Most house built in the south are framed with wood framing: good-old soft #2 pine studs. Under normal conditions the wood studs will last your lifetime and mine combined.

But add water and their days are numbered. Wet, soft, and maybe even rotting wood is like an invitation to an all-you-can-eat buffet for the indigenous subterranean termite.

These little rascals can literally eat you out of house and home.

But where does the water come from?

Could be a small leak under the kitchen sink that you always meant to fix, but put a bucket there instead.

Could be a roof leak that hasn't made itself known in the ceiling, yet.

Could be wet earth at the perimeter foundation wall that seeps into your exterior brick wall.

What can you do?

Check back at tomorrow's blog for action steps to prevent this:

Tom Sinclair

About the House - Home Inspectors

(251) 990-3169