🧰 What You'll Need
FlashlightThin screwdriverNotebook for documentation
📋 Steps
1
Inspect the exterior foundation
Walk the entire exterior looking for: mud tubes (pencil-width, connecting soil to wood); wood-to-soil contact (wood siding, wood trim touching soil); moisture issues at foundation. Check every 18 inches of foundation perimeter.
2
Inspect the interior foundation and crawl space
From inside: check exposed foundation walls, wooden sill plates, and any wood framing at the bottom of walls. Crawl spaces: inspect all wood framing, especially any that appears discolored, soft, or has mud in the grain.
3
Check all exterior wood elements
Window frames, door frames, deck posts, wood fencing, garden beds adjacent to structure, mulch against the house, and any wood in ground contact. Probe any suspicious wood with a screwdriver — termite-damaged wood is hollow and the screwdriver penetrates easily.
4
Inspect the garage
Termites frequently enter through garage slabs. Check door frames, any wood in contact with the concrete floor, and the sill plate where the garage meets the house.
5
Look for swarmers and dropped wings
Spring termite swarmers leave wings behind at windows and doors. Finding small, equal-sized wings clustered near windows is a strong indication of termite colony nearby. Photograph and save a sample.
6
Document everything with photos
Photograph any suspicious areas, mud tubes, wood damage, or moisture. Date your documentation. This creates a baseline for future inspections and is valuable for professional inspectors and insurance purposes.
💡 Pro Tips
- The best time for a termite inspection is in spring (March-May) when colonies are most active and swarmers are visible
- An annual DIY inspection doesn't replace a professional WDO inspection — professionals have moisture meters and probing tools that find hidden damage
- If you find mud tubes: don't break them to check if they're active — photograph them first and call a professional