Hidden Enemies

When excess moisture from the elements or unexpected flooding occurs, the wood in your home absorbs moisture and becomes vulnerable. When the wood absorbs too much moisture, mould and fungus can grow and proliferate. Mould has joined radon, asbestos, and other hazardous materials at the top of the health industry’s list of home related illnesses. Not only does it cause unsightly stains to household fabrics, damage to your belongings, and a musty, earthy odor in your home, it can also have a serious affect on the health and well being of your family. Over 270 different species of mould have been identified as living in Canadian homes, but it can take signs of mould ten or more years to develop, so you may not notice signs when you first purchase a home.

Unfortunately, mould is not an issue easily washed away, as visible surface growths are often just a sign of deeper, more ingrained dampness and rot. The long term effects of mould and fungus on your health range from allergies and infections to respiratory problems and damage to hemorrhage and in severe cases, death.

Mould is also one of the most costly effects of water damage. Huge repairs and maintenance expenditures can be incurred as mouldy components must be removed and discarded. Canadian insurance companies have clarified their policy wording concerning mould related damages so as to absolve them of payment duties, or have introduced mould exclusions to their policies, which may leave you end your family vulnerable to this hidden enemy.


Termites: Working 24/7 to destroy your home

Termites, although only the size of an ant, have been known to build towers, hollow trees, move soil and destroy houses.

Termites can cause major structural damage to buildings and homes as they eat their way through wood fibers. Termites can go undetected for years, consuming the wood in your home without notice until the structure is too severely damaged.

The cost of termite damage is mind boggling: termites cause more than $1 billion in damage in U.S homes each year, and according to Pest Control Canada, termites cause more damage than tornadoes, hail storms, windstorms and hurricanes combined. Termites can infest almost every part of your home, including your backyard. Termites are like your worst houseguests: they arrive uninvited, overstay their welcome and they never stop eating.

Over 20% of Canadians live in termite-infested municipalities, and the termite epidemic is increasing as urban sprawl continues. In the city of Toronto, 1,000 city blocks, or 10% of the city houses, are known to have termite infestation – and the number keeps growing.

Getting rid of termites can be expensive, depreciate the value of your home and threaten the health of your family and neighbours.
The best defense against termites is to turn away these uninvited guests with BluWood. The DOT Perfect Barrier system is guaranteed
to protect your home against rot fungi and wood ingesting insects, including termites.