Termite Inspection
WOOD-DESTROYING ORGANISMS & INSECTS
Termites, which play a positive role in recycling wood and plant material, become a problem when they consume structural lumber. Every year thousands of U.S. housing units require termite treatment. These pests cause serious damage to wooden structures and posts and can also attack stored food, household furniture, and books. Successful termite management requires special skills, including a working knowledge of building construction and an understanding of termite biology and identification. In most cases, it is advisable to hire a professional pest control company for the inspection and control problem.
Wood-boring beetle larvae feed on wood and wood products. Adults of some species bore holes into plaster, plastic, and soft metals. Many species cause problems when emerging from wood in newly constructed buildings because they leave small circular or oval exit holes in the wood. To avoid these problems, infested wood must be kiln-fried before being used for lumber. The species Deathwatch Beetles is primarily found in soft woods (girder, beams, foundation timbers, some types of furniture, with some species attacking books). False Powder post female beetles bore a tunnel, or egg gallery, into wood or other materials, and then deposit eggs in pores or cracks within the tunnel. Adults of some species bore through such soft metal as lead and silver, as well as plaster and other non-wood materials. Affected structural wood should be removed and replaced whenever possible.
Wood Wasps and Horntails. Wood wasp damage in buildings is likely to be more cosmetic than structurally weakening. Emerging wood wasps can chew through any substance: wallboard or plaster walls, hardwood floors, carpeting, linoleum, non-ceramic floor tiles, and other interior surfaces.
Carpenter Ants. Several species can damage wood in building and other structures. Though ants don’t eat wood, they bore into it to make their nests, sometimes causing serious structural damage. Also, they nest in hollow doors, cracks and crevices, furniture, wall voids, and termite galleries. New building infestation occurs when land-cleaning in the area disturbs existing native colonies.
Excerpts from University of California Agriculture & Natural Resources, UCIPMOnline, “Statewide Pest Management Program”.
For your convenience, we schedule seven days a week and early morning appointments are also available. Call us today to schedule a convenient time for us to come out and inspect your home.
Building homes is BIG business. Builders generally have multiple crews working on multiple homes sometimes in multiple locations all at various stages of construction. Their supervisors have to worry about scheduling, materials, personnel, budget, weather, security, and quality control among others at all those sites. City code inspectors will sometimes write up 2-3 items and then leave for the next appointment without looking at the whole house. Who is looking out for YOUR best interests on YOUR home? Phase inspections are performed at three junctures during the construction of your home: prior to the foundation being poured, prior to sheetrock being installed, and prior to move in. Each of these inspections provide insight into how well your home is constructed and allows you the opportunity to have the builder correct problems before they are hidden and while they are relatively easy to correct.
Builders generally guarantee their product for 12 months after the first resident takes possession of the home. The reason being some new construction defects do not reveal themselves for a period of time after the home is lived in. While the home owner will have their list of corrections, you still need a trained eye to catch many of those defects. Performed in the 11th or 12th month of the “warranty” period, a warranty inspection is the perfect way to find those problems and still get the builder to address them at no cost to you. This can quite often catch issues before they can grow into something that could cost you a great deal down the road.
