Ants are social insects and the colony is made up of queens, males and workers. The difference between the ant and the termite are ants have elbowed antennae and termites have straight antennae. Ants have a thin waist where termites have a broad waist. Termites wings are the same size and ants wings are not the same size or shape.
Signs of termites could be swarming or mud tubes present, discarded wings in window seals. Most often the damage is not found at first. Once damage has been found it reveals termite infestation. Treatment would be recommended.
One more reason to keep water away from the building and wood a min of 6" above grade, is termites. If they find any rotting wood they may just make it there new home. If wood is kept damp termites will love it and can cause a substantial amount of damage if they do move in.
Termite baits are containers with poisoned bait which is returned by termites to the colony to eventually eliminate them. They are a non-invasive program used by certified installers but must be maintained regularly. The installers check regularly to see if they need reloading and to check if the termites are actually using them. One draw back to these baits is that there is no guarantee that the termites will ever discover them.
ICF Inspection and Termites
Who would have thought that ICF’s could lead to termite problems. Termites do not eat ICF’s but use them as undetectable passage ways to wood. Some parts of NA actually banned the use of ICF’s in construction because of this problem. There are some solutions to termite problems that can be fixed during construction or the normal way of chemical treating the soil after the fact.
Date: 3-04-16
InterNACHI 120-Hour ONLINE Pre-Licensing Course
Member # NACHI 1512501
Inspection & Writing Assignment for Course: Wood-Destroying Organism Inspection
Subject: Abbreviated WDO Inspection of Home Exterior
Client: InterNACHI
Location of Home: Jacksonville Fl.
Particulars:
Home is single story built in 1984, located in North Florida.
Home exterior has painted cedar wood siding and brick fascia.
Home foundation construction is Slab-On-Grade type supported slab.
Home foundation walls are concrete block masonry.
The grade of the patio slopes gently away from the home.
In-training inspector, James W. Wheeler.
Property Address is 2767 Brandybuck Trail, Jacksonville, Florida.
Partial inspection of the exterior of this residential home.
Inspection Notes:
• The stairs that access the patio stringers and bottom riser are in contact with the soil and abut the patio pavers.
• The wood siding is a minimum of 12” above the soil around the perimeter of the foundation wall, except at the attached garage door jamb where the siding is approx. 2” above the driveway and 4” above the adjacent concrete walk.
• There were a few points where the block foundation mortar was missing, gaps.
• There was one location where the block foundation and brick veneer has a gap of about 1/8 to ¼”.
• There is mulch built up around the exterior of the home and the bottom of the brick veneer could not be seen.
• Found no old or new signs of wood destroying organisms.
Summary:
With the proximity of the wood siding close to the top of the concrete driveway/walk periodic checks should be made to ensure that there are no signs of termite mud tubes on the face of the block below the siding. The joint between the driveway and walk should be cleaned out and an exterior grade caulk should be applied to seal this joint.
The following actions are recommended:
• Foundation wall joints need to be cleaned and pointed where there are gaps in the mortar.
• The gap between the brick veneer and foundation block should be cleaned and sealed.
• The stair stringer and bottom riser should be modified and raised so that there is clearance between the bottom of the wood and soil.
• Remove, clean and re-grade, if possible, the mulch that is above the home brick veneer so that there is a downward slope away from the home and the bottom of the brick fascia can be monitored periodically to make sure unwanted wood destroying organisms are not entering the home structure.
Here is a picture of stucco to ground contact with obvious signs of an irrigation shrub riser having direct contact with the stucco. Also there is a gutter leak up above causing excess water to collect near the stucco and foundation causing landscape damage, and could potentially cause moister intrusion problems within the building envelope/foundation. Keeping the stucco wet could encourage wood destroying organisms to occupy this area of the building would recommend that the irrigation system be adjusted accordingly as well as gutter repairs be made by qualified personnel to prevent further damage.
For my assignment I read about anti-tip brackets for free standing ranges as well as the article on back drafting. Anti tip brackets are an important safety device for a free range stove to prevent the appliance from tipping on someone in the event of an accident. Especially children who decide to try and climb up on the door while its down. This device could prevent serious injury or death in extreme circumstances. Backdrafting is the reverse flow of gas in the flues of fuel-fired appliances that results in the intrusion of combustion byproducts into the living space. Common signs of Backdrafting can be but are not limited to melted plastic tabs on a water heaters plumbing entrance, rust, carbon type deposits near the proximity of the flue piping.
