Termite inspection guide
WDO / Termite Inspections & Structural Damage Analysis
A WDO inspection and a termite inspection are the same thing. WDO stands for wood-destroying organism, which covers termites, wood-boring beetles and fungus like dry rot. Here's what our inspection covers, how we treat what we find, and what goes in your report.
What we look for
The inspection is visual. We look over the accessible wood inside and outside your home for signs of these:
Drywood termites
They live inside dry wood like fascia, eaves, rafter tails and window trim. You’ll usually spot them by their discarded wings and small six-sided pellets.
Subterranean termites
They nest in the soil and come up through slab cracks and plumbing gaps, building mud tubes along the foundation as they go.
Dry rot and fungus
Fungus that weakens wood where water collects, from poor drainage, roof leaks or coastal moisture. It’s common in Oceanside and coastal North County.
Wood-boring beetles and carpenter ants
They tunnel into wood to nest. We see them more on rural and foothill properties.
If you call about something specific, we’ll usually do a limited inspection of that area. Home sales need a full inspection with a complete report.
How the inspection works
- 01
Foundation and outside walls
We walk the outside of the house and check the foundation, stem walls and expansion joints for mud tubes and places where soil touches wood.
- 02
Exterior wood
We check fascia, rafter tails, trim and patio covers for pellets, exit holes and damage.
- 03
Attic and crawlspace
On a full inspection, we go into accessible attics and crawlspaces to check framing for termites, wings and damage.
- 04
Inside the house
We look at baseboards, under sinks and around plumbing. If we see a water stain, we note it in the report. We don’t use moisture meters or scanners.
How we treat termites
What we recommend depends on the type of termite and how far the infestation has spread. Options range from fumigation (tenting) to heat treatment to localized borate treatment.
One company for treatment and repairs
Plenty of companies treat the termites and leave you to find a carpenter. Our own crew repairs the damaged wood, so one company handles the whole job.
Local since 2012
We’re a family-owned company working in Riverside County and North San Diego County, from the Temecula heat to the coastal fog in Oceanside.
What’s in your report
After the inspection, you get a report that includes:
Identification
What we found: the termite species, or another wood-destroying organism like fungus or dry rot.
Structural diagram
A diagram showing where we found it.
Recommendations
What we recommend to correct it, whether that’s treatment, repairs or both.
Itemized estimate
The cost of each recommendation.
Preventative recommendations aren’t part of a standard report, since they aren’t findings. We can include them if you ask. Estimates cover what we can see. If more damage turns up once the wood is opened, state rules require us to issue a supplemental report with the added cost.
Schedule a Termite Inspection
Same-day and next-day visits are available in Temecula, Fallbrook, Oceanside and the cities around them.