Plan Your Work and Work Your Plan
My friends, you’ve got that report in your hands and you’re asking yourself, “Now what?”
My first bit of advice I give customers when they’re looking at the work suggested in their report is to slow down and plan your work. Termite/wood destroying organism reports should not be looked at like “to do” lists and the findings are likely not listed in order of importance. I mean, you should get things done but take a pause and look at the items that need to be addressed immediately and what could be completed later, possibly as part of a larger project. Here is how I suggest customers prioritize work based on common inspection report findings.
WATER!!!!! Plumbing leaks, drainage and rogue sprinklers are priority #1. Persistent, moist conditions can invite fungus infections which, when left untreated, can be one of the most expensive and devastating issues a home can have. Skip to the bottom! when evaluating a report, I always start with Section 2. Why? Because a lot of times there are conditions that exist that are detailed in Section 2 that are going to be your first priority. Get the wet addressed and move on to priority #2
Active infestations. My next priority is to treat active infestations. If your home is vacant and in need of a fumigation, this is the time to plan that. It is so much less annoying to do it while the house is empty of food, oral medications and living things. Other treatment items to consider here are subterranean soil treatments, local drywood termite treatments and treatment surface fungus infections. Surface fungus treatments especially, letting those go can result in costly repairs later as once the fungus has penetrated the wood and the wood has begun to decay, chemical treatment is no longer an option and the wood must be removed to halt the infection.
Structural reinforcement and repairs. These are items where the organisms have caused damage to structurally vital portions of the home and need to be repaired to ensure the stability of the structure. Floor joist reinforcements and repairs would be an example of items that should be prioritized next. The caveat I would add to this one is if you're planning large remodeling projects that these specific repairs may be looked at as part of that larger project.
Now that we’ve discussed priorities, let’s get into some considerations when looking at other work suggested in your report. It’s very common to have fungus and termite damage to exterior decks, railings, balconies, trim, siding, roof sheathing and other exposed roof support structures. Exposure to the elements renders these areas more vulnerable to damage. While the repairs to these areas is recommended, exterior repairs may be best addressed in conjunction with other exterior maintenance projects. Trim and siding repairs should be done prior to doing exterior paint. You can do them anytime, but keep in mind that repaired areas only get a coat of primer and will still need finish paint, which we do not provide. Roof sheathing, rafter tails, barge rafters etc. can often be repaired in conjunction with a new roof. It might even be more economical to see if your roofer can complete these repairs.
Bathrooms, Kitchens and Floors
Bathrooms and kitchens by nature are often one of the places that significant repairs are needed because of damage due to water. They are also the places in the home that most often get expensive remodels. If it’s been recommended that wood destroying pest damage requires extensive repairs to a kitchen or bathroom, keep in mind that termite repairs are not upgrades. If you’re in the market for an upgrade, consider waiting on non-emergent repairs until you’re ready for those upgrades.
Floors are a similar situation. If you have subfloor damage that requires removal of finished floors, talk to your inspector and see what they recommend.
Consider the timing.
Last but not least, there are some considerations in terms of scheduling termite treatments and fumigations.
We recommend fumigation before painting or refinishing floors. If you must paint or refinish floor before fumigation, please schedule the fumigation for at least 10 days after completing the work so that the finishes have time to cure and won’t be damaged during the fumigation.
If you are doing exterior landscaping or crawlspace work, please call your termite company to discuss timing the subterranean termite treatment to avoid conditions that would void your warranty.
While these are not all the considerations, we hope these tips will help you make planning your termite treatments and repair work less overwhelming. If You ever have questions, please give us a call!