Pest Control and Bug Exterminator Blog

From the monsoons of Arizona to Gustav in Louisiana there is rain a pouring in the southern portion of the United States.  Subterranean termites love moisture and often times become more active because of it.  You can either perform an investigation utilizing the tips I am going to give you about identifying termite infestations or you can contact Bulwark Exterminating for a free termite inspection. (1-800-445-9313)

How to identify Termites

• A temporary swarm of winged insects in your home or from the soil around
  your home.  The opening in the mound is generally very large.  They will often times be crawling very fast along the grounds too.  The insects are preparing to mate.  Termites tend to swarm in the Spring.
• Any cracked or bubbling paint or termite droppings.
• Wood that sounds hollow when tapped.
• Mud tubes on exterior walls.  These are utilized by subterranean termites to get from their underground abode to the softwood they are dining on.
• Discarded wings from swarmers.  Look at the wings they will be identical in opposed to carpenter ants who will have different sized wings.  Termite will have four wings that are generally twice their body size.
• Termites have straight bodies with no petiole. (waist)

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The specifics straight down to the nitty gritty:

External Inspection: In general; places where there is moisture or cellulose.

• Drainage: Water troughs that run along side your roofs and into down spouts; should be contiguous.
• Natural flow of water away from your foundation. Like your roof, the ground surrounding your foundation should be slightly sloped to allow water to flow away from your foundation and ultimately to a civic drainage system. Water damage to the external walls; paint discoloration; molds, moldy smell etc.
• Water (hose) outlets: Leaking? Water Buildup permeating the foundation? Adequate drainage from the foundation?
• Cellulose deposits: Firewood? Anything with cellulose. How is Cellulose materials stored? Off of the ground or In contact with the soil? All wood should be raised (bricks under pallet,etc.) Against the foundation? Wood should not come in contact with any of the external walls of the home; I recommend at least 2 feet of space.
• Soil levels on the foundation; should be less than 2 inches from the top of the concrete slab.
• Does the customer have a wooden fence? If so, do wooden posts run right into the ground? Any wood to soil contact?
• Any signs of termite activity (mud tubes, wings)…both inactive and active; I also look for previous termite treatments.

Internal Inspection:

• I am looking primarily at the places where moisture is present. Kitchens, Bathrooms, Mud rooms, and around HVAC entry/exit points. I am checking for signs of water damage; rots, mold, fungi, etc.
• I look at all windows and doors or other entry points on all external walls. I am looking for bulges and other irregularities in the wood. Using a stethoscope and if necessary; various probes I will look for various types of termite indicators (inactive/active).

This is basically what I would look for. I tried to keep it very simple as to give you a clue as to what your inspector might be looking for. Hopefully this will help you when preparing to have a termite inspection. These guidelines may help; but are no guarantee for a passing report.

If you do not receive an “all-clear” report; you will be notified of issues found during the inspection. Generally you are given a period of time to get these problems fixed; and the report amended. Good Luck.

KT

Bulwark Exterminating

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I would like to take the opportunity to write about termites. Termites are very dangerous because of the damage that they cause to man made structures. There is a different test one must take before they can become certified to treat for termites in the State of Nevada. I am happy to say that I passed with flying colors. Although called the “termite” test the curriculum or certification materials covered other Wood Destroying Pests. I was a little surprised to be studying moss, fungi, rot, bees, beetles and structural aspects of homes which included; how well water flowed away from the foundation. It is interesting to see how all of these things come together when you finally get the big picture of what the inspection is all about, and how important a proactive approach can be when trying to control termites.

I will include in another post specifically what your neighborhood termite inspector will be looking for. For now, I would like to lay the framework for the “big picture” approach to a termite inspection; generally needed for various (loan) real estate transactions.

So why did I learn about moss, fungi, various other “rot,” bees, beetles, and how well the water flows away from the foundation?

Although termites are the number one wood destroying pests, there are others. There exists various types of bees and borers (beetles) that destroy wood and it is important to know about these insects to prevent the incorrect diagnosis of termites. The cost to treat for termites can be expensive, so it is very important that your diagnosis be solid.

When it comes to termites you want to make it as hard as possible for them to find a suitable place to live. This is where the various types of “rot” and how water flows away from the foundation comes in. Subterranean termites need a lot of moisture and prefer softer wood. Areas around your foundation where water builds up is a disaster waiting to happen. Over time, wood components of the foundation will eventually become water logged; ultimately developing the wood of choice for the nearest subterranean colony. Looking for moss, and fungus can easily identify places where this has taken place. Ever look at places where water damage has occurred? Moss, Fungus, or various stages of rot in/on walls is an immediate red flag for the inspector because it could be an entry point/harborage for termites.

The big picture is more than that of termites. One should learn of other wood destroying pests native to their habitat, and understand conditions that exist around the home that may be conducive to an infestation of various wood destroying pests; let alone the infamous termite.

KT

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