Our Dream Home Has Termites!

After hours of searching for the perfect home, negotiating a fantastic price, and finally seeing a light at the end of the tunnel, you receive a call from your Realtor. The home you are purchasing has termites. Not only does it have termites, it has conditions conducive to termites. What does this average and what do you do?

During the home inspection period, the buyer typically hires a licensed home inspector to find defects regarding the character. In addition, the buyer also hires a licensed termite inspector to find not only sub ground termites but other wood destroying organisms. These include carpenter ants and wood boarding beetles.

Conditions conducive to termites include earth to wood contact, excessive cellulose debris, and a faulty grade. Wood that has water damage is highly prone to termites because the wood becomes porous and ineffective due to the water. Termites are attracted to this, hence the phrase, conducive to termites.

Earth to wood contact can be as simple as a gate not being properly installed, allowing the wood from the gate to have direct contact with the earth. This can easily be remedied by installing a metal plate at the bottom of the gate. This would prevent the termites from penetrating the wood. Lattice work and trees that are touching the home are also an invitation for termites.

Excessive cellulose debris is defined as wood, wood scraps, sawdust or already cardboard on the soil surface. The cellulose acts as a food source for the termites. Simply removing the items will prevent the allurement of termites.

Faulty grade is associated with excessive surface water draining towards the house. Below grade level planters also fall under this category. This kind of problem allows for the termites to gain access to the home without being seen. Faulty grade is remedied by redirecting the flow of water.

Other contributors to termites be make up of consistently leaky faucets and sprinklers too close to the exterior walls of the home, rotten wood, wood fencing, and fractures in the foundation. By identifying these issues early on, you avoid costly repairs in the future. clearly, firewood should not be stored near the home either.

As you can see, the conditions conducive to termites can be easily remedied and performed by a contractor, a handyman, or in some situations, a landscaper. The subterranean termites however will need to be treated by a licensed termite contractor. The method in which to treat the termites varies from state to state.