How to Evaluate and Prevent Structural Damage from Insects and Rot, fungus, Termites, Carpenter Ants, Powder Post Beetles, and Leaks or Water Entry in Buildings
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How to spot & prevent termite damage on buildings
How to spot powder post beetle damage and determine its activity
Spotting rot and structural rot damage on wood structures
Inspecting for mold as a clue to building rot, insects, etc.
Identifying harmless desert termites - that don't attack buildings
Questions & answers about termites, carpenter ants and other wood destroying insects or wood-rotting fungus attacks on buildings: cause, effect, evaluation, prevention

Termites & other wood destroying insects: this article discusses How to spot & prevent termite damage on buildings

InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers nor with topics or services discussed at this website.

This article provides insect & rot damage photographs, inspection advice, and lists additional articles that discuss the inspection, detection, prevention, and repair of structural damage from insects (termites, carpenter ants, carpenter bees, powder post beetles, and other wood destroying insects), indoor mold, rot and building leaks or water entry. These include house damaging mold or fungus, termites, carpenter ants, powder post beetles, & other wood destroying organisms in and on buildings.

We are also concerned with choosing mold and insect damage repair and prevention methods which avoid unnecessary application of chemicals or other environmental impacts. Preventing these problems by good design and by building maintenance is preferred to simple chemical applications around a property. When use of pesticides is required, there are some important choices.

See ROT, FUNGUS, TERMITES for termite and other wood destroying insect information in depth, including termite inspection case reports, field photos and advice. More installation details for termite shields and other building flashing can be found at FLASHING WALL DETAILS. Readers concerned about termite damage associated with foam, fiberglass, or other building insulation materials should also see Insects & Foam Insulation. Also see TERMITE SHIELDS vs TERMITICIDE for a discussion of termite shields and insect attack on buildings using foam board foundation insulation.

Also see SLAB INSULATION, PASSIVE SOLAR. Readers should also see INSULATION LOCATION for CAPES, CRAWLSPACES, and may also be interested in the mold resistance properties of Icynene Foam Spray Insulation. Finally, because insect damage on buildings is very often related to locations of water leaks or moisture traps, readers should also see WATER ENTRY in BUILDINGS.

© Copyright 2012 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use page top links to major topics or use links at the left of each page to navigate within topics and documents at this website. Green links show where you are in a document series or at this website.

Termite Damage Case Report - Termite Activity Went Un-Noticed

David Grudzinski

I found this termite damage in a house yesterday. The shelter tubes were so large, they were hanging out of the wood. The termites have been in this house for many years, and this sign is that there is a large infestation that has caused sever damage to the house. The main 10x12 center structural beam was so damaged, that about 3/4 of it will have to be replaced.

Termite damage photographs (C) D Friedman D Grudzinski

This is a significant structural issue with a house. If the homeowners had known what to look for, this may have been caught before the damage was so severe. As you can see form the cob webs, they rarely went there, and did not clean well, so the damage was missed until it was severe.

We provide a more lengthy case study of a termite inspection that found severe, covered-up and improperly-repaired termite damage at Termite Damage Case - Severe Damage. There photographs show a sequence of clues leading to the discovery of the termite problem.

Termite Damage Mud Tubes Photographs Suggest Where to Look

Our termite damage photograph at below left illustrates that carpenter ant activity (frass or loose "sawdust) may be found in the same location as termite activity (the mud tubes).

Our second termite mud tube photo (below right) is more clear and shows branching termite mud tubes running along the surface of a floor joist.

Watch out: termites prefer to tunnel inside of wood and can cause extensive damage without appearing readily on the wood surface. Mud tubes are typically built to enable movement across a less hospitable surface such as masonry walls or wood that was just not so nice to penetrate.

Signs of risk of termite attack (C) Daniel Friedman

Below our termite mud tube photos illustrate how extensive branching mud tubes may be found on building foundation walls headed for wood framing members and even along metal pipes. At below left it appears that termites entered through a crack in the foundation wall, then built mud tubes upwards looking for a more hospitable wood material.

