Bug-Damaged Wood Stairs

Damage to your wooden stairs can be deceptive. What may look like mold may actually be damage from a bug infestation. And, even if you know that you’re dealing with a bug infestation, how can you be sure what insects you’ve got?

Why Bug Damage Is Bad for Your Stairs

Bugs, like carpenter ants, carpenter bees, powder post beetle, termites, or old house borers eat away at the wood in your home. This not only creates aesthetically unappealing conditions, but it can easily become a safety hazard.

If left unchecked, bugs can eat away at enough of the wood on your stairs that they can collapse and injure someone.

How to Identify Bug-Damaged Stairs

Often, distinguishing bug damage from other damage, such as rot, can be difficult. 

If you see evidence of a bug infestation, such as bugs or their eggs, then you can feel fairly confident that the source of your issues is bugs. However, for cases where it isn’t quite as clear, bringing a professional in to assess the problem is essential.

Once the type of insect and extent of the damage is determined, you can think about fixing the problem.

How to Repair Insect Damage to Your Stairs

If you find only surface-level damage to the stairs or the damage is contained in a small area, you likely can just replace any damaged pieces and treat the whole area for the insects. For more extensive damage, such as bug damage to the supports of your stairs, you may need to bring in a professional to replace the damaged wood.

Since your stairs are one of the biggest potential hazards in your home, it’s important to have the fixes checked over by a licensed contractor to ensure your stairs are safe.

Cover Bug-Damaged Wood Stairs With NuStair

If you’ve recently had bug-damaged wood stairs repaired and want to give them a new look, NuStair can help. Our stair refinishing system installs over your existing stairs, giving you beautiful new stairs with less mess, hassle, and cost. Get a quote today!