Termite Inspection for Charlotte and the Carolinas
Don’t leave your most valuable investment fully vulnerable to termite infestation and damage. Get a termite inspection and have peace of mind. Whether you’re buying, selling, refinancing, or if you need to ensure your home stays protected from termites, Killingsworth has got you covered!
The Carolinas has two species of subterranean (underground) termites, all of which feed on the cellulose in plant-based materials. Cellulose is found in wood, cardboard, so termites can eat through wood flooring, structural timber, and furniture.
Termites also feed on paper products, putting insulation, books, and important documents at risk. The good news is that you don’t have to wait for adult termites to start flying around to take action. Killingsworth offers comprehensive termite inspection services, making it possible to spot early warning signs and address them before termites cause structural damage.
The Importance of Termite Inspection
Termites cause $5 billion to $20 billion worth of damage to U.S. homes every year. Early detection prevents termites from eating through floors, walls, and structural elements of your home, minimizing the cost of remediation. If you’re buying a home, a termite damage inspection can help you avoid spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on a property that has structural issues due to termite activity.
Many people don’t realize that homeowner’s insurance doesn’t cover termite damage. Getting regular inspections can help you avoid major repair bills that aren’t covered by your insurance policy. Your HOA may even require that you hire a termite inspector to look for signs of an infestation.
What's Included in a Termite Damage Inspection?
For your peace of mind, Killingsworth performs thorough inspections. We’ll have a termite inspector look for termite-damaged wood, mud shelter tubes, and termite emergence exit holes. Our team also has experience identifying conducive conditions such as moisture issues that make a home more welcoming to termites. For example, something as simple as a pile of firewood stacked against your house can make it easier for termites to enter.
A termite inspection focuses on common entry points, such as foundations, basements, and crawl spaces. Each species behaves a little differently, so it’s important to work with an inspector who’s familiar with the most common species in Charlotte and the rest of the Carolinas. For example, the Southeastern drywood termite feeds on the cellulose found in dry wood, so they require no contact with soil. This makes attics and eaves especially vulnerable. Also, the Formosan Subterranean Termites can build arial carton nests which also do not need to make contact with the soil and can infect attics and ceilings.
We’ll also check the following:
- Windowsills
- Door casings
- Baseboards
Preparing for a Termite Inspection
We’ll do everything in our power to identify early signs of termite activity. It’s easier to spot an infestation if you take the following steps before we arrive:
- Trim any tree branches that are touching your house.
- Move items that are blocking your crawl space or making it difficult to access the attic.
- Move boxes, furniture and other items from your patio or storage area.
- Move items away from the walls in your garage.
A few simple adjustments can help us perform a thorough termite inspection.
Next Steps
If you decide you want termite protection we’ll place Sentricon® bait stations in strategic locations around your home. Each station contains Recruit HD, a substance capable of eliminating entire termite colonies. Once we install the bait stations, termites can start feeding, eliminating termites quickly. Best of all, there’s no need to worry about harmful residue.