GreenLight Inspections
& Pest Control

Thorough Friendly Houston Home Inspections

Termite Inpsection and Wood Destroying Insect Inspections

Wood Destroying Insects Inspections, sometimes called a Termite Inspection include Termites, Carpenter ants, and beetles. Over time they can do extensive and expensive damage to homes and other structures. This is an add-on inspection that can be done with a home inspection.  A WDI inspection can help identify the presence of these insects as well as conditions that are conducive to them. A WDI Inspection is a visual survey of the home and it’s immediate surroundings for the presence of wood destroying insects or conditions favorable to their presence. I will do my best to look in the places that are most favorable for these unwelcome guests and let you know what I find.  

Why have a home inspector do the Termite Inspection?

The advantage to having a home inspector perform your WDI inspection is that I am not out to sell you anything. Selling pest control or repair services with an inspection is unethical and a conflict of interest for me as a licensed home inspector. Having a pest control company do the termite inspection is like having the dealership check the brakes on your car.  My goal is to investigate the property and inform you of my findings, not to sell you more services. The advantage to this route is that if I do identify an active infestation you can contact more than one company to see what treatment plan they recommend..

What insects are part of a wood destroying insect inspection?

In Texas we are primarily concerned with termites. Termites fall into two broad categories, subterranean and drywood. Subterranean termites mostly live under ground and come into the home to eat wood. The exception to this is the aggressive and invasive Formosan Termites which can have hundreds of thousands of insects in a colony and actually live in the home while rapidly destroying it. Drywood termites on the other hand are much smaller colonies and frequently live in furniture or parts of the home. I will look for both types when I inspect the home.

I also look for carpenter ants, which carve out a place to live in the home, but eat things outside the home like seeds and small insects. Lastly there are several types of beetles and bees that can be destructive to the home. Any of these nuisance insects can create surprise expenses and maintenance. Better to identify them while you are in your option period or before you list your home for sale.