Fences and Termites Fences are not considered part of a structure and are often excluded from termite inspections. Most termite reports include a note or disclosure stating this limitation. In escrow inspections, only gates that are physically attached to the home are included; perimeter fencing is not. While fences are frequently ignored, they can be […]
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It All Starts with Moisture I recently inspected a home in San Diego where the homeowner was convinced fumigation was necessary. She wanted to move quickly, so I rearranged my Monday schedule to make the first available fumigation date that Friday. The home had experienced a major plumbing failure that resulted in flooding. All of
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A Tribute to Termite Fumigators There are few jobs I would want to do less than work for a fumigation company. In the world of termite control and inspections, a short list comes to mind: insulation installer, crawlspace vapor barrier installer, and ductwork installer. All three require spending far more time in attics or crawlspaces
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Are You Claustrophobic? Before I became a termite inspector, I thought I was claustrophobic. If I let myself imagine being buried alive, I’d get the willies. But when I first learned about the job during an interview, it never crossed my mind that claustrophobia might be a problem. I didn’t land that job, but I
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Why You Should Borate Your Attic—And Any Other Unpainted Wood in Your Home Borate is one of the best ways to protect the unpainted wood in your home from future termite infestation—and to help contain any activity that may already be present. Exterior paint does a decent job of protecting wood on the outside of
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Protecting Your Home from Termites — and from Our Mess Termite treating is messy work. On the exterior, inspectors probe your home’s wood, sometimes sending a spray of termite droppings onto your patio or walkway. Technicians drilling and treating can leave behind a light dusting of sawdust around the perimeter. Thankfully, that’s all outside—rain takes
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The Fumigation Cap You’ve decided to have your home fumigated for termites. The fumigators arrive, carefully drape your house in a large tent, and release the fumigant gas inside. From the outside, it looks like the house just sits there under the tent for a few days—but what actually happens next? How does the gas
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New Wood vs. Old Wood Whenever I inspect an older home that has a newer addition, I usually find that the termites are in the addition, not the original structure. At first, that might seem surprising—after all, the older section has been around much longer. But the difference comes down to the type of wood
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Did Your Termite Company Do This? Did your termite company remove all the old termite evidence after completing their treatment or fumigation? If not, how can they tell whether the treatment was effective? And if you have another termite issue in the future, will those old droppings be mistaken for new activity—leaving you paying twice
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How Swarming Termites Can Make It from Your Attic to the Room Below When Termite Swarmers Take Flight Termite swarmers—also known as reproductives—leave a mature colony in search of a place to start a new one. Most don’t survive, but the few that do sustain a billion-dollar industry. Seeing 20 to 100 swarmers inside your
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