WDI Inspections
Know if Your Home Has Insect Damaged
Wood-Destroying Insects
What are Wood-Destroying Insects
Of all of the household pests, wood-destroying insects can often cause the most damage to a home. Wood-destroying insects such as termites and carpenter ants cause over $5 billion in property damages each and every year.
Termites
Termites are far and away the most problematic of all wood-destroying insects in the United States. There are three types of termites: subterranean, drywood, and dampwood termites. Subterranean termites are the most destructive termite species and will chew through wood 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Over time, a single colony of subterranean termites can chew through enough wood to collapse an entire building.
Wood-Destroying Beetles
Wood-destroying Beetles are far more common than Termites as they are found in every state of the US, but come in second to Termites in destructiveness. Powderpost Beetles, a type of Wood-Destroying Beetle, attack hardwoods, which is the primary lumber used in home construction.
Carpenter Ants
While found in all parts of the US, Carpenter Ants are most often found in the cooler, damp climates of the northern states. These ants create tunnels through wet or rotten wood in order to build their nests. These tunnels are most often found in the wood around windows and doors, basements, crawlspaces, and attics. While hard to spot with the naked eye, one indication of a carpenter ant infestation could be piles of sawdust and wood fragments around the areas mentioned above.
Do You Need a WDI Inspection?
If you live in Maryland, protecting your home from Wood-Destroying Insects is a must. Whether you are buying a home or just as a part of your annual maintenance inspection, getting a WDI Inspection can save you thousands of dollars in damages to your home.
Types of WDI Inspections
Wood-Destroying Insect (WDI) Inspection
During a WDI inspection, we will inspect every accessible part of the house and look for signs of insect damage. We pay close attention to wood structures, like decks or porches, and to areas that are exposed to moisture. We will look for damage to wood as well as any debris left behind by the insects to determine if there is any current or previous activity.
Once the inspection is over, we will draft a report which outlines whether there is damage, the extent of the damage, and whether there is a current infestation. This will help you have a better understanding of your property.