Termites and Storm Damage

I recently received a question from a homeowner about their Termite Warranty and the recent Tornado Damage they had to their home.

Unfortunately, we made the National News on "Good Friday" when an EF 4 Tornado was on the ground for 23 miles, and ripped a path across Murfreesboro causing damage to more than a thousand homes. Here is the actual photo taken as it crossed NW Broad Street.

Q: After the tornado, we assessed our damage around our home. We were blessed; ours was not a total loss. However, we did sustain some damage to our home. We have had several people in and around our home poking, prodding, estimating, and we will soon begin to make our repairs. Will this have any effect on my termite warranty?

A. Excellent question, and very important. If the soil around your home’s foundation has been disturbed in any way, you should contact your termite warranty company. Soil disruption is the number one cause of termite re-infestation and could lead to termination of your termite policy. Additionally, any upgrades made to the exterior of the home or along the perimeter including decks, walkways, patios, and additions will also affect the termiticide barrier that was previously applied. If you have your termite warranty with Ameri Care, you’re covered. Just, give us a call, and we will come out and do an inspection and evaluate any needs you may have, including termite retreatment.

Ameri Care provides answers to questions from consumers in a weekly column of "Ask an Expert" http://www.dnj.com/ With all the damage form the Tornado, which is now estimated at more than 41 million dollars. The sad fact is termites still cause more damage to U.S homeowners than storms and fires combined.