Termite Inspection

Whether you are conducting a termite inspection on your own or you’ve concluded that you need a professional, here are a few tips to help make the process of carrying out a termite inspection a bit easier. Before we get started don’t forget you can find all of our blog articles at the bottom of this page, take a look at another article about wood destroying insects here.

Preliminary Termite Inspection Checks

So, you think you have termites. The best way to make sure is to do a thorough inspection of your property, but you have to look for specific things just like when looking for fleas or bedbugs.

With a preliminary termite inspection, you need to be on the lookout for dried bits of membrane that are actually broken wings and termite droppings. Termite droppings appear as a black mound of what can be described as instant coffee grounds, only they aren’t as dark. Mud tubes are tunnels created by a combination of termite saliva, mud, and wood, and they are usually found on the exterior property as a means of entry. If you find a mud tube, it is a sign of a serious infestation and a professional should be called.

When you perform your termite inspection, look around any water sources on the property and check any wooden structures for signs of chewing or hollowing as these are also signs of termite activity. Without a proper preliminary termite inspection, though, like looking for the abovementioned signs, it’s just guesswork. A better way to deal with a suspected termite infestation is to call in a professional but for that to happen, you first need to prepare.

Preparing for A Professional Termite Inspection

When preparing for a professional termite inspection, you need to make your home as easily accessible as possible so the inspector can get to the areas they need to be without any delay or hassle. This means moving all furniture and appliances away from the walls, giving at least a good two to three-meter departure. While you’re doing this, continue with your own termite inspection, making a mental or physical note of where you find signs of any suspected activity.

When you have moved your furniture away from the walls, go to the second stage of preparing for a termite inspection. For this, you need to empty cupboards and crawl spaces of any items or rubbish. If you chance upon telltale signs of an infestation, leave these signs exactly where they are so you can show the professional during their termite inspection. This makes their termite inspection go faster since they will easily locate the termite lairs. One last thing to do as you prepare and undergo your own termite inspection is to remove any cardboard you find and put it in the waste. Cardboard is a primary food source for termites, and this should also be one of the first places you check in a termite inspection.

When the professional arrives to conduct a termite inspection, they will do what you have already done but they will know the precise signs and locations of the termites if they are present. Depending on the overall layout, size, and density of furniture and appliances on the grounds, depends on how long the termite inspection will take. The professional will go a bit further than you with their termite inspection because they will check walls, baseboards and the foundation are popular dwellings for termites.

With this checklist, you should be able to devise whether you have termites or not and make an informed decision on whether to call out a professional and what to do if it becomes necessary. Roof To Floor is here to serve all you home inspections needs. Visit our contact page, and schedule today.