What is a WDI / WDO? And, why do I need one?
The Houston Metropolitan Area was built on a series of creeks and bayous. These wet, wooded passageways provided for commerce in the early days. Since then, progress has shrunk the woods and most of what is left is critters and insects. While we may think the worst of it is the Texas-sized mosquitoes, the worst insects are those that eat wood. Rotten trees don’t last long before being invaded and devoured. Houses are frequently invaded in the same manner. This is why a Wood Destroying Insect and Organisms (WDI & WDO) inspection can be your best course of action.
Every year billions of dollars of structural damage is done by termites. Subterranean termites work from underground colonies while drywood termites live directly inside wood. Springtime starts the swarming season for subterranean termites. You could see some flying around without your home having structural damage. But it does indicate that a colony is active somewhere nearby. They live in the ground and build mud tubes to travel between soil and wood. Inspectors look for the mud tubes at the foundation and walls.
There is a particular hybrid termite that made its way from Florida to Texas. The Formosan and Asian termites are among the most destructive subterranean, drywood, and dampwood termites. The Formosan termite is a voracious eater of wood. These pests thrive in Florida’s warm climate, causing significant structural damage year-round. Unfortunately, the Formosan termites have moved quickly across the south, including Texas.
This is the main reason Inspections of Texas partnered with Arrow Exterminators to offer WDI & O Reports to our clients. Even if it looks like ants are entering the house, our inspectors know some termites use ant tunnels to enter a home and destroy the wood.
There are other insects and organisms that attack wood such as carpenter ants, carpenter bees, wood boring beetles, and fungi. We are not professional exterminators. As detailed and thorough inspectors, we document any damage that we see and make recommendations so clients can have confidence in what they are buying.