What to Expect From a Home Termite Inspection

Are there signs of termite activity in your Florida property? Or are you undertaking your annual termite control check? Whatever the reason, the best way to ascertain that there are no termite problems is by scheduling a termite inspection. Now that you’ve set it up, you might be wondering how pest control service providers go about their termite inspections. Or if there are any preparations, you need to make. For this reason, we’ve prepared this post on what to expect from a termite inspection.

Why Schedule a Termite Inspection in the First Place?

Unless you’re a professional exterminator, it is difficult for you to notice a termite infestation. If you didn’t know, termites, unlike other pests, exist year-round. That’s not all; a termite colony may be present in your property for up to five years without your knowledge. That’s scary.

Remember, termite damage is costly, and American homeowners spend almost $5 billion every year to treat termite damage. Most property insurance does not cover these costs. Keep in mind that Florida has a humid climate, which means it is the perfect breeding ground for termites. Based on this information, it would be wise to schedule regular termite control services.

What to Expect From a Termite Inspection Service Provider

1. Clear communication

Expect clear communication throughout the entire termite inspection and treatment process. The McDonald termite inspectors will be ready and willing to answer any of your questions. We will not only provide guidelines on preparing your home for the inspection but also what to expect from the termite inspection and report our findings plus recommendations.

2. Preparing your home for the termite inspection

We recommend doing the following to ready your house for inspection.

• Shift items away from the garage walls to create a clear view of the garage’s expansion joints.
• Move any items that are below your house, as the inspector will need to view crawl spaces.
• Declutter your bathroom, attic, and kitchen area.

3. The actual termite inspection

On the day of the inspection, our personnel will arrive in the company vehicle and provide their ID during introductions. Typically, the termite inspections take two hours and will depend on several factors, including:

• The extent of termite damage
• Your property size, especially if you have an outbuilding
• How well you prepared your house for ease of access

Areas our termite inspectors will examine

The inspectors will check the following areas:

• Outdoor structures. For the outdoor space, the inspector will check all wooden items and facilities, including the deck, fencing, and arbor, for any signs of termite activity.
• Crevices. Gaps in expansion joints are perfect entry points for termites.
• Firewood. By now, you should know that any wooden structure is a breeding ground for these silent and voracious feeders. We recommend storing firewood off the ground and far from your house’s exterior walls.

What McDonald pest inspectors will look for

• Mud tubes. Termites create mud tubes to link their nest to the invasion spots, shield them from invaders, and lock in moisture. If you spot these highways, chances are you are dealing with subterranean termites.
• Termite damage. To confirm termite activity, the inspector will check all wooden structures for damage and mud tunnels. For drywood termites, the inspector will look for termite droppings and discarded wings around eaves and windowsills.
• Bulging paint. While this is not a surefire sign, subterranean termites tend to create spaces that allow moisture inside the drywall, causing the paint to peel off.
• Termites. For homeowners identifying a termite colony is complex, and most people mistake them for ants. An inspector will carefully examine the presence of termites, including the reproductive kind or workers.

Get a Termite Inspection from McDonald Pest Control

You now know what to expect from a termite inspection. Once complete, we will provide you with a Termite and Other Wood Destroying Organism Report (WDO Report) with our findings and recommendations. Some of our termite treatment services include soil and spot treatment, termite heat treatment, and tent fumigation. To learn about our comprehensive termite treatment in Clearwater and other pest control solutions, call us at 727-734-0963 for a free termite inspection.