As a working home inspector, and a Washington State licensed structural pest inspector, I find numerous wood destroying organisms sharing residences with the mortgage paying, tax paying homeowners. The various wood destroying organisms are not helping pay the mortgage or the taxes but they are having a significant impact on the property. In some cases, probably a more significant long term impact than the residents are having -- even if the human residents are party animals.  Fact is, the wood destroying organisms are munching or picnicking pretty much year round here in the maritime northwest where we have generally moderate temperatures that do not slow them down for long. Because so many people's homes house wood destroying organisms, and the folks seem to not mind co-existing with them, I thought that I would use my experience to write a treatise on the simple things a gentle homeowner can do to make his, her or their wood destroying organisms fat, sassy and ready to crawl out and shout "I Feel Good."  The photos below are not from any one home, but a composite of scenes from insect and decay friendly homes from around the northwest. Now, if you are not a fun, sharing and generous person, and you do not wish to co-habitate with wood destroying organisms, then you might want do the opposite of the suggestions in this helpful blog. If you do, you are a big meanie and did not take this blog in the gentle and helpful spirit in which it was written.

Inside: Ignore insect visitors                  Inside: Ignore unexplained piles of shavings

Put organic debris in  gutters                Let trees grow over and shade the roof

Put earth against structural lumber             Plant bushes against the siding and trim

Drain downspouts at the foundation        Plug crawl space vents year round

Important: No crawl space vapor barrier     Leave wood scraps in the crawl space

Water heater TPR drain to crawl space       Standing water is a must in the crawl space

Create a few plumbing leaks into the crawl space, like from around the toilet

I hope you find this information helpful.

Steven L. Smith

Bellingham WA home Inspections