Old or New Termite Activity While inspecting a customer’s garage, I found a significant amount of termite droppings. Since the home had been fumigated less than five years prior, I thought the droppings might have occurred before the fumigation and had already been dealt with. But then I spotted a kickout hole—the place where termites […]
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Inside a Crawlspace Crawlspaces are a termite inspector’s least favorite place—damp, dirty, webby, cramped, and full of surprises. I’ve been in a 9,000-square-foot home with a crawlspace just as big, and I’ve been under a mobile home during an earthquake. But if you want a complete inspection, you have to get in there and crawl
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Clues Not Always Considered During a Termite Inspection Let’s face it—many termite inspectors are focused on one thing: selling you a treatment. If they see wood damage, they’ll often claim it’s active termites without considering other explanations. They ignore signs that might tell a different story. Maybe they started their careers with good intentions. But
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Termite Inspectors are Termite Detectives, Part 2: In Part 1, I talked about how the inspection begins with an interview and the clues found in inspection and fumigation tags and termite droppings. In Part 2, we’ll look at all the other sources that help us crack the case and recommend the best solution for your
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Termite Inspectors are Termite Detectives, Part One: I always thought I would have made an excellent detective. I even applied to the state police—twice. The first time, my future ex-wife told me she’d break up with me if I became a policeman. (In hindsight, I could’ve saved myself a lot of pain and anguish if
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What to Expect During a Termite Inspection First, a quick disclaimer: I can only speak to what you can expect from a California Termite inspection. Not every company operates the way we do—and frankly, we think that’s a good thing. Call Before Going: We always call or text when we’re on our way. It might
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The Case of the Infested Couch: A Lesson in Thorough Termite Inspections I was performing an annual drywood termite inspection in Encinitas, California for a property just a mile from the beach. The owner had a termite warranty in place, and as part of that coverage, I was back to make sure nothing new had
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A Termite Inspector’s Balancing Act Termite inspectors serve multiple customers: the homeowner, their boss, and the fumigator or termite technician who will ultimately perform the treatment. Homeowners A good termite inspector is thorough, knowledgeable, honest, and adaptable. Thoroughness is key when the goal is to offer treatment options. A localized treatment is only as good
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Attic Hazards Attic Hazards Nails. Attics are filled with nails — thousands of them — protruding through the roof sheathing, their sharp points just waiting to get you. I’ve hit my head on them so many times that I joke about styling my hair with Neosporin. It’s not funny when it happens, though. Truss Plates.
Termite Inspection Attic Mishaps Ask any termite inspector or technician how many times they’ve put a foot through a ceiling, and they’ll likely give you an exact number—along with a vivid, sad story. No one ever wants to step through a ceiling; it’s one of the worst feelings imaginable. If it happens during an initial
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