Termite & WDO

Termite and wood-destroying organism inspections

The report most lenders want, coordinated with your home inspection so it is one appointment instead of two.

What it covers

More than termites.

A wood-destroying organism inspection looks for evidence of anything that consumes or rots structural wood: subterranean termites, powderpost beetles, old house borers, carpenter ants, and wood-decay fungus. It documents active infestation, evidence of previous infestation, visible damage, and the conditions that invite the whole category — moisture, wood in contact with soil, and cellulose debris under the structure.

Kentucky falls in Termite Infestation Probability Zone 2, rated moderate to heavy. Subterranean termites are the species that matter here; drywood termites are not established in the state and Formosan termites have not been identified in Kentucky, with the nearest known infestations in southwest Tennessee and western North Carolina.

Why it is separate

A different licence from mine.

Structural pest control in Kentucky is licensed and regulated by the Department of Agriculture under KRS Chapter 217B and 302 KAR 29:050. Performing a WDO inspection and issuing the report requires that licence, which is distinct from a home inspector licence. A home inspection can note visible conducive conditions and evidence I come across, but it is not a WDO report and no lender will accept it as one.

So I coordinate yours through Craddock, a family-owned licensed Kentucky structural pest control company in Glasgow, at $125. You get the proper report from the properly licensed party, and you make one phone call instead of two. If the lender requires it, tell me when you book and I will line it up for the same day where scheduling allows.

Signs worth knowing

What to look for between inspections

Mud tubes

Pencil-width shelter tubes running up foundation walls, piers, or joists. Subterranean termites build them to keep moisture in while they travel from soil to wood.

Discarded wings

Small piles of equal-length wings on sills, in cobwebs, or near windows after a warm spring rain. Termite wings shed easily after the swarm.

Hollow or blistered wood

Trim, baseboards, or framing that sounds hollow when tapped, or paint that looks rippled. Termites eat wood from the inside out and leave the surface intact.

Soft, damp framing

Wood-decay fungus in a crawlspace or around a leak. Rot does not need insects, and it weakens structure just the same.

Prevention

What actually reduces risk

Break wood-to-soil contact. Siding, deck posts, stair stringers, door and window frames in direct contact with the ground give termites food, moisture, shelter, and a hidden route inside all at once. This is the single most common entry point.
Move water away from the foundation. Keep gutters and downspouts discharging well clear of the structure, grade soil to fall away from the house, and repair leaking hose bibs and supply lines. Termites are drawn to moist soil.
Clear cellulose debris. Scrap lumber, form boards, cardboard and stumps left under or beside the structure are a food source. Loose cellulose debris that can be raked from beneath a structure should be removed.
Keep crawlspaces dry and