Protecting Cabinets from Wood-Eating Pests

The last thing anyone wants to deal with is coming home and finding holes or burrows in their high-quality cabinets, courtesy of wood-eating pests. Protecting your cabinets from these pests in Midland, MI is a matter of recognizing the signs of pests and sealing any cracks in your cabinetry. If you don’t, it could damage the structural integrity of your cabinets, and replacing them completely can be an expensive and labor-intensive proposition.

What to look for

• Frass: This is a powdery substance that wood-eating insects leave behind. It looks powdery and is made up of insect feces and chewed wood. This is most commonly left behind by termites, but some other pests can cause similar damage.
• Exit holes or tunnels: If you see exit holes or tunnels in your wood, that’s a sure sign that you’re dealing with wood-eating pests. They range from tiny to quite large, depending on the type of pest you’re dealing with—inspect your cabinets often to see if you spot any holes or tunnels, and call an exterminator immediately if you do.
• Crumbling, weak or damaged wood: If you start seeing crumbling wood or the cabinets simply do not seem to hold up under pressure as they once did, you’re probably dealing with wood-eating pests. They tend to start at the corners and work their way in, so be sure to pay extra attention to those areas.
• Insects or insect eggs: Of course, visible insects and insect eggs inside your cabinets is a sure sign that you’re dealing with this type of pest. Even dead insects are a problem—live ones are sure to be lurking somewhere—so act immediately if you see evidence of this problem.

What to do

• Call an exterminator: Protecting your cabinets from pests in Midland, MI is a problem that usually requires professional intervention—now is not the time to skimp on getting help. Otherwise, the infestation may worsen and spread to other parts of your home.
• Seal the cracks: Using caulk, seal all the cracks in and around your kitchen cabinets. Pay special attention to places where pests can enter the home, like vent holes and around your plumbing.
• Try traps: You can pick up sticky traps at your local home improvement store. Place them where you see the most insect activity, and monitor them frequently to see if, when and where you caught the pests.
• Use pesticides: Your exterminator may recommend using chemical pesticides to get rid of the pests—if you have small children or pets, be extra-cautious about where you place the pesticides and how much access your kids or pets have to the area.
• Replace or reface your cabinets: If your cabinets can be saved, refacing them is a less expensive way to get a new, clean look.

Need help replacing or refacing your cabinetry, or need additional tips on protecting your cabinets from pests in Midland, MI? Nowak Cabinets of Midland carries high-quality cabinetry and can flawlessly install them to your specifications. Call us today to get started.

Categorised in: Cabinetry

This post was written by Writer