Termite Inspection In Vacaville, CA

How To Prepare For A Termite Inspection

Smart Vacaville homeowners stay on top of their termite control. A big part of termite control is keeping termites from entering your home, and the first step in accomplishing this is scheduling a termite inspection. So now that you’ve scheduled one, what can you expect? Are there steps you need to take to get ready for the inspection? Getting your home ready for a termite inspection isn’t difficult, but there are a few things you can do to help make it go more smoothly.

DO A LITTLE BIT OF REARRANGING

Anything you have gathered under your sinks in the kitchen and bathroom will need to be moved to another area so that the inspector can check your water sources for termite activity. Inside your garage, move everything you have stored against the wall to about two feet away from the wall. If any items are against the walls outside your home, they’ll also need to be moved two feet out.

MAKE IT EASY TO ACCESS THE ATTIC

Anything prohibiting the entrance to the attic should be cleared away in advance of the inspector’s visit. Not only does the inspector need to get into the attic, but you want to make sure no debris falling from the attic disrupts your things while he’s working.

CLEAR THE CRAWL SPACE

If your home is built on a raised foundation, making it simple for the inspector to get into the crawl space. Clear the opening, move any items that block the entrance, and make sure items stored in the crawl space will not impede the inspector’s work.

TAKE CARE OF SOME LANDSCAPING

Trim any plants like bushes or ground cover that conceal exterior walls or the foundation.

What Happens During The Inspection

During your termite inspection, you can expect the inspector to spend about an hour and a half to two hours thoroughly going over your Vacaville property. This amount time, of course, will vary depending on the size of your property. The inspector will look at the exterior and interior areas of your home, checking for visible signs of a termite infestation, which include: droppings, broken wings, mud tubes, and damaged wood.

The inspector will check your baseboards, walls, door frames, crawl spaces, windows, insides of cabinets and closets. During this inspection, he or she will need access to every area of your home, including the garage and attic, and will pay special attention to the bathrooms, kitchens, and utility rooms. Why? Because subterranean termites often use the places where plumbing penetrates the slab to gain access to your home.

Outside your home, the inspector will look at the exterior walls and eaves of the house, and closely examine the foundation. In addition to signs of damage to the wood, the inspector will be on the lookout for mud tubes on the foundation. Having thoroughly inspected the home itself, the inspector will move on to the surrounding property and yard to make sure those areas are not showing any sign of termite activity.

How To Prevent Future Termite Treatment

Once the inspection is complete, the inspector will let you know the findings. If there’s an infestation, treatment will be recommended, but even if there’s not an infestation, the inspector may suggest preventive treatments to keep your home termite free. He or she might also give you advice on preventing termite infestations through good practices that include:

GETTING RID OF EXCESS MOISTURE

Repair leaking faucets as soon as possible, and don’t let water collect near your foundation. Keep gutters clear from clogs and use downspouts to divert water away from the house. Make sure the soil around your house is graded to keep water away from the foundation.

KEEPING LANDSCAPING CLEAN

Don’t let wood debris, mulch, or firewood come into contact with the exterior of your house surfaces and remove any old tree stumps or dead trees from your property. Try to prevent any wood to soil contact, both on your home and with any fences on your property. Trim trees and shrubbery so that they don’t touch wood surfaces on the house and give termites a great way to get in.

REPAIRING YOUR ROOF AND ATTIC AS SOON AS THERE’S AN ISSUE

Broken roof tiles and attic entrances can expose wooden beams in the attic and provide easy access for termites.

SAYING NO TO CARDBOARD

Cardboard boxes in your garage or attic can be a food source for termites, so keep these to a minimum.

KEEPING YOUR EYES OPEN TO SIGNS OF A TERMITE INFESTATION

Look at your window sills for discarded wings, pay attention to hollow sounding floor boards, and check for mud tubes on your Vacaville home’s exterior.