The cost of attempting to manage termites and repairing the damage they do is around $5 billion annually in the U.S. This is mainly because wood is their main food supply, and they invade the wood frameworks. Additionally, they wreck businesses and houses in the process.
A routine termite inspection guarantees that a home or commercial property is free of infestations of these wood-damaging pests. They also operate as a preventative step against extensive termite infestations. A professional home inspection company should be contacted right away if you believe you have a termite problem.
What Is Included In A Termite Inspection?
There are several locations where termite activity indicators are more likely to be observed. These sites will be well-known to and thoroughly examined by a qualified home inspector for indications of infestation. The duration of the process may range from half an hour to a few hours. It all depends on your house size and how far the infestation (if any) has spread.
Warning Signs Of An Infestation
The warning indications that you shouldn’t overlook are listed below.
- Mud tubes are the tunnels that subterranean termites build to link their colonies to the food supply. One of the clearest indications of termite infestation in your home is the presence of these tubes, which are typically formed of mud and wood.
- If you find discarded wings and droppings lying about, you should call a home inspector. Termites frequently move in swarms searching for a new location to establish a colony. Once there, they throw away their wings, frequently discovered in piles. You should proceed cautiously if you see discarded wings close to or within your home, like your window sills and door frames.
- There are many reasons why paint on walls could buckle, but termites are a major reason. Termites consuming the drywall allow air and moisture to enter, which causes the paint to buckle.
Places You Need To Look
While the telltale indicators of a termite infestation can occasionally be seen right away, at times, you’re going to look for it in places where you might think it is avoidable. The residential home inspector will focus on the following main areas when inspecting your home:
- Anything from wooden furniture, doorways, and even stored wood would need to be examined. It’s preferable to throw tree branches or scrap wood right away.
- Termites frequently use cracks in the foundation as entrance sites into your home.
- The most common areas for termite infestation are spots that are difficult to access or are not frequently inspected, so home inspectioncompanies will check attics, basements, and crawl spaces.
Types of Treatment
Both chemical and non-chemical methods can be used for termite treatment. You can put up physical barriers, and it’s known that certain sizes of sand and steel mesh work well as non-chemical methods. Termiticides are insecticides used to combat or eliminate termite outbreaks. This could include termite baits, termiticide-impregnated construction materials, and wood treatments.
Whole House Home Inspection’s ASHI- and InterNACHI- certified home inspectors in Atlanta will conduct a thorough termite inspection. We also offer air quality testing, radon testing, infrared and drone inspection services, and other services.
All our tests are done by using the most cutting-edge technology available. Get in touch!