Subject: Reading & Writing Assignment
Covers Two Articles from InterNACHI Inspection Library of Articles
Client: InterNACHI
First Article Covered: Wood Decay
This article through a contributing informational source reports that decay due to fungi accounts for about 10% of the US annual wood production. It describes the conditions needed for fungi to grow and notes that wood destroying insects do not contribute to decay yet they are attracted to decayed wood.
Fungi produce spores that are spread by air currents and these spores are resistant to extreme conditions and that they may have long periods of dormancy. When fungi have the conditions to grow the spores germinate growing hyphae, threadlike tubes, into wood and then secrete enzymes that dissolve part of the wood which is then absorbed as food.
These spores require a moisture content higher than the Fiber Point of Saturation of wood, approximately 27 to 30%.
Common types of wood decay are described and a description of how to distinguish wood decay through probes and using the Pick Test. Preventative measures are provided and possible decay locations are listed. Sources of moisture are described and the wood species that are resistant or susceptible to decay are listed.
In summary, the article closes stating that decay that is caused by fungi is founded in wet locations.
Second Article Covered: Termite Baits
This article briefly reviews bait stations, there advantages, disadvantages and deploying these treatment measures. These are alternative treatments to the traditional barrier approach. These may be buried at the exterior of the structure or in the interior at known locations of termite mud tubes. Those that are installed on the exterior begin with using untreated wood until termite activity is discovered then the poisoned material is inserted into the station. The poison used in these stations is intended to be distributed by termites into the colonies so that the termites in the colonies may be eradicated.
Advantages and disadvantages listed for the use of this treatment method explain that this approach is not perfect. The article states that only pest control operators should deploy bait station but that homeowners may purchase bait stations from retailers.
It is suggested that inspectors should document the presence of bait stations which may be of interest to the potential home buyers. Caution is made that the inspector should not attempt to open or disturb these stations.
This is one of the 6 inch x 6 inch foundation perimeter support posts found in a 1982 built home. These support posts are embedded into the ground. There was no visual evidence of any concrete post support underneath.
On each support post was found indications of microbiological growth. At the rear corner post of the house (pictured above), large black ants, approximately 1/4 inch long, were found walking around the post base. Ants or other indications of wood destroying insect life were not noted at other support posts around the house. There is also a drainage pipe present, which allows water flow towards the support post.
Recommendation is for a WDO inspector to verify if carpenter ants are present and take appropriate remedial action. Each support post should also be evaluated by a building or structural contractor for improving/replacing the wood bean support with a concrete footing. Last, the drainage pipe should be attached to the property septic system and not allowed to dissipate directly onto the ground itself.
Articles read for this section :
“Ant Inspections” and “Compost Pile Hazards”
It is important to note the differences between termites and carpenter ants. The easiest to see is around the waist area (pinched in ants, not pinched in termites) and if the antennae are segmented or straight.(segmented in ants, straight in termites).
Carpenter ants prefer moist areas and termites thrive in moist areas. As such, inspecting for presence of moisture intrusion is a good indicator for possible wood destroying insect infestation problems - among the many other issues stemming from moisture intrusion.
Another area around the home that may be overlooked for moisture problems and inviting to ants and other WDO insects is the compost pile. Many well-meaning individuals are compost advocates, but are unaware of the many health hazards that may be present in a compost pile - particularly a compost pile that is not properly maintained or has the contents turned on a regular basis. As a compost pile contains rotting/decomposing vegetation and cellulose products, it is a good idea to locate the compost pile away from the side of the house. Proper personal protective measures should be taken to avoid skin contact or inhalation of dangerous substances.
Like nearby vegetation growth and wood piles, a nearby compost pile can draw desirable and undesirable insects. The compost pile can contribute to moisture intrusion to the adjacent house. Keep compost piles and wood piles away from the house. Trim back vegetation to avoid any inadvertent passageways for insects to go from the ground to the house structure itself.
In my local area (Pacific coast), there is significant advertisement on the radio and on local TV stations about “orange oil” being used to treat dry wood termites.
They claim the advantages are that it’s natural and does not harm humans or the environment.
