Your house is DIRT!

We have lots of wood destroying organisms it the Northwest.  Wood Decay/Rot, Carpenter Ants, Dampwood Termites, Sub-Terranean Termites, Anobiid Beetles and Moisture Ants are always looking for ways to return your house to where it originally came from---dirt!

Good building practices are put in place to slow this process down as much as possible.  Most of us would agree that, given the sizable investment our homes represent, this is a pretty good idea.

And yet, we install finish grade too high, let our homes become overgrown with vegetation, don’t control roof water drainage, an in general seem to do what we can to assist the bugs.  We are sort of co-conspirators with them---and they seem to know this.

In a recent crawl space I came across this installation of the plastic ground cover/moisture barrier.  This is an open invitation to wood destroying insects.  You might as well put up a big sign that says
“Bugs Welcome!!”---have at it!

Vapor Barrier Covering Foundation

We need to put ourselves in their place.

Think like a Termite.

Think like a Carpenter Ant.

Be one with Rot.

When we do this we can learn how to keep them out---or at least slow them down.  When we run the plastic ground cover up the foundation and attach it to the wood rim joist we create a nice protected area for the bugs to do their thing un-noticed. 

And believe me---they do their best work in the dark.

 

Charles Buell, Seattle Home Inspector

 

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21 Comments on They do their best work in the dark!

20 Most Recent Comments Displayed Show All

FEB
04
2011
383,660 Points 8 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

And I don't care to invite the critters in either; good post, Charles.
11:21am • #2
971,333 Points 102 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

I would think as a critter but they seem to be, oh so much smarter than me =]
12:06pm • #3
155,778 Points 13 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

You could have titled it "People unclear on the concept", but I think it's been taken.
12:51pm • #4
1,150,651 Points 53 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Mr Charles,

I am working on my license to be a certifried wood destroying organasm inspector.

Nutsy
1:34pm • #5
814,943 Points 164 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Now that is just plain dumb... and boy did I laugh... be one with rot.. Er... no thanks.... I get it!
1:35pm • #6
187,296 Points 5 Featured Posts

Frankly, I think the worst rot possible is Rotten #5. But that's no laughing matter.
1:40pm • #7

Hi Charles, they might as well left a little trail of cellulose to munch along on the trip.  You see some crazy things in the crawl spaces.
3:36pm • #8
2 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

"Be one with rot."  Not a quote you hear everyday!  Good information once again, thank you.
4:37pm • #9
371,285 Points 10 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Hi CHarles: So many bugs.. I would love to know how ants can find themselves on the third floor of a house.. LOL Gay
5:36pm • #10
423,097 Points 7 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

Always learn something from your posts.  Thank you.
5:39pm • #11
917,670 Points 179 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

John, you don't know what you are missing :)

Teral, thanks---most of us don't and do so unwittingly

Paul, ahh yes---there is that :)

Robert, many times I am afraid

Nutsy, I am sure you are

Andrea, there was a period of time when builders actually thought this was the way it should be done

Kate, I absolutely agree

Dale, yup---but don't worry, they will make one

Jason, it could be the next big thing :)

Gay, they can climb anywhere---height seems to make no difference when there is a reason

Kenneth, thanks---glad to help
6:32pm • #12
FEB
05
2011
293,173 Points 66 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Charles\,

 I guess that was their the interpretation of lap onto the foundation. Instead they got the Termite Hotel.
10:15am • #13
917,670 Points 179 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Don, for sure---and the Anobiid hotel, and the carpenter ant hotel and the moisture ant hotel
10:43am • #14
FEB
06
2011
576,267 Points 15 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

ugggg!  it makes me itchy to think about it.  YOu always have the greatest inspection pix (minus the one of me you took the one time, of course - LOL).
2:32pm • #15
917,670 Points 179 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Courtney, now you know that picture of you was GREAT :)
4:47pm • #16
FEB
07
2011
960,785 Points 21 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Thanks for the info, what we don't see out in the open, can hurt us.

Your Friend in Charlottesville
6:56am • #17
419,816 Points 5 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Charles ~ just so I understand you correctly ~ this black plastic moisture barrier that is placed on the ground in a crawl space is not a good idea??
1:00pm • #18
1,150,651 Points 53 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Mr Charlies,

Please delete the rudity from Ms Kate.

Nutsy
3:22pm • #19
917,670 Points 179 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Charles, yes we have to watch out for all sorts of hidden agendas

Frank and Karen, oh no---it is essential---just not running up and covering the foundation.

Nutsy, I would make a billboard of it if I could
5:40pm • #20
568,210 Points 140 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

That is obviously a crawl space pool liner. There is a large basement water proofing company here in CT that does exactly that for crawl space repair.  They don't cover the sill, but bring the liner up close to it. Crawl space linerHere's a picture I took a couple of years ago.
9:02pm • #21

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Charles Buell, Seattle Home Inspector

Charles Buell, Seattle Home Inspector

Seattle, WA

More about me…

Charles Buell Inspections.com

Address: Seattle, Shoreline, Everett, Lynnwood, Bothel, Kirkland, Bellevue, Mercer Island, Edmonds, Renton, King County, 17123 22nd Ave NE, Shoreline (Seattle), WA, 98155

Office Phone: (206) 478-7371

Cell Phone: (206) 478-7371

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My blog is intended to provide information related to home inspections in Seattle, surrounding communities and anyone else interested. Sometimes I will provide information that has nothing to do with home inspections. Enjoy!

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