Notification Requirements Florida Building Code requires pest management professionals who offer preventative treatment for subterranean termites for new construction to provide the following: Notification of Treatment — to be posted in duplicate on a job board at the site after each required treatment.
Full Answer
When is a termite or pest inspection required?
No matter where the home is located, “an inspection is always required if the appraisal report indicates evidence of wood-destroying insect damage or an active insect infestation”. What follows is a list of termite and pest inspection requirements by state.
What are the signs of termites in a house?
Evidence of termite damage includes buckling floors, dry rot in wood floor joists, and wood rot found in door and window frames where water damage exists. Since termites are attracted by moisture, termite infestations can be found where mold or mildew areas exist. What Happens if a Home Inspector Finds Termites in a Home?
What tools are used during a termite inspection?
This part of the inspection requires a few special tools and pieces of equipment. There are a few pieces of equipment that are used during a termite inspection. Thermal Imaging Cameras — Helps detect temperature changes, even behind walls, under floors, etc.
How do you treat termite infestations?
The most common technique for treating termite infestations is the soil-applied barrier treatment. Termiticides used for barrier treatments must be specifically labeled for that use.
How much does a termite letter cost in Georgia?
A termite inspection costs $75 to $150 on average, while a termite clearance letter or inspection report costs $100 to $200.
What does clear termite letter mean?
Letters of Clearance / Wood Destroying Insect and Organisms Report: Any statements as to the condition of a building pertaining to termites, or other wood destroying insects or decay fungi (Rot), other than a bid or proposal for treatment shall be considered a Letter of Clearance.
What is a termite letter in Georgia?
Incomplete or inaccurate Official Georgia Wood Infestation Inspection Reports (also known as a “termite letter” when purchasing a home) Structural pesticide applications that are thought to be harmful to the health of people or the environment such as pesticides being applied in a school while children are present.
Are termite inspections required in GA?
In Georgia there are no laws requiring a termite inspection be done in order for someone to purchase or sell a home. However, if a lender is involved, they might require a termite clearance letter.
How long is a termite treatment good for?
about 5 yearsOn average, termite treatment lasts about 5 years. Liquid termite treatment can last five years or more, whereas termite bait stations only last one year and need to be maintained annually.
What does a termite letter mean?
What Is a Termite Letter? A termite letter can also be called a wood infestation inspection report or wood destroying organisms report. This letter reports on the status of termites in, under, and around the house.
Who pays termite inspection in Georgia?
As the seller, you should expect to pay for the termite inspection cost and Section 1 termite treatment.
Is termite bond required in Georgia?
While they are typically required by the lender, technically here in Georgia, a Termite Bond is not required to sell a property. It is smart however for buyers to obtain a new or assume an existing bond.
How much is a termite bond in Georgia?
The price of a Termite Bond may runs between $500 and $2000 dollars which is a one time cost. Usually an inspection is done once a year with most companies charging an extra fee for this service. Some contracts have extra fees if extra services are needed.
Are termites an issue in Georgia?
Unfortunately, Georgia is a hotbed for termite infestations. The southeast is one of the most active areas in the country, especially for subterranean termites. Warm weather and moist soil contribute to active termite swarms throughout the year, especially in Spring and Summer.
What is a termite bond in Georgia?
A Georgia termite bond guarantees that the homeowner protected by it will receive certain services, such as: A given number of inspections and, if necessary, treatments during the time that the bond is in force. Retreatments if there is a reinfestation.
Are termites common in homes?
Are termites common? Unfortunately, yes. These opportunistic termites are all over the United States, in every state except Alaska. Across the nations, they do about $5 billion worth of damage to homes and other buildings each year.
What are the signs of termites?
Visible termite nests and “mud tubes,” or small tubular structures that connect termite nests to their favorite food source. Signs of hollowness in walls, baseboards, and framing.
How to keep a termite free home?
Termite inspections are vital to keeping your home termite-free long-term. Let’s look at each step of the inspection process so you’ll know what to expect. 1. Check for Signs of Termite Infestation. After you schedule an inspection, termite inspectors from pest control services will look around and inside the property.
How much does a closing inspection cost?
Real estate closing inspections cost $65 to $100. That cost includes a Wood Destroying Insect Report. The average termite inspection, if not offered free as a promotion, costs around $65-$100, depending on the area you live in and the size of your home.
How much does termite treatment cost?
Here are some cost averages for different types of termite treatments: Localized treatments: $120 to $150.
Where do termites live?
Extremely common in the U.S. and responsible for most termite damage. These termites live underground in the soil. They are known for building some of the largest nests among insects. The nests are linked to nearby food sources with mud tubes.
Do drywood termites live in wood?
Drywood termites have smaller colonies than subterranean termites. Still, they can cause lots of damage. These termites live in wood instead of soil. The damage they cause takes longer to happen and may not be apparent right away without a professional inspection.
Do termites sleep?
They don’t sleep. They continuously eat wood and build their massive colonies, inflicting over 5 billion dollars of property damage annually in the United States alone. Termite inspections are an essential part of selling a home.
Florida Building Code and Termite Protection
The Florida Building Code contains a number of provisions that are designed to increase the effectiveness of preventative treatments for termites and decrease construction practices that make structures susceptible to termite infestation.
Notification Requirements
Florida Building Code requires pest management professionals who offer preventative treatment for subterranean termites for new construction to provide the following:
How to tell if wood has termites?
Wood with sustained termite damage might look "crushed" at structural joints. If you tap the damaged wood with the end of the screwdriver or knife, you will hear a dull thud. Wood suspected of termite damage can be further inspected by probing the surface with the screwdriver or pocket knife to expose tunnels.
What to use to light up termite infestation?
You may want to purchase and wear a pair of disposable coveralls and a pair of gloves. A bright flashlight will come in handy to light up dim or dark areas and a flat headed screwdriver will allow you to probe wood to find weakness that is indicative of termite infestations.
What do termites excavate?
Subterranean termites excavate tunnels that run parallel to the grain. Piles of wings. Before swarmers enter the next stage of development, they will shed their wings which are often left in scattered piles near windows or light sources. Buckling or bubbling paint or brittle drywall.
What do termites build in the soil?
Mud tubes. Subterranean termites will often make their nest in the soil (moisture source) and then build highways called "mud tubes" that run vertically or otherwise to connect the nest to a wooden food source.
Where can termites be found?
Keep in mind that termites are typically found at or near ground level. Wooden elements of construction in basements and crawl spaces. Window sills and frames (particularly in the basement), support posts, sub floors, supporting piers, joists, and wooden decks or porches.
Can drywood be termite?
Wood piles and debris near the foundation including tree stumps, exterior basement window and door frames, and fence posts. If you still suspect you have termites and the inspection guide above did not lead you to a termite infestation, it is quite possible you have drywood termites.
What is termite inspection?
Termite Inspection – a termite inspection is a slang term for a Wood Destroying Organism (WDO) inspection ( also referred to as a CL-100 report in some areas). Termite inspectors look at various wood destroying organisms in the home, including termites and fungi. Termite inspectors will inspect from the ground to the first floor.
How long does a termite inspection last?
A termite inspection will typically last 45 minutes to an hour. A licensed termite professional will inspect and probe accessible wood framing areas of the home during a termite inspection, such as inside crawl spaces, basements, and attics, for evidence of termite damage. Evidence of termite damage includes buckling floors, ...
What is a licensed pest control contractor?
If a home inspector identifies termite or other wood-destroying organism activity, it will be referred to as a licensed pest control contractor for treatment. Depending on the amount of structural damage present, a referral will also be made to a licensed building contractor for repair.
How do you know if a termite is in your house?
Some of the signs of termite activity you may see include: Mud tubes along foundation walls. Mud tubes act as a highway of sorts for termites to travel throughout your home. Discarded wings. Termites will drop their wings once a new colony is established. Termite waste.
Where can termites be found?
Termite damage can typically be found in the wood floor structures located inside crawl spaces or along the interior side of a concrete slab foundation's exterior walls. Crawl spaces are notorious for moisture problems due to numerous conditions like poor control ...
Can you buy a house with termites?
It’s not a matter of if but when termite activity occurs. Just because termites are found in a home you are looking to buy doesn’t mean you can’t buy the house . Most often, termite colonies can be treated by a termite professional and the damage repaired.
Can a home inspector inspect for termites?
No. While most home inspectors are qualified to inspect and identify termite activity, the two inspections are distinctly different and serve different purposes. Also, in every state, the licensing for home inspectors and termite inspectors is different. Termite inspectors are issued a specific license due to the use of controlled chemicals, ...
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