Termite activity on a foundation(C) Daniel Friedman

Below our termite mud tube photos illustrate the importance of a careful, expert termite inspection. The mud tubes at below left are close to and tightly located against the junction of subfloor and rim joist, and the butt end of a floor joist and rim joist and are not as easy to spot as our earlier termite photographs.

And at below right we demonstrate that termites might run along the interior of an old wooden beam; we found these termite tunnels by probing inside the large open checking or splits that would normally be considered not a structural concern, but adding termite damage can change that evaluation. See Splits in Structural Wood Beams for more about log and beam checking or splitting.

Termite Damage Indicators, Inspection Clues, Photographs

Our photograph at below left shows two signs that should tip off any inspector of a high risk of hidden insect damage: the wood siding is brought close to the ground, perhaps also at a building corner where a downspout or roof drainage spills. Water plus wood plus proximity to the ground surface add up to a high risk of insect attack.

Add the observation that an amateur-workmanship wood "skirt" was nailed against the bottom of the foundation, very possibly covering up damage, and this is a red flag for termite or carpenter ant attack.

Our second insect damage risk indicator is the photo at below right: a collection of pesticides, some of them perhaps old and no longer permitted for use by homeowners, found in the building is often a clue that termite or other insect poisoning or treatment was performed by someone other than a licensed pest control applicator - risking not only incompetent ineffective work, but possibly environmental contamination that can be a risk even to the building occupants.

Photo Guide to Termite Mud Tubes Outdoors

Our termite mud tube photos just below were contributed by our Arizona correspondent (and daughter) Mara Gieseke, Tucson AZ who reports

So what do you think of these Arizona Desert Termites ... I went out back today to try and get some pictures for you. I got one photo of the termite mud tubes that are on a masonry retaining wall that is quite a distance from our house.

Then I swiped my shoe over the mud trails that I saw in the dirt, but there were no termites in any of them. Where did they go? The other time I kicked open a termite mud tube there were at least 50 Arizona termites squirming in the mud.

[Mara Gieseke's termite photo (left) shows Arizona termites squirming in the sunlight just after she disturbed their ground-surface mud tube. We have enlarged this photo to make the termites easier to see, but notice how difficult it is to spot them against the sandy soil found in the Tucson area. How big are termites in actual life-size?

If you could get these termites to line up in single file and march across a U.S. dime, you'd see that if they marched along the diameter of the dime there would be at least five of them. Typical termites are 5.5 mm in length but vary in size from about 1/8" long to as much as 3/8" for the big boys. Queen termites are bigger, over 3/4" in length excluding a pregnant queen's abdomen that, if included can make her total size 2" or even more. There are about 2800 termite species that have been identified, grouped in seven families (including the largest family, Termitidae), and it is probable that there are other species not yet classified.]

The retaining wall is 20 feet from the house, and we found tubes growing vertically in the grass too. I also got a picture of a section of dirt that has lots of those mud trails.

We've have never had termite activity inside the house. The first year that we lived here we had to have the pest control people out here several times to treat the expansion joint where the back patio meets the house.

Some Termites do Not Attack Structures - Gnathamitermes tubiformans Desert Termites Photos

A local exterminator visited this site and identified the termites in our photographs above as Desert Surface Termites [or by some sources just "desert termites" or Gnathamitermes tubiformans.] Gieseke passed on these details: desert surface termites, according to local exterminator Truly Nolen, are fatter than other types of termites. They do not attack structures. If you were to leave a 2x6 piece of wood in the yard, they would cover it with their mud but they would not eat into it. They would just eat the very outer layer.

Bottom line: desert termites may not attack your building, but they may eat your plants. Details are at Desert Termites.

Gieseke's photos below show the mud tubes of Desert Surface Termites on the ground surface near Tucson AZ.

More about Desert Termites is provided at our references below.

In general, termites' natural home is in the soil where they attack wood below ground, coming up to higher wood found where there is convenient access, and, depending on the species, moisture.

Your termites are almost certainly subterranean termites as you are finding them living in the ground. (Drywood termites, unlike subterranean termites, do not require direct access to a moisture source and are often found attacking wood above ground level.) Perhaps when you first disturbed the mud tubes on the ground, soil moisture had been so great (following recent rain in Tucson) that your local subterranean termites were coming to the ground surface.

In most of the U.S. only subterranean termites are found, but along the U.S. southern border (including southern Arizona) and further south, both drywood and subterranean termites may be found. In North america north of the U.S. termite damage is less common.

What Happens if We Disturb Termite Mud Tubes

Disturbing a termite mud tube is shown just below. They won't bite you, but some genera/species of termites will indeed bite a wood structure or its wood siding or trim. If you disturb a mud tube and termites fall out you know for sure you've found an active colony. Unfortunately the converse is not necessarily true. If you disturb a mud tube and don't see any termites, you'll need more information and probably a more expert inspection before you know if there is ongoing termite activity or not.

Drill Marks May Mean Amateur Termite or Other Insect Extermination Attempts that May be Unsafe

Below left our photograph shows homeowner-drilled holes in a building rim joist - perimeter framing. This do-it-yourself termite treatment involved drilling and spraying a termiticide or chemical onto and into the wood. Because of the age of the home (1700's) and amateur work, we were concerned that Chlordane, a toxic, now banned termiticide may have been used as this chemical was previously available for easy purchase in home and garden centers.

Indeed, our test-cut sliver of test wood taken rom the rim joist was confirmed by a chemical test laboratory as having been soaked with Chlordane - a toxic chemical with a long half-life. The building needed further evaluation for the extent of chemical contamination in order to decide if remediation (removal or sealing of treated wood) would be needed.

Our second termite treatment clue photograph (above right) shows a drill mark in a concrete and slate patio outside and abutting a home foundation wall. Regularly spaced drill openings, 18" to 24" apart in a concrete basement floor slab set just inside the foundation wall, or around the outside of a foundation where sidewalks, driveways or patios are installed, are a likely indicator that a professional PCO has pumped a termiticide barrier around the building.

This means you will want to inspect the structure for prior termite damage in order to be sure that further repairs or treatment are not needed.

At Carpenter Bee Holes & Powder Post Beetle Holes we show other holes in wood that are made by insects but that are sometimes mistaken for electric drill holes.

Carpenter Bee Holes & Powder Post Beetle Holes - Old House Borer Damage Photographs

Details about powder post beetles and old house borer insect damage on buildings are at POWDER POST BEETLES. Excerpts are below.

At Drill Marks we show drill marks in wood caused by an amateur pest treatment attempt. While to an experienced eye, holes in wood caused by insects are easily distinguished from those caused by humans using a drill or hammer and nail, on occasion someone is fooled. Here we illustrate two cases of holes that are caused by insects, not mechanical events on buildings: powder post beetle holes in wood, and carpenter bee holes in wood.

Powder post beetle old house borere damage photographs (C) D Friedman D Grudzinski

In our powder post beetle photos above, while there was significant beam damage, the infestation did not appear active.

Powder post beetle damage is typically treated with a topical insecticide spray. Some pest control operators (PCOs) also spray paint the wood surfaces in order to make it easier to spot a renewal of insect activity in the future.

We look for the presence of fine wood powder around the insect exit holes or on the ground below the damaged infected member as indications of recent insect activity. See POWDER POST BEETLES for details about this topic.

Termite Bait Traps as a Method for Termite Control

One method for stopping or avoiding termite attack on buildings involves the placement of termite bait traps around the building.

Below are two photographs of termite bait traps to help you recognize termite bait traps when you see them.. This approach avoids placing a chemical barrier around the building to stop or prevent termite attacks. The termite bait trap approach relies on regular trap inspection by the pest control operator. When termites are discovered attacking one of the wooden bait stakes, the stake is replaced with one containing a chemical intended to poison the termites.

