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Termite Inspection Indoors
Indoor Clues Show How to Find Termite Damage
- POST a QUESTION or COMMENT about termite infestation detection & inspection methods
Indoor signs of termite damage or termite activity: using a termite damage case this article series provides a detailed study of a termite inspection that found insect & rot damage.
Here we describe indoor indicators of termite activity, termit damage, or conditions inviting termite attack indoors show how to inspect for termite damage & assess extent of termite damage on a building. These photographs, inspection advice & visual clues lead to discovery of severe hidden structural damage to a building.
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Indoor Indications of Termite Damage or Activity
This disturbing case study reports a sequence of clues suggesting insect damage, then termite damage, then the discovery of very extensive hidden termite damage in a finished wood floor. We provide a sequence of photographs showing the course of our termite inspection and what we found.
A sign of trouble at this home that we had seen outdoors was siding close to, in contact with, and even below ground level at several locations that also exacerbated conditions by combining in-slope grade towards the building with roof spillage around the foundation.
So when we went inside we were on red alert for insect damage before ever entering the home.
Even in a home where a crawl space gives view of the foundation wall (photo at above left), a combination of outdoor termite invitations (soil close to siding, water against the building walls), and framing methods (no termite shields on foundation top, no treated lumber used for wall sills atop the foundation) can add up to a high risk of termite or carpenter ant attack on the structure.
Add that much of the home in this case study was constructed as concrete slab on grade or over inaccessible crawl space, and extra care was called-for.
Watch out: if you are renovating a building where there has been termite damage, be careful not to disturb and breathe in dust from chemically-contaminated wood. Find out what type of treatment was performed, by whom (was it a qualified licensed pest control company), and where.
Below right our photograph shows a beautifully-finished and "brand-new" looking floor in a family room wing. We knew that this floor was built over either a slab on grade or an inaccessible crawl area - there was no access from below. The room was described has having been recently remodeled by the owners in the course of preparing the home for sale.
Termite trouble signs in finished areas: floors, trim, walls, ceilings
But wait? What was that odd gray goop we spotted along the floor perimeter where some old flooring also remained in place? See our photo at below right.
The combination of old floor boards and wood filler and caulk shown at below right made us worry about what sort of damage had been "repaired" in this floor.
We continued looking under furniture and behind doors - see our photo at below left: there remained a collection of older oak flooring extensively patched with wood-filler.
Comment: How to Find & recognize termites & termite damage
Probing & finding extent of termite damage in a Rhode Island Home.
[Click to enlarge any image]
The attached photos are from an inspection I did where Termite damage was observed. The home is a 1969 Wood framed ranch in Rhode Island.
There was evidence of soil grading defects and pooling water that are known to be conducive to Termite friendly conditions. I inspected the areas inside the home and observed past termite damage from Eastern Subterranean Termites.
...
I also observed no evidence of past treatment. While advising my client, I explained that untreated homes are prone to a return of termites.
As the morning progressed and the sun warmed the front of the home, Termite swarmers began to emerge from the area directly above where the termite damage was observed.
I recommended structural repairs, a thorough pest treatment for termites, and some grade correction.
Another noted condition was an old outside hose bib that was leaking at a steady drip almost immediately outside the home where the termite nest is most likely centered.
One of the photos of drywall damage from termites was confused with general deterioration, but upon closer examination, there is evidence of termite mud below the drywall paper.
The termites were consuming the cellulose paper just below the primed surface of the drywall.\
Photos of Swarming Termites: Alates
I was able to get some really close photos of The swarmers, known as Alates.
... 
For those unfamiliar with the term,
Definition of Alate
An alate is a swarming, winged termite. Alates are termites who have left their original nest and are in search of a spot to form a new termite colony.
- David Grudzinski, RI Pest control license #6733, 2020/04/24
- 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.
David 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 -
...
Continue reading at TERMITE DAMAGE PROBING or select a topic from closely-related articles below, or see our complete INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES. or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.
Or see these
Recommended Articles
- MERULIPORIA HOUSE EATING FUNGUS - termite & fungus interaction in buildings
- PORIA DAMAGE PREVENTION
- ROT, FUNGUS, TERMITES
- TERMITE DAMAGE INSPECTION
- TERMITE IDENTIFICATION & CONTROL
- TERMITES & NAPTHALENE HAZARDS
- TERMITE SHIELDS vs TERMITICIDE
- VINES & SHRUBS on BUILDING WALLS, CHIMNEYS
- WOOD FLOOR, INSECT DAMAGE
- WOOD FLOOR DAMAGE REPAIR
Suggested citation for this web page
TERMITE SIGNS INDOORS at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.
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INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to INSECT DAMAGE
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Citations & References
In addition to any citations in the article above, a full list is available on request.
- 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, CONTROL JOINT CRACKS 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).
Articles about Rot, fungus, Termites, Carpenter Ants, Powder Post Beetles, Leaks and Water Entry Damage in Buildings
- Basement water entry: what the basement waterproofing companies don't tell you? Water entry prevention and repair suggestions. -- in process
- Building floods how to respond to avoid mold
- 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 CONTROL & TARGETS INDOORS 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.
- ICYNENE FOAM SPRAY INSULATION - resistance to mold growth and resistance to insects
- Insects & Foam Insulation - guide to insect damage related to foam building insulation products
- INSULATION LOCATION for BASEMENTS & CRAWLSPACES - where to place building insulation in basements and crawl spaces
- Insulation & ventilation issues
- 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" SheetrockR 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.
- In addition to citations & references found in this article, see the research citations given at the end of the related articles found at our suggested
CONTINUE READING or RECOMMENDED ARTICLES.
- Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd., 120 Carlton Street Suite 407, Toronto ON M5A 4K2. Tel: (416) 964-9415 1-800-268-7070 Email: info@carsondunlop.com. Alan Carson is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors.
Thanks to Alan Carson and Bob Dunlop, for permission for InspectAPedia to use text excerpts from The HOME REFERENCE BOOK - the Encyclopedia of Homes and to use illustrations from The ILLUSTRATED HOME .
Carson Dunlop Associates provides extensive home inspection education and report writing material. In gratitude we provide links to tsome Carson Dunlop Associates products and services.
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