
Learn more about termite control in Midland, see all of our termite services, or read about pest control in Odessa.
Call or text Tejas
Call or text 432-934-5248 to set up a termite check in Midland, Odessa, or nearby towns.
Tejas Pest and Weed Control · Midland yard: 3112 E County Rd 139, Midland, TX 79706 · 432-934-5248 · office@tejaspwc.com