If the termite bait trap system is not being regularly inspected, you have put out termite-attracting wood around the building perimeter without following through with the proper steps, and in our OPINION you may actually have increased the risk of a termite attack. Be sure your termite bait trap system is being inspected regularly.

Guide to Use of Termite Shields on Building Foundations as a Termite Barrier

As discussed in Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction:

Metal termite shields are widely used atop foundations in the southern United States and in tropical climates as a physical barrier to termites. They sit directly on top of foundation walls, piers, and other supports before the first piece of wood is installed (see Figure 1-3 at left).

At one time termite shields were thought to block the entry of subterranean termites, the most widespread and destructive wood-boring insect in the United States. However, subterranean termites, which nest in the soil, will exploit the tiniest gaps in termite shields or other barriers to reach the wooden portions of a house and will build tunnels along exposed foundation walls and around termite shields if necessary.

Although the shields do not stop termites, they slow down their progress and force them to build their tunnels in the open where they can be easily seen during inspections.

To work at all, the termite shield must have tightly sealed joints and be sealed around foundation bolts and other penetrations. Joints can be either soldered or mechanically interlocking. If the barrier is unsealed, termites will find any small gaps and render the effort worthless.

Below our termite mud tube photos show that a termite shield appears to have been installed along most but not all of the building foundation top. Or was it? We don't know if this is wall flashing that leaves sills exposed just under the wall edge, or whether the flashing extends across the foundation to the interior (as recommended).

But our second termite photo (below right) shows a termite mud tube ascending the same foundation wall and passing under the termite shield. The shield makes it more difficult, but not impossible, for termites to attack a building.

More installation details for termite shields and other building flashing can be found at FLASHING WALL DETAILS.

Also see TERMITE SHIELDS vs TERMITICIDE for a discussion of termite shields and insect attack on buildings using foam board foundation insulation.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about termites, carpenter ants and other wood destroying insects or wood-rotting fungus attacks on buildings: cause, effect, evaluation, prevention

Question: Do wood forms left between a footing and stem wall increase the risk of a termite attack on the building?

I have inspected new construction home last week. There were some 1x4 wood forms left in between of footing and stem wall.

(Left over footing forms) Is this creating structural or pest problems in future?

Please let me know if I need to do some actions before the house close. Thanks - T.N.

Reply: Yes in many instances. Best practice is to remove wood forms close to or in contact with the soil around a building. Don't leave wood buried around a building.

A competent onsite inspection by an expert usually finds additional clues that help accurately diagnose a problem including evidence of present or prior wood destroying activity at a building (termites, carpenter ants, powder post beetles, carpenter bees, other wood destroying insects (WDI)) or an experienced inspector can cite construction details that increase the risk of a termite or other WDI attack in the future.

That said, for your building and based on the photo you provided (above left) does not look too risky in that there is good visible access to the lower foundation wall to observe any future termite mud tubes or other signs of insect activity.

In general, I agree that leaving wood forms around footings, slabs, and foundation walls increases the risk of a termite attack.

Our own foundation form photo (left) shows wood forms placed around plumbing drains at a Tucson AZ building site in preparation for pouring the concrete slab. Leaving those forms in place after the slab has cured increases the risk of termite attack, particularly in this location where there may be moisture present around building drains.

Our second termite damage photo (left) illustrates very extensive termite damage that we found in the sill plates of an interior partition at the center of a New York home. Notice the close proximity of plumbing lines that penetrated the floor slab in this area? Ultimately we tracked this termite attack to a combination of forms left in the concrete slab and a heating system leak that sent water into the ground below.

Certainly any wood buried around a building increases the risk of a termite attack - after all, that same approach, burying wood in soil close to a building, is used in the termite bait trap as a method to control termite activity at a property. The risk of insect attack will be greater if one or more of the following is true:

The location of the building is one known to be subject to termite or other wood destroying insect activity.
The distance between the buried wood forms and nearby wood framing is small, perhaps under one meter
There are hidden or hard to see foundation surfaces such as on the interior of an inaccessible crawl space that would permit the undiscovered presence of termite mud tubes providing a passage for termites between the soil and higher wood framing members.

