Call 518-505-8305                                                                                                                                                                 Delmar, NY 12054
Questions About WDI Inspections Do I need a WDI inspection?          Many lenders require it, so they can be sure there are no active termite infestations in any home they finance. If you're buying, you want to be sure you're not buying termites and termite damage along with your new home. What is a WDI Inspection?          A WDI ( wood destroying insects) Inspection is a visual inspection of the readily accessible areas of the home. The inspector visually inspects the interior of the home, including the basement or crawlspace, and the exterior of the property for signs of infestation or conditions conducive for infestation. After the inspection any findings will be reported on the appropriate forms. What are conducive conditions?        Conducive conditions mean conditions existing in a home that favor the development of wood destroying organisms/insects. These include all situations where there are moisture problems (i.e. leaks, rotted wood), where there is wood in contact with the ground (i.e. faulty grades, cellulose debris left in the crawlspace) or where cracks can make wood framing accessible to wood destroying organisms. How long does an inspection take?        The average termite or pest inspection takes approximately 30 to 45 minutes for a thorough inspection, depending on the size and conditions (e.g. clutter, storage of personal items, etc.) of the home and property. Is a WDI Inspection only for termites?      No, besides termites the inspector is also looking for signs of carpenter ants, carpenter bees, and re-infesting wood-boring beetles. Wood decaying fungus is also reported. The presence of wood destroying insects is called infestation, and the presence of wood decaying fungus is called an infection.
How do subterranean termites get into a house?    Very easily. All they need is an opening 1/64" wide. They may enter directly from the soil, or they may build tubes leading from their colony in the soil to the wood of your home. They usually commute daily between the wood and their colony. Could there be hidden damage?       Absolutely! One of the main characteristics of termites is their tendency to avoid exposure to open air and bright lights, meaning they will stay underground, hidden in shelter tubes or tunnels, or within the wood. It is almost impossible for the inspector to visually identify or locate an active termite infestation just by looking at the surface of a wall or the accompanying trim. Inspecting requires probing and tapping, checking for hollow sounds. Infestations can also extend into inaccessible areas (for example, in attics or below subfloors). Why inspect the attic if termites stay close to the ground?    The WDI inspection is actually an inspection for wood-destroying organisms and not just termites. The inspector is also looking for ants, bugs and fungus. Sometimes, in areas where Drywood termites are prevalent, and in homes where there is no sub-area, the attic may also be accessed and inspected. Inspectors routinely look in the attic area for Drywood termite pellets(fecal matter), which are oblong, very in color from light gray to very dark brown, and are only 2-3 millimeters long. They generally accumulate on surfaces or in spider webs near the eaves of the attic. What do termites look like?     Subterranean termite colonies consist of three castes--reproductives, workers and soldiers. All of the subterranean termites are generally creamy white in appearance and are translucent, looking very much in size, shape and color as a grain of rice. The reproductives, or "swarmers", have a pair of even-sized wings and are often mistaken for flying ants. The workers look similar to the "swarmers". only they are a little smaller and do not have wings. The soldiers are also similar except for their oversized heads and large, crushing mandibles.
Range of the Eastern Subterranean Termite                                   Range of the Powder Post Beetle
	What are the physical differences between carpenter ants and termites?     There are a number of differences between carpenter ants and termites. The body shape of a carpenter ant is like an hourglass--it narrows between abdomen in the rear and the thorax in the front. The body of the termite is more cigar-shaped without the narrowing between the front and back halves of the body. When wings are present, carpenter ants have large wings in front and smaller wings in back, whereas termite "swarmers" have relatively equal-sized wings. Carpenter ant wings are less "veiny" than termite wings. Also, ant wings have a stigma (dark spot) on the leading edge of the front wing, and termite wings do not. Carpenter ant antennae are bent or curved, while termite antennae are relatively straight. What if the inspection shows termites or other wood destroying insects are present?      Then it will be necessary to treat the property to prevent any further damage. Why do I have to treat if there are no live termites?        If there is evidence of termite infestation and no evidence of a termite treatment having been done, the inspector must report that the infestation is active, which means in need of treatment, even though no live insects were discovered. This is because the termites are still somewhere inside the house, and probably in a hidden or inaccessible area. Also, termites do re-infest. What if no evidence of termites is found?     You will receive written notification stating that no visible evidence of infestation has been found in the accessible areas that were checked. But any home should be reinspected periodically, especially if neighboring homes show signs of termites. Is a WDI Inspection included with the cost of a general home inspection?     No, it is not. The initial cost of a general home inspection does not include any other inspections.
	NYS Certified Pesticide Technician  #T4865884	518-505-8305
___________________________________________________________________________________ Providing inspections for the following cities and towns: Albany, Alcove, Alplaus, Altamont, Amsterdam, Athens, Averill Park, Ballston Lake, Ballston Spa, Berlin, Berne, Broadalbin, Burnt Hills, Buskirk, Cairo, Cambridge,Castleton-on-Hudson, Catskill, Central Bridge, Chatham, Clarksville, Claverack, Clermont, Clifton Park, Climax, Cobleskill, Coeymans, Coeymans Hollow, Cohoes, Colonie, Corinth, Coxsackie, Cropseyville, Defreestville,Delanson, Delmar, Duanesburg, Durham, Eagle Bridge, Earlton, East Berne, East Glenville, East Greenbush, East Nassau, Elsmere, Feura Bush, Fonda, Freehold, Galway, Ghent, Glenmont, Glenville, Gloversville, Grafton, Green Island, Greenwich, Greenville, Guilderland, Halfmoon, Hoffmans, Hoosick, Hoosick Falls, Hudson, Hunter, Johnsonville, Johnstown, Kenwood, Kinderhook, Knox, Lansingburgh, Latham, Leeds, Loudonville, Malta, Mariaville, Mechanicville, Medusa, Melrose, Menands, Middleburgh, Nassau, New Baltimore, New Lebanon, New Salem, New Scotland, Newtonville, Niskayuna, North Bethlehem, Northumberland, Oakdale, Old Chatham, Palenville, Petersburg, Philmont, Pittstown, Poestenkill, Quackenkill, Ravena, Red Mills, Rensselaer, Rensselaerville, Rexford, Rotterdam, Round Lake, Saratoga Springs, Schaghticoke, Schenectady, Schodack Landing, Schoharie, Schuylerville, Scotia, Selkirk, Slingerlands, Snyders Corner, South Bethlehem, South Westerlo, Speigletown, Spencertown, Stephentown, Stillwater, Stockport, Stuyvesent, Sycaway, Tamarack, Tannersville, Thompsons Lake, Tomhannock, Troy, Unionville, Ushers, Valatie, Vally Falls, Vischer Ferry, Voorheesville, Waterford, Watervliet, West Albany, Westerlo, Westmere, Wilton, Windham, Wynantskill, Wyomanock, and others.