August 30, 2007
What I do
Some days are more fun than others. If I do an inspection on a property where the homeowner already knows there are termites in the house or where the buyer has seen the evidence, that’s not very challenging. My job is to make sure as much evidence as possible is recorded, the problem is diagnosed and recommendations are made to control active infestations. A job like the one I did yeterday is much more interesting. The inspection was in a condo on the eighth floor of a concrete and steel building. It was occupied and heavily furnished, with boxes half-packed for the seller’s impending move. There were a lot of areas I couldn’t get to at all. One of the kitchen cabinets was partially cleared out. The bottom shelf was cluttered with the usual stuff, the next shelf up just had a few items on it and the top shelf was empty. I saw a little bit of debris in the front corner of the bottom shelf. The usual stuff - tiny bits of herbs and spices, a few cockroach droppings - and four tiny, suspicious specks mixed in with the other detritus. An average or less experienced inspector would probably have not even noticed them. I’ll toot my own horn here and say that I’m not average. I’m very good at what I do. I frequently find infestations that have been missed by other inspectors.
I tapped and probed the cabinet door. Nothing. Solid as a rock. The cabinet wall above the debris. Still nothing. I started removing the packages from the lower shelf. In the back corner I found a few more pellets, but the walls and the entire bottom of the shelf above seemed solid and intact, so I emptied that shelf also. It was a removable shelf so I pulled it out.
Aha! Success! The edge of the shelf against the back wall was was the source I was looking for. Those are called kick holes. Drywood termites live inside wood (as opposed to subterranean termites, which usually live in the ground and can travel to above ground sources to feed.) Since they don’t leave the wood that they live in, their galleries can get cluttered with their droppings. Thus the kick holes, through which they expel their fecal material. Actually, though, I didn’t need to see those little kick holes to know I had found what I was looking for.
There were several drywood termites visible in the cavity when I removed the shelf. I called the realtor in from the living room and showed him what I’d found before the termites had a chance to withdraw out of sight. He was impressed. He thinks I’m a goddess. He was thrilled to have me carry the infestation away so I could issue a clear report for his real estate transaction (and so I could stage the photos for you. 
)
So that’s what I do.
Technorati Tags: drywood termites, drywood termite damage, drywood termite evidence, photos, termites, termite inspection
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August 31st, 2007 at 8:04 am, Lee Says:
Very impressive and very observant skeet!
We’d hire you for sure… if we weren’t a zillion miles away!
August 31st, 2007 at 6:40 pm, Gally Says:
This is all terribly interesting. It’s also a big help to let me know what to look out for when I finally purchase my own place!
August 31st, 2007 at 11:48 pm, skeet Says:
Hee! Don’t you want to fly me in for your next inspection, Lee?
August 31st, 2007 at 11:54 pm, skeet Says:
Gally, I don’t know where you live. Local custom and regulations can vary A LOT. When you’re ready to start looking at houses, get a realtor to represent your interests. It won’t cost you anything - the commission is the same whether there is one agent involved or two (they split when there are two.) Get your realtor to let you know what is done locally about inspections. Here in Hawaii it is customary for the seller to pay for whatever inspections are required. If it’s not required, do consider paying for it out of your own pocket. You’ll be making the biggest purchase of your life - not the right time to scrimp. You don’t want to find out when it’s too late that there are structural problems or termite problems or a roof that needs replacing at great expense. Professional inspections are your assurance that you’re getting a sound structure and a good investment/value.
September 1st, 2007 at 4:46 pm, jo Says:
You ARE the Termite Goddess! I am in awe. I wish you could come and inspect all my houses! Jo (not any kind of goddess…or even a minor deity)
September 4th, 2007 at 1:42 pm, Karen Says:
Wow, you are such a slueth! I am amazed.
September 4th, 2007 at 1:51 pm, skeet Says:
The majority of my inspections are pretty dull, Karen, because the termites are falling out of the walls and any fool could find them. It’s the occasional stumpers that keep the job interesting.
September 8th, 2007 at 3:27 pm, The Frog Bog » For The Love of a Commentor Says:
[…] brave and quirky hero knew exactly what to do — check to see if his ladder had any termites, but our brave and quirky hero had no carpentry or math skills. Seeking help for this dilemma, […]