When home owners discover evidence of termite damage and infestation, it's natural to wonder how and why the house is under attack. There are a number of reasons why a house may come under attack, and they all have to do with water. In much of long island I have inspected many homes that either had termite damage, or at one time had been treated for termites and carpenter ant infestation. Because much of the area has running creeks, streams and underground water tables, and houses built on or very close to these areas, wood destroying insects are part of the community.
That's why it's important to pay a little now and save a lot later with an annual termite inspection. The picture above shows damage to wood members in the basement where the boiler room is located. The termite inspection was done a year after my initial inspection. In some areas my screw driver was able to go right through the wood joist.
Entry Points
With an annual termite inspection all entry points on the structure will be inspected. Since Termites could fit through a crack as small as 1/32 of an inch, it's important to find these entry points because subterranean termites, which by far are the most destructive species, can collapse an entire building. Their hard saw-toothed jaws work like shears and are able to bite off extremely small fragments of wood, one piece at a time. When you look at the pictures below, notice because of the lack of maintenance, how easily moisture and wood destroying insects can enter our homes.
Unsealed doors and windows will invite conditions that will destroy building material in a hurry. What you see here can also result in mold growth, as well as huge energy loss.
Basement windows and post inside the house are also points of entry. Termites are active year round and if conditions are right they will attack even in the dead of winter.
Sills, also called mudsills or sill plates are horizontal members of a floor frame. They are found installed on top of foundation walls with anchor bolts located between 6 and 12 inches from the end of each sill. Sill plates are usually pressure treated 2x6 or double 2x6 lumber. To make up for irregularities between the foundation and the sill, a sill sealer is often used. The sealer is an insulating material used to seal against drafts,dirt, and insects. It comes 6 inches wide and in rolls of 50 feet. It compresses when the weight of the structure is upon it. If the sills are visible, the home inspect will carefully examine these areas.
The picture above is a double 2x6 sill plate, because the seal is broken termites built a shelter tube to reach their food source that resulted in the damage found in the first picture. Its a good thing the new owner had a annual termite inspection, because I was able to spot the infestation in the early stages with minimal damage.
It's certainly better to pay a little now so you could save a lot later with an annual termite inspection.
Closer Look Property Inspections Inc. is located in Uniondale New York and is a DEC certified Pesticide Technician and
serves all of Nassau and suffolk counties and Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island.
Find out more at:
www.abrooklynhomeinspector.com
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