The Benefits of Scheduling a WDO Inspection

Wood-destroying organisms (WDOs) are insects and fungi that cause damage to wood structures. In Nevada, termites, carpenter ants, and powder post beetles are the most common WDOs that damage homes.

Most lenders and banks require a WDO inspection (also referred to as WDI Inspection) before financing any home purchase or refinancing loan. During a WDO inspection, home inspectors look for evidence of infestation, damage, past treatment, and conducive conditions that support wood-destroying organisms.

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Termite Detection

As part of your efforts to safeguard your home or commercial property against termites, fungus, and other wood-destructing organisms (WDO), scheduling a WDO inspection should be the initial step to protecting it against these threats. A WDO inspection covers all visible areas of a house or building with evidence of infestations, damage, and other concerns.

At WDO inspection, a qualified inspector will thoroughly review the entire structure, including substructure spaces like basements and crawlspaces that offer ideal habitats for wood-destroying organisms infestation. Infestations are often discovered only once enough damage has been caused to warrant filing a wood destroying organisms report Florida keys authorities.

A few telltale signs of a termite problem include mud tubes (their covered highways to their food source) along foundation walls, under porches, and in crawlspaces. Ridges in wallpaper may indicate a termite infestation as well. Other indications are a hollow or bubbling sound in the wood, sand grain-size holes, and piles of small pellets called fecal matter, which termites and other wood-destroying insects and fungi produce. Using a termite-detecting canine is another effective way to detect the presence of an active termite colony.

Fungus Detection

Fungi are one-celled yeasts or branching filamentous molds that may cause diseases ranging from superficial skin infections to serious blood, lung, or systemic disease. They can also infect seeds, allowing them to survive and spread long distances. Early diagnosis of seed-borne fungal pathogens can help limit economic losses and avoid uncontrolled propagation of the pathogen through a long-distance exchange of infected seeds.

Many methods have been developed to detect fungal contamination of seeds, but they are time-consuming and require mycological skills. Recently, identification techniques based on DNA analysis have been applied to this problem successfully.

This method allows us to see if there is a fungal infestation and what type of fungus. It is crucial because fungus damage to wood structures, like termites, carpenter ants, and powder post beetles, can lead to structural failures in homes. In some cases, fungus damage to wood can be more devastating than termite and beetle damage combined.

Mold Detection

More commonly known as a termite inspection, a WDO (wood-destroying organisms) inspection looks for visible evidence of any insects or fungi damaging the wood in a home. In addition to identifying whether a home has a current infestation of wood-destroying pests, such as subterranean termites, carpenter ants, or wood-boring beetles, a WDO inspection will also look for signs of past infestations as well as the presence of dry rot and fungus.

A WDO inspector will walk a home’s exterior, tap on soffits and check baseboards, wall studs, and attic beams for any damage caused by termites or wood-boring beetles. They will also walk the interior of a home, checking wood floors and walls for signs of insect infestation and examining wood surfaces for signs of wood-destroying fungus.

An inspector must be trained to identify mold spores and cultures to report it as a WDO finding that falls outside their license’s scope (Branch 3). However, if an inspector sees rotting or spongey-feeling wood, they will probably recommend testing for fungi or a professional evaluation by a pest control expert.

Preventative Maintenance

Wood-destroying insects are a significant source of structural damage and repair costs in residential buildings. Termites cause over $1.5 billion annually in damages and control costs across the U.S.However, other wood-inhabiting pests, such as carpenter ants, beetles, and fungi, attack and decompose structural timbers.

WDO/WDI inspections, formerly known as termite inspections, look for insect-related damage to a home’s wooden elements. Damage to a structure’s wooden structure can result in serious problems such as extensive rot or even structural collapse. During a WDO/WDI inspection, professionals can spot damage to wood beams, porches, and patios and check for evidence of past infestations and treatments.

That Guy maintains a dedicated staff of property inspection specialists to meet your due diligence requirements for various commercial and residential properties. It includes: