Can a building collapse be caused due to nibbling by ants / cockroaches?

[Kamikaze Pilot]

Background: Due to my Mom's habit of hoarding junk (described in below link), it is very difficult to clean the house. Let alone corners, even the center of rooms are inaccessible for sweeping. This has led to ants / cockroaches nibbling at the foundation of the house building since God knows how many years. A lot of sandy textured powder has emerged. What can be seen in below pictures is just a fraction. Will this nibbling by ants / cockroaches weaken the foundation of the house? There is also another floor on top. That puts additional load. Can anything be done to rectify the damage? This is worrying me.

Meanwhile the nibbling continues.

Hoarding junk: Mental illness or individual's nature?

Dear Moderators/Admins, Let this thread be in this section because who knows there may be other people facing similar problem. Is hoarding junk a mental illness or individual's nature? An unacquainted reader may think, "This is not a big issue. Reasoning, explaining and convincing will solve...

defence.pk

- PRTP GWD

 

[Cliftonite]

It's better to talk to a contractor or mason.

 

[pakistanitarzan]

Alot of desis have this habbit your
Mom is not alone

 

[Mirzali Khan]

Background: Due to my Mom's habit of hoarding junk (described in below link), it is very difficult to clean the house. Let alone corners, even the center of rooms are inaccessible for sweeping. This has led to ants / cockroaches nibbling at the foundation of the house building since God knows how many years. A lot of sandy textured powder has emerged. What can be seen in below pictures is just a fraction. Will this nibbling by ants / cockroaches weaken the foundation of the house? There is also another floor on top. That puts additional load. Can anything be done to rectify the damage? This is worrying me.

Meanwhile the nibbling continues.

Hoarding junk: Mental illness or individual's nature?

Dear Moderators/Admins, Let this thread be in this section because who knows there may be other people facing similar problem. Is hoarding junk a mental illness or individual's nature? An unacquainted reader may think, "This is not a big issue. Reasoning, explaining and convincing will solve...

defence.pk

- PRTP GWD

Talk to a contractor or someone ASAP. And if they are nibbling on wood they are termites, so get it checked out ASAP brody.

 

[siegecrossbow]

It could be termites or carpenter ants. Hoarding can also be a fire hazard so you probably want to take this seriously even if there isn’t a pest problem.

 

[Kamikaze Pilot]

- PRTP GWD

 

[Cliftonite]

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- PRTP GWD

Seems mostly wood related. Your tiles look intact. Talk to a contractor.

And this all is a serious breeding ground for diseases. Get it cleared somehow. Consult with a psychiatrist.

 

[padamchen]

Spend time with your mum bro.

Cheers, Doc

 

[Microsoft]

Background: Due to my Mom's habit of hoarding junk (described in below link), it is very difficult to clean the house. Let alone corners, even the center of rooms are inaccessible for sweeping. This has led to ants / cockroaches nibbling at the foundation of the house building since God knows how many years. A lot of sandy textured powder has emerged. What can be seen in below pictures is just a fraction. Will this nibbling by ants / cockroaches weaken the foundation of the house? There is also another floor on top. That puts additional load. Can anything be done to rectify the damage? This is worrying me.

Meanwhile the nibbling continues.

Hoarding junk: Mental illness or individual's nature?

Dear Moderators/Admins, Let this thread be in this section because who knows there may be other people facing similar problem. Is hoarding junk a mental illness or individual's nature? An unacquainted reader may think, "This is not a big issue. Reasoning, explaining and convincing will solve...

defence.pk

- PRTP GWD

Hoarding disorder is a real thing have you considered speaking to a therapist?

 

[Kamikaze Pilot]

Spend time with your mum bro.

Cheers, Doc

Did you check the link in starting post?

- PRTP GWD

 

[padamchen]

Did you check the link in starting post?

- PRTP GWD

Ya.

Old age us not easy. Spend time with her.

She won't be there forever. And those tomorrow's you plan for may not have her in them.

Cheers, Doc

 

[Kamikaze Pilot]

Seems mostly wood related. Your tiles look intact. Talk to a contractor.

And this all is a serious breeding ground for diseases. Get it cleared somehow. Consult with a psychiatrist.

None of these powder is wood. The powders are coming from concrete, cement, red bricks etc. Hence my worry.

- PRTP GWD

 

[Cliftonite]

None of these powder is wood. The powders are coming from concrete, cement, red bricks etc. Hence my worry.

- PRTP GWD

Initially I thought you had a wooden house like in the States.

Concrete is still hard to relatively "erode" but still talk to a contractor.

And do get some exterminator's help in clearing the debris out. All this can lead to bacterial growth and mold on the floor. I've been there- we didn't tend to some rainwater on our false ceiling and it lead to huge mold growth on the whole roof. We had to redo the whole thing.

 

[Kamikaze Pilot]

Seems mostly wood related. Your tiles look intact. Talk to a contractor.

And this all is a serious breeding ground for diseases. Get it cleared somehow. Consult with a psychiatrist.

Spend time with your mum bro.

Cheers, Doc

It could be termites or carpenter ants. Hoarding can also be a fire hazard so you probably want to take this seriously even if there isn’t a pest problem.

I thought of taking neighbour's help to pressurise Mom to clear the junk because the house building's collapse can affect them also. But the neighbours turned out to be dumb. Their reaction was like, "Is it? When I saw it the other day it was so bad." No serious action. Just sympathy.

They should be concerned, right? Because a wall collapse can endanger their safety also. But they are least bothered.

I guess their low IQ is the reason for their lowly profession. The guy is a mechanic.

- PRTP GWD

 

[Vapnope]

Hi,
Termites, ants and cockroaches can damage wood structures however pose no threat to concrete structures. You need remove the effected wood from your house and get your house sprayed for anti termite solution and pest removal.