I m Having a Wood Destroying Insect Inspection What Can I Expect To See On My Report?

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Horace French
6 years ago
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1 I m Having a Wood Destroying Insect Inspection What Can I Expect To See On My Report? Common Issues and What to Do About Them Obstructed View o Raised Patio o Bath Traps o Storage Conducive Conditions o Wood Rot o Soil Too High o Heavy Foliage - 1 -

2 I m Having a Wood Destroying Insect Inspection What Can I Expect To See On My Report? Common Issues and What to Do About Them The actual condition of your home depends upon how much TLC it has received over its lifetime. There are some things that we have found to be quite common in the Houston area, however. This is not by any means a comprehensive list; rather, it is a brief overview of what you may expect to see on your Wood Destroying Insect Inspection Report. We have included some ideas for correcting issues. These are by no means the only ways to correct them. Ingenious ideas are only limited by your creativity and budget. Here s what you see on your report - 2 -

in the attic. As a home owner, you re going to have stuff that needs to be stored somewhere. No matter where it is, it will give wood destroying insects and other creatures a place to call home.

3 Here s what it means Obstructed View / Inaccessible Areas - Any time the inspector can t see an area he/she will say there was an obstructed view. Attic/Storage: There could be boxes stored in the attic, insulation obstructing view, or simply the way the house was designed that makes it impossible for the inspector to see everything/everywhere in the attic. As a home owner, you re going to have stuff that needs to be stored somewhere. No matter where it is, it will give wood destroying insects and other creatures a place to call home. You may want to move it to another area every few months and check the flooring and walls that were obscured for signs of damage, droppings, etc. Deck/Patio: When the deck or patio abuts against the home the inspector can t see if there is damage or signs of wood destroying insects at that area of the home s siding/exterior. Ideally a space of about an inch should be created between the home s siding and the deck or patio, allowing for view of the health of the exterior

Bath Traps/Plumbing: The space between the bathtub and the wall or floor, the space where the water lines run to the sinks, anywhere were there are plumbing lines that don t look pretty and are

4 Bath Traps/Plumbing: The space between the bathtub and the wall or floor, the space where the water lines run to the sinks, anywhere were there are plumbing lines that don t look pretty and are covered by a façade these areas are perfect places for wood destroying insects to make their nests. There is plenty of water and plenty of food (wood). If the inspector can t access those areas he/she can t see if there is any insect activity present. An access panel should be created so that all plumbing areas can be viewed. Here s what you see on your report Here s what it means Conducive Conditions These are conditions that make a wood destroying insect s life easier; like providing camouflage so it can get to the home unseen, or providing a place to build a nest, or giving easy access to moisture

Wood Rot: Yum! Delicious and soft to chew, this is filet mignon to many types of wood destroying insects. Repair/replace any wood that shows signs of wood rot.

There should be four inches of visible foundation around the entire home.

5 Wood Rot: Yum! Delicious and soft to chew, this is filet mignon to many types of wood destroying insects. Repair/replace any wood that shows signs of wood rot. Soil Too High: Having high soil around your foundation is like providing a covered walkway for wood destroying insects to complete their pilgrimage to their holy land (Your Home). There should be four inches of visible foundation around the entire home. From a home inspector s standpoint, the ground should also slope away from the home so that water is not pooling right at the foundation. This could be an easy fix, or it could entail hiring a landscaper to renovate the yard. Heavy Foliage: Plants climbing the walls of your home or growing right up against the exterior wall provide cool, moist areas for wood destroying insects to live and roam without being seen. Plants should be trimmed or relocated so that they do not touch the home. Appropriate doses of insect eliminating chemicals can be used every 6 months to make your foliage less inviting to insects

6 Whether or not changes are made based on the Wood Destroying Insect inspection is completely up to the home owner. There is no requirement to repair any issues found (unless the buyer is using a VA loan). You, as the potential home buyer, should be aware of the issues and know that you will need to be more proactive and diligent in your efforts to keep wood destroying insects from turning your home into their buffet

INVOICE. Finn Home Inspection Services PLLC 7826 Crystal Moon Drive Houston, TX SOLD TO: INVOICE NUMBER Finn WDI Sample INVOICE DATE 12/04/2017

INVOICE. Finn Home Inspection Services PLLC 7826 Crystal Moon Drive Houston, TX SOLD TO: INVOICE NUMBER Finn WDI Sample INVOICE DATE 12/04/2017 Finn Home Inspection Services PLLC 7826 Crystal Moon Drive Houston, TX 77040 INVOICE Phone 832-370-8993 finninspections@gmail.com TREC TREC#22112/TPCL#0774686/CCA#0769619 SOLD TO: John Doe TX INVOICE NUMBER