WDI and Termite Inspections
What to Expect
We are here to inspect your home whether you are engaged in a real estate transaction or if you would simply like the peace of mind knowing your home is secure. According to Ohio Wood-Destroying Insect Inspection Program, the wood-destroying insects that must be reported on the NPMA-33 inspection form are termites, carpenter ants, carpenter bees, and re-infesting wood-boring beetles. The presence of WDI in a structure can present a significant hazard due to structural damage if infestations are undetected and/or left untreated. Such damage could result in the devaluation of a property/structure or substantial costs for repairs.
Ohio Department of Agriculture states:
WDI Diagnostic Inspection. Wood-destroying insect diagnostic inspection means the examination of a structure at the request of any party involved in a contemplated real estate transaction to determine if wood destroying insects are present in the structure, if there is evidence they either are or have been present in the structure, or the presence of any visible damage to the structure caused by wood-destroying insects and the generation of a written report of the findings of the examination.
For the inspection, we must have access to all interior and exterior areas of the structures that we intend to analyze. We’ll let you know if there is part of the structure we weren’t able to access during the inspection because it was blocked off. Inaccessible areas, such as inside walls, beneath the carpet, or other floor coverings, etc. will not be listed.
Types of Wood Destroying Insects
Termites
There are two varieties of termites that homeowners have come to fear. Subterranean Termites are one of the United States' most destructive pests, robbing homeowners of more than $2 billion each year. They burrow underground and bore into the house from underneath. Drywood Termites chew on wood from the outside, laying their eggs there.
Carpenter Ants
These ants earn their name from their habits of excavating wood. They don't eat the wood but instead chew through it to use for their nests. Since their jaws are powerful for their whittling habits, they also pack a mean bite.
Carpenter Bees
Like Carpenter Ants, Carpenter Bees are aptly named. The insects feed on pollen and nectar-like their counterparts but gnaw through the wood to create galleries they use for their nests.
Wood Boring Beetles
These insects typically feed on decaying trees but will settle for the wood inside your home if given the option. They are also a significant killer of healthy trees. Since some varieties, like the Asian Long-horned Beetle, have no natural predators, and can cause substantial damage and threaten the health of Ohio's hardwood forests.
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