Why would anyone build a house so poorly that termites, wood boring beetles, ants, and wood rot fungi would easily infest the structure? The answer is .......research and training.
Washington State University and numerous sponsors have constructed what is called a "Structural Pest Research and Demonstration Facility" located in Puyallup, Washington. In April I got my first opportunity to attend a Structural Pest Inspector re-certification course at the facility.
The house has been built with numerous design flaws to re-create conditions we find in the field. Improperly installed gutters, insufficient flashing, lack of caulking on exerior, earth to wood contacts, to name a few things. The structure also has its' own "irrigation" system, to wet specific areas to duplicate conducive conditions for pests, and encourage their infestations.
WSU tells us that this is the only facility of this kind in the United States. It gives us inspectors a unique opportunity to have some hands on training. I think everyone who attended the course learned something new.
Corey Chantry of All Seasons Pest Control in Spanaway points out a gutter defect on the research house.
The class broke up into four groups all lead by veteran inspectors/ instructors, and we essentially conducted an inspection of all areas of the home. As we walked around, inside, up to the attic, and crawled underneath, the instructor kept us engaged in discussion about what we were finding.
At the end of the mock inspection we discussed how the deficiencies should be written in a report and illustrated in a diagram. A roundtable discussion was then held with the instructors.
While I think I have been in business for a long time (over 10 years), to these instructors I am relatively a "newbie". They have been in the business a long time, and that is what makes them good at training other inspectors. I always learn a way to improve upon my inspection protocols, and reporting methods when I get around these guys.
Here are some great links with articles, more information on the house, and upcoming training.
http://structuralpest.wsu.edu/pdf/SPI_Facility.pdf
http://washington-state-magazine.wsu.edu/stories/2007/February/mildewmanor.html
http://cahnrs.wsu.edu/ag/archives/2007/pest-facility-puyallup-20074-04.html
http://structuralpest.wsu.edu/
Everett Area Home Inspector
Comments(1)