Participants in the recent Women's Council of Realtors (WCR) seminar on termite letters included, from left, Bonnie Hamilton, WCR president-elect, Liz Johnson, president, Nancy Delany, seminar leader with Arrow Exterminstors from Atlanta, and Melanie Reeves, with Arrow Exterminators here. Click on photo to enlarge.
photo by Irby Park
The damage done by termites every year is astronomical and homeowners should be aware of ways to protect against structural damage, according to Nancy Delany, with Arrow Exterminators in Atlanta.
Home buyers and sellers, she added, should know the requirements for “termite letters” when buying or selling a house.
Ms. Delany, vice president for Realtor relations and new business development, conducted a Women’s Council of Realtors seminar on the Georgia wood infestation report, covering many areas which also can apply to Tennessee.
While the common subterranean termites may be the first to come to mind in connection with wood damage, she said the Georgia report also specifies four other damaging infestations, powder post beetles, wood boring beetles, dry wood termites and wood decaying fungus. The Tennessee report also includes dampwood termites and carpenter ants.
Ms. Delany said termites are one of the few groups of organisms “capable of eating and obtaining nourishment from cellulose materials which are readily available in homes and other buildings. Termites have been inhabitants of earth for millions of years.”
Termites, she continued, “are now one of the most costly economic pests. It is estimated that between $1- and $3-billion is spent annually for control measures and to repair the damage done by this insect.”
Most damage in this part of the country is done by the eastern subterranean termite which lives in colonies of tens of thousands in soil from which they obtain moisture and range outward to feed on wood.
Ms. Delany explained, “Although termites mainly feed on wood, they also attack any material containing cellulose such as paper, books, cardboard and the like and can severely damage living plants by hollowing out the stems. Subterranean termites typically damage the interior of structural beams, flooring and similar structural elements and leave the surface intact.
“The first signs of an infestation,” she continued, “may be swarming of the reproductives or carton tubes on the surface of walls, joists, piers, chimneys, plumbing and other locations. Other signs of a termite infestation include weak or broken structural members, blistered wood and soil in cracks. The interior of a damaged beam typically has gallaries containing carton. The damage is greatest in the soft spring wood. Some infestations are not discovered by a homeowner until a floor or wall collapses.”
There are other types of termites, such as drywood termites and Formosan termites, but they are not considered a serious problem in this area.
Termites, whether winged reproductives or workers, can be distinguished from ants by their thick waistlines and straight antennae while ants have a pinched waistline and elbowed antennae.
“The best control of the subterranean termite is prevention,” said Ms. Delany. “Too much emphasis cannot be placed on the fact that the best time to provide protection against termites is during the planning and construction of the building.”
She suggested several practices which should be considered essential in any building operation.
These include removing stumps, wood and similar materials from the construction site. “Do not allow scraps of wood debris to be buried in backfill,” she said, adding that in many instances builders will use scrap material when they fill space under a concrete slab porch or fill around the foundation.
“Remove all form boards and grade stakes used in construction,” she continued. “Exterior woodwork should be a minimum of eight inches above grade. At least eight inches of concrete slab should be visible to facilitate inspection of slab construction.”
She added, “Make thorough annual inspections for evidence of termite activity and pretreat soil with recommended insecticides under and around the perimeter of the slab or foundation.”
The homeowner should be aware of what type of warranty an exterminator offers. There are two primary types, she said, the repair warranty and the retreat only warranty. The preferred warranty provides for repairing any damage done after the property has been treated and retreating it. The less desirable warranty does not pay for repairs, but will only retreat the property if an infestation is discovered.
It is also important to know whether a termite warranty may be transferred to a new owner.
In buying or selling a home, parties should be familiar with the required “termite letter” which states whether there is any sign of previous damage by any wood-damaging pest and should warrant that there is no current infestation.