Incidentally, burying foam insulation close to wood framing or siding can also increase the risk of insect attack on the building as some such as carpenter ants will happily cut through the foam to reach wood materials.

If you can send me photographs or a sketch of the particular wood forms and construction you are asking about I can research further and offer further opinion. Use the CONTACT link found on any of our web pages.

Follow-Up on wood concrete forms and termites:

I spoke with building official this morning and inspector told me that it is ok to buried forms as long as pressure treated. Attached is the picture of foundation footing and stem wall with forming wood in between. I guess this became standard for new construction. - T.N.

Reply:

That's an interesting position and while it is defensible,

I note in your site photo (above left) at the right hand arrow that there is a blue tag appearing to be stapled to the end of the piece of wood - perhaps indicating that the wood is pressure treated and insect resistant, though quite frankly it looks to me as if the tag was added after construction as it 's clean and it's in a position where surely it would become coated with concrete during the footing pour. Take a closer look at the wood for evidence that it was pressure treated.

1. I have not seen a construction project that used treated wood for ordinary foundation forms

2. even if treated wood were used for a foundation form, I am doubtful that the concrete crew followed the treated wood manufacturer's recommendations that include that every single cut needs additional treatment on the exposed cut ends.

3. I have excavated treated wood and found that it is hardly insect proof, it is insect resistant. I have had ample cases of severe termite damage to pressure treated posts, for example.

In sum, in my OPINION leaving the wood forms in place may be "OK" or "legal" with your local code inspectors, but that doesn't mean it's the best practice, nor that you should guarantee the building owners that there won't be a future insect attack through that avenue.

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ROT, FUNGUS, TERMITES
  Carpenter Bees / Powder Post Beetles
  Termite Damage Case - Activity Un-Noticed
  Termite Mud Tube Photographs
  Termite Damage Indicators, Clues
  Termite Damage Indicators Outdoors
  Drill Marks & Termite Treatments
  Bait Traps for Termite Control
  Termite Shield Installation
  POWDER POST BEETLES
  Termite, Insect, Rot Articles
  TERMITE SHIELDS vs TERMITICIDE
  Insects & Foam Insulation

Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction, by Steven Bliss. John Wiley & Sons, 2006. ISBN-10: 0471648361, ISBN-13: 978-0471648369, Hardcover: 320 pages, available from Amazon.com and also Wiley.com. See our book review of this publication.
David Grudzinski, Advantage Home Inspections, ASHI cert # 249089, HUD cert# H-145, is a professional home inspector who contributes on various topics including structural matters. Mr. Grudzinski, Cranston RI serving both Rhode Island and Eastern Connecticut can be reached at 401-935-6547 fax- 401-490-0607 or by email to Davidgrudzinski@aol.com. Mr. Grudzinski is a regular contributor to InspectAPedia.com - see DECK FLASHING LEAKS, ROT Case Study, and BASEMENT WATER MOLD IMPACT and VERMICULITE INSULATION for examples.
Mara and Andy Gieseke, Tucson AZ, are contributors to InspectAPedia.com including photographs used at SIDING EIFS & STUCCO, Cracks at Control Joints in Concrete and ROT, FUNGUS, TERMITES, and are family members of website publisher Daniel Friedman.
Desert Termites, Thomas W. Fuchs, Extension Entomologist, Darrell N. Ueckert, Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, and Bastiaan M. Drees, Extension Entomologist, Texas Agricultural Extension Service, Texas A&M University System, web search 09/13/2010, original source: http://insects.tamu.edu/extension/bulletins/uc/uc-016.html
Termites - Greenhouse Gases, U.S. EPA, Environmental Protection Agency. Web search 09/11/2010, original source: http://www.epa.gov/ttn/chief/ap42/ch14/final/c14s02.pdf Quoting an interesting passage from this brief document:
Termites inhabit many different ecological regions, but they are concentrated primarily in tropical grasslands and forests. Symbiotic micro-organisms in the digestive tracts of termites (flagellate protozoa in lower termites and bacteria in higher termites) produce methane (CH4). Estimates of the contribution to the global budget of CH4 from termites vary widely, from negligible up to 15 percent.
Truly Nolen Pest Control, Tel: 866-221-4765, is a national franchise of pest control operators in the U.S. Quoting from the company's website:
Truly Nolen [has] over 80 offices located in Arizona, California, Florida, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas and Utah. The company services more than 150,000 customers and employs about 1,100 partners, with almost 50 percent service technicians. Domestic franchises are offered throughout the United States. International franchises are also established in over 30 countries.
U.S. EPA. Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances. 1997. Re registration eligibility decision: Diflubenzuron. Pp. 17, 46. www.epa.gov/ pesticides.
U.S. EPA. Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances. 1994. Pesticide fact sheet: Hexaflumuron. Washington, D.C.
U.S. EPA. Office of Pesticide Programs. 2003. Pesticide ecotoxicity database. Unpublished database.
U.S. EPA. Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances. 1998. Re registration eligibility decision: Hydramethylnon. Pp. 16-18, 43. www.epa.gov/pesticides.
U.S. EPA. Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances. Undated. New chemical New chemical fact sheet: Noviflumuron. Washington, D.C.
"Protecting Your Home from Subterranean Termite Damage", Journal of Pesticide Reform, Fall 2004, V 24 No. 3, - 6-7, Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides/NCAP, POB 1393, Eugene OR, 97440 541-344-5044 www.pesticide.org: Web search 09/11/2010: http://www.hipspro.com/pubs/subterraneantermites.pdf
This document discusses alternatives for termite protection including reducing the attractiveness of the structure to termites (get wood away from the building, fix leaks), use of 16-grit sand (diameter 0.06 - 0.1 in) as a termite barrier 18" wide x 3" deep in crawl areas, or stainless steel mesh for the same purpose under foundations and slabs, boric acid, Diflubenzuron (insect growth regulator, risk genetic damage, EPA classed as carcinogen), Hexaflumuron (insect growth regulator, EPA didn't ID health concerns, waived some testing, partly because of anticipated very low risk of human exposure), Hydramethylnon (stomach toxicant, EPA: Carcinogen, highly toxic to fish), Noviflumuron (chemically similar to hexaflumuron), can cause anemia, EPA didn't ID other health hazards, some testing requirements waived, moderately toxic to fish).

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Desert Termites, Thomas W. Fuchs, Extension Entomologist, Darrell N. Ueckert, Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, and Bastiaan M. Drees, Extension Entomologist, Texas Agricultural Extension Service, Texas A&M University System, web search 09/13/2010, original source: http://insects.tamu.edu/extension/bulletins/uc/uc-016.html
Floods in Buildings & interior water damage cleanup, prevention, testing quick steps to prevent mold contamination
Home Inspectors Directory accessible via Internet - a home inspection can point out maintenance details that are key in avoiding leaks, rot, mold, insect damage
"House Eating Fungus" Meruliporia incrassata (also called "Poria" the house eating fungus) in the U.S. or Serpula lacrymans in Europe) can cause severe structural damage. Evidence of hidden "poria" may be found by expert inspection methods which include tracing sources and paths of probable Building leaks and moisture traps. Further, careful indoor particle sampling methods can often permit the presence of this mold to be identified in the laboratory.
Humidity: How Low Should You Keep Indoor Humidity to Avoid a Mold Problem
Ice Dam Leak Prevention by Proper Insulation, and Ventilation [Carson Dunlop] - also see ATTIC CONDENSATION CAUSE & CURE.
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Interiors: Attic condensation, basement water entry dampness, toxic mold inspection, testing, Moisture, Mold, Mildew, mold remediation advice,
Mobile Home Inspections common defects unique to factory built housing, inspection methods
Mold Resistant Drywall is mold-resistant or "mold proof" Sheetrock^R from US Gypsum or Georgia Pacific worth it?
Mold Prevention: Avoiding Mold Problems in Buildings by Using Mold-resistant Construction Products & Practices
Mold Information Center: What to Do About Mold, mold action plan, valid and invalid test methods, mold remediation
Pesticides Contaminate House [PDF] - news article about improperly applied pesticide chemicals and building contamination
Sick House/Sick Building Information Website Organized, un-biased, in-depth advice about mold, allergens, and other indoor contaminants: finding, testing, cleaning, clearance testing, and preventing mold, mildew, wood destroying (rot) molds (fungi). Explains how to assure that testing for toxic or allergenic molds is performed using valid field and lab methods. Advice and test procedures are provided for odors and odor source detection, toxic gas testing and gas source identification.
TERMITE SHIELDS vs TERMITICIDE - Use of Termiticide (termite poison) vs. Termite Shields on Styrofoam™ board insulated buildings
Termite Damage in Buildings: causes, detection, prevention for hard-to-inspect properties - [in process], this article explains how visual clues both outside and inside a building can predict the most-likely points of insect attack (or leaks, water entry, mold, rot). That tells the inspector or home owner where to look first for trouble as well as how to avoid structural damage from insects, rot, mold, or water.
Termite Damage Case Study#1 - exterior clues predicted insect damage; interior access was limited but certain clear clues led right to the damage as well as an attempted cover-up of termite damage below a "repaired" wooden floor. The real evidence was in the driveway. [in process]
Termite Damage Case Study#2 - very limited visual access inside a building made this inspection for structural damage tough. Outside conditions suggested a risk of water entry and insect attack. Inside the house had mysteriously sloping floors - sloping in every direction. There were few indications of ongoing building movement to explain the sloping. Perseverance led to finding severe termite damage at the building sills. [in process]
Termites, Wikipedia web search 09/11/2010, original source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Termite provided some information about termite size.

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The Home Reference Book - the Encyclopedia of Homes, Carson Dunlop & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 2010, $69.00 U.S., is available from Carson Dunlop, and from the InspectAPedia bookstore. The 2010 edition of the Home Reference Book is a bound volume of more than 450 illustrated pages that assist home inspectors and home owners in the inspection and detection of problems on buildings. The text is intended as a reference guide to help building owners operate and maintain their home effectively. InspectAPedia.com ^® author/editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author. Field inspection worksheets are included at the back of the volume.

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Termite Damage Case Report - Termite Activity Went Un-Noticed

Termite Damage Mud Tubes Photographs Suggest Where to Look

Termite Damage Indicators, Inspection Clues, Photographs

Photo Guide to Termite Mud Tubes Outdoors

Some Termites do Not Attack Structures - Gnathamitermes tubiformans Desert Termites Photos

What Happens if We Disturb Termite Mud Tubes

Drill Marks May Mean Amateur Termite or Other Insect Extermination Attempts that May be Unsafe

Carpenter Bee Holes & Powder Post Beetle Holes - Old House Borer Damage Photographs

Termite Bait Traps as a Method for Termite Control

Guide to Use of Termite Shields on Building Foundations as a Termite Barrier

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about termites, carpenter ants and other wood destroying insects or wood-rotting fungus attacks on buildings: cause, effect, evaluation, prevention

Question: Do wood forms left between a footing and stem wall increase the risk of a termite attack on the building?

Reply: Yes in many instances. Best practice is to remove wood forms close to or in contact with the soil around a building. Don't leave wood buried around a building.

Follow-Up on wood concrete forms and termites:

Questions & Answers regarding this article

Ask a Question or Search InspectAPedia

Technical Reviewers & References

Articles about Rot, fungus, Termites, Carpenter Ants, Powder Post Beetles, Leaks and Water Entry Damage in Buildings

Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair