Termites are relentless pests and, if left untreated, termites can cause severe structural damage to your home. It is critical for homeowners to get a termite inspection every year, especially if you have seen evidence of termites or experienced an infestation in the past. When conducting an inspection, the inspector will look for evidence of all types of pests, not just termites. 

Do You Need a Termite Inspection?

Some common signs of termite activity that the homeowner can observe include: subterranean termite mud tubes on a wall, visual damage to wood inside and outside of the home, and wings on windowsills. The inspector will also look for possible entry points to detect the home base of the termite activity. Special attention is given to areas where conditions are conducive to termites such as sources of moisture, cracks in foundation and other known harborage or nesting areas. Inspections vary in length of time depending on the size and complexity of features in and around the home. Be sure to set aside ample time in order to ensure that the inspection is completed as thoroughly as possible.

Before Your Inspection

Before beginning an inspection, the inspector will typically ask the homeowner a series of questions to get a better understanding of the home's history. Knowing the year a home was built, additions made to the home, past termite problems and treatments used where applicable, will help the inspector key in on specific areas of your home as they may have an increased likelihood of termite activity. Of course, if you have seen physical evidence of activity, be sure to show the inspector where the suspected activity is so he or she can conduct a thorough inspection of the site. Truly Nolen takes special care to detail the areas of the home where termite activity is found. Your inspector will create a thorough graph of your home, plotting important structural details that are critical when developing your treatment plan.

During Your Inspection

Where the Inspector is Looking Inside Your Home

The inspector will begin at the front door, thoroughly checking every room for evidence of infestation and/or decay damage. The inspector will check doorframes, gently probing suspicious areas with a special sounding tool that checks to see if wood has become hollow. He will then check wall surfaces, ceilings, floors, baseboards and wood trim for slightly raised areas in paint or under wallpaper. Any raised point many indicate termite activity. He or she will also check for exit holes and dropped wings on door frames and window sills. The inspector will then examine cracks in cabinets as well as interior door and window frames. If there is linoleum flooring in the home, soft spots can indicate wood damage, which can be caused by termites.

In order to inspect the structure, the inspector uses a special sounding tool to detect hollowed-out areas in wooden surfaces. When tapping the wood of the structure, the inspector will be able to hear a different sound if the wood is damaged.

In addition to the interior and the exterior of your structure, the inspector will check the attic of the home for damage. He will examine the roof rafters that support the roof sheathing, which is the roofing surface visible from inside the attic; ridge pole, which is the top wood member to which the rafters are attached; joists to which the ceiling is attached; and top plates of all interior partitions to which all wall studs are attached.

Additionally, the inspector will check the crawl space under your home and determine if there is damage to wood beams, floor joists, foundation walls and piers, pipes and fireplace foundation. The inspector will be looking at any wood structure or any wood debris found outside your home.

Any termite damage in the perimeter of the structure, expansion joints, cracks in slab or plumbing penetration in kitchens, bathrooms or laundry rooms are considered critical and should be taken care of as quickly as possible in order to maintain the safety and functionality of your home or business.

Where the Inspector is Looking Outside Your Home

After inspecting the interior of a home, the inspector will move to the exterior. The inspector will begin by walking the perimeter of the structure as close to the foundation as possible. They will look for wood-to-earth points of contact, such as siding and veneer. They will examine wooden structures, such as fences or stored lumber, look for mud tubes running up the exterior of the foundation wall, observe drainage patterns, examine wooden structures such as siding, windows and frames, and check the eaves of your house especially where the gutters and downspouts are attached.

How Often Should You Get a Termite Inspection?

Termite infestations can be difficult to catch without a full termite inspection so it is wise to have your home inspected for termite damage every year. This ensures that a termite problem can be found before the damage gets out of hand.

Don’t Wait to Contact the Termite Professionals at Truly Nolen!

If at any time you believe that your home or business has a termite problem, Truly Nolen is here to help! Give us a call at (800) 468-7859 or fill out our online form to schedule an appointment for a full inspection and DON'T WAIT for your next annual inspection.