Living in the desert areas of Mesa Arizona has many advantages not the least of which are our mild winters and dry climate. But we also have our share of nuisances as well such as dust storms and termites. As a Home Inspector in Mesa Arizona one of the aspects of my job is to be on the lookout for evidence of wood destroying insects and organisms. This is certainly not a new topic but it is one that is worth revisiting. I am working with a number of out of state (or country) buyers purchasing homes here in the desert that are not familiar with termites and need to be aware of this problem.
Termites cause billions of dollars (yes, with a “B”) worth of damage across the country every year. And more often than not standard home owners insurance does not cover termite damage. I am not a termite expert but I work with a licensed Termite and pest control company that performs the termite inspections for my clients. And the good news here in Arizona is that the subterranean termites that we have are considered “slow moving” compared to other species and they are very treatable.
I received a call from a client wanting a home inspection on a manufactured home located in an open desert area south of Mesa. From previous experience I have found evidence of termites in this area so I was surprised when the client stated that they did not want a termite inspection. The reason they did not want a termite inspection was because “They live right next door to this property and they do not have termites so they know that this house does not have termites either.”
When I arrived at the property it took about 30 seconds before I found evidence of termites:
And once I crawled under the house it looked like I was visiting a famous cave that was loaded with stalagmites:
Needless to say the client was shocked to learn that this property not only had evidence of termite activity all over the exterior of the property but on the interior as well:
The photo above is a mud tube I found on the wall of the bathroom. To add insult to injury the wallpaper was actually cork. Vey nice looking but also great food for termites!
I walked next door to the client’s current house and found a similar story. The client had no idea that the mud tubes I was showing them were in fact evidence of termite activity. They called for treatment quotes on their current home that very afternoon.
Here are some tips on what to look for at your home or a home you may be interested in buying. Small cracks in foundations are common but these can be an entry point for termites. Leaking pipes and faucets can keep the soil and wood moist which creates the perfect environment for termites. Don’t keep scrap wood or logs stacked against a home. Those wood piles can become condos for termites. Check inside of the valve boxes for your sprinkler and drip systems. It is not uncommon for these areas to be damp which again creates a great environment for termites. And raised planting areas next to a home are another common area for termite activity. Make sure you are not overwatering your plants and adjust those sprinkler and drip heads so they are not hitting the side of the house.
The most common place I find evidence of termites is in the garage:
If you are a potential buyer looking for a home in Arizona do not be surprised if evidence of termites is found at your potential new home. As a Home Inspector in Mesa, Arizona I find evidence of termite activity on about every other or every third home I inspect. They are quite common but the good news is they are very treatable and just a fact of life we deal with living in the desert.
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