This NACHI WDO course does not mention the use of orange oil and is there a reason for this?
Also, are there any inspectors that have any experience with orange oil and its effectiveness?
The use of an infrared camera can be very useful when searching for WDO activity. I was able to locate an area of elevated moisture to inspect. Although no WDO activity was discovered fixes can be made to prevent future infestation.
I read “IR Cameras: Inspecting for Moisture Intrusion” and “Wood Decay.” The IR camera has come a long way and more affordable options are now available. Using your IR camera and moisture meter together can be extremely helpful when inspecting for WDO activity. With a little bit of training your inspections can become much easier.
Locally there are a lot of family oriented neighborhoods and ‘critical’ area located near/on the waterways. In the two articles I read, it is expressed that the use of bait monitoring systems and traps would be preferable in this are as not to contaminate the soil/runoff and not to create an unwanted exposure to chemicals for children. Although the use of these bait traps does take longer to achieve an effective goal and is most likely useful during active periods of the year, it would be the preferable choice of treatment for a home without active termite damage.
In this picture you can see a shed roof at the rear of a home (attached), fairly close to grade. Although it is a safe distance from grade for determining risk of termite presence there is an issue. As it rains the surrounding dirt is splashed up on the block wall below the siding and sill of the shed. The dirt is about 1/4 to 3/8 inch thick which could provide shelter for termite intrusion. Also, the termite tubes would not be as noticeable under the caked on soil. Doing an inspection of the interior of the attached shed it was determined there was no current termite presence. There was a bait trap about 10 feet away from this area. In talking to the homeowner, there was a concern with termites in a nearby flower bed but not in the home itself. The bait stations are being serviced regularly.
After taking the WDO Inspector course I read the two articles Termites and Termite Baits. Both articles expand and reiterate the items discussed throughout the course materials. Subterranean termites are one of the most destructive of the species and common in many areas of the united states. Proper identification is critical during the inspection process to provide the client with the information needed to make a more informed decision.
Termite Baits are a form of control and/or management of termite activity but take longer to affect the colony and take extra effort by the homeowner or pest management professional. With several advantages and disadvantages of using a baiting system, they shod not be opened by the inspection as it may disturb and ongoing management process.
The images I took are of some drill holes in a concrete patio. The drill holes are about 1 foot apart and were found on the front and back porch. These holes verify that there has been a past infestation and a treatment plan put into place.
“Termite Baits”
Termite baits, or bait stations, are used to spread poison among termites. Some advantages of baits are fewer disruptions to the homeowner, they are environmentally friendly, they are unreachable to children and pets, and they are a good preventive measure. Some disadvantages of termite baits are they take a long time to be effective, more expensive, the success rate depends on the season, and no residual barrier is left behind. Baits also need to be set and monitored by a licensed professional.
“Ant Inspection”
Ants, especially carpenter ants, can cause extensive damage to a building. Some evidence to look for when inspecting for ants is a long trail of ants, holes or cracks in the foundation, and frass deposits. Some ways to exclude ants are sanitation; keep areas clean and picked up, fix leaks, seal cracks, and trim back vegetation.
This is a photo of the door jamb and threshold area of an entry door of a garage. An inspector should look for evidence of wood decay especially at garage entry doors, as they are very susceptible to decay and infestation. This is to the fact that the wood is at floor level and is usually a soft wood, thereby susceptible to entry by WDOs in floor cracks or nearby soil. It is also susceptible because of the propensity to trap moisture since it is more exposed to the elements.
In this particular photo, the jam is visibly damaged at the floor, potentially indicating termite infestation, fungi, or wood rot. The inspector should report on this damage and further investigate the condition.
AFCI Testers
AFCI test indicators (AFCI testers) test the functionality of AFCI breakers in a different way than AFCI test buttons integrated into the AFCI breaker. A test button creates an AFCI condition, thereby truly testing the functionality of an AFCI breaker. However, this fault is induced right at the breaker, and does nothing to test it’s ability to detect arc faults at other locations on the branch circuit to be protected. An AFCI test indicator however can be plugged into any receptable. The drawback is that it is not actually creating a fault but instead injected pulses onto the branch circuit. Because of this, an AFCI indicator can incorrectly indicate that an AFCI breaker is not functioning properly. When this occurs, the inspector must verify the test by using the test/reset button at the breaker.
