Wood Destroying Organisms

The acronym WDO stands for Wood Destroying Organism and is used to classify pests and fungus that actually digest and or destroy wood.  Because WDOs often present little evidence of activity, they can go unnoticed for years and can be difficult to detect.  Termites alone cost U.S. property owners over $5 billion dollars each year and affect up to 600,000 homes per year.  WDO damage can devalue a home by 25% or up to $50,000 if left untreated. Prevention costs thousands of dollars less than hazardous fumigation costs and damage repair and gives you peace of mind.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), FHA and the VA require WDO inspections and reports on a HUD-approved form for any property for which HUD provides funding or guarantees for funding through private sources.  Our WDO report is on an approved form, NPMA-33, which is the current form approved by HUD, the FHA and the VA.

The inspection and report will provide all parties with a factual report of the inspector’s observations as to the presence or absence of visible evidence of WDO, damage due to any such infestation, and recommendation(s) for treatment(s) necessary for control of any infestation(s) noted, based on a careful and professional visual inspection of the areas that were open and accessible for visual inspection within or on the structure(s) listed on the real estate contract on the day that the inspection was performed.

There are three main types of termites in the United States in addition to other wood-destroying organisms that are inspected for and reported on:

  • Subterranean Termites – The damage begins at any wood-to-soil spot. They build mud tunnels and move on into the house.
  • Drywood Termites – Damage is usually confined to one small area of dry wood, but they can infest any dry areas or climate.
  • Dampwood Termites – Typically confined to a pile of firewood, a shed floor, a fence, or deadwood with high moisture content, or humid areas.
  • Powderpost or Wood-Boring Beetles – Common in high-moisture areas like crawl spaces and floor joists, subfloors, and wood piers.
  • Carpenter Ants – They damage moisture-prone areas like windows, decks, and porches.
  • Carpenter Bees – Produce boreholes in wood that’s usually dead, which is likely on your property rather than part of the house itself.
  • Wood Decay and Dry Rot – Repeatedly wet wood can grow fungi that feed on it and damage the home’s structure considerably.

Call Inspect The Best WI today to schedule your inspection today!

CLICK HERE for a sample report