What is a Wood-Destroying Insect Inspection?
A wood-destroying insect inspection is a type of property inspection carried out by a licensed commericial WDI inspector to evaluate the presence of wood-destroying insects in a property.
What are Wood-Destroying Insects?
The four types of wood-destroying insects reported in a WDI inspection report are:
- Subterranean Termites
- Carpenter Ants
- Carpenter Bees
- Powderpost Beetles
They are named “wood-destroying insects” for their propensity to disturb humans by eating, burrowing, or nesting inside of the wooden structures in or around our homes.
How did Wood-Destroying Insects get inside the home?
Wood-destroying insects have a variety of ways to intrude inside a home. Carpenter Bees nest in exposed wooden structures on the house. Subterranean Termites build mud tubes to conserve moisture as they climb over non-wood surfaces to feed on the cellulose making up wooden floor joists and rafters. Carpenter Ants nest in wood piles, expanding their colonies into wooden parts of the home, crawling through cracks in foundation and crossing tree branch bridges onto the roofs or window sills of a home. Powderpost Beetles lay their eggs in moist wood used for building or firewood and then pop out onto unsuspecting residents. Nature always finds a way.
Why should I have the house inspected for Wood-Destroying Insects?
The presence of wood-destroying insects inside a home can cost home-owners thousands of dollars in repair costs, extermination fees, medical bills and can even damage the resale value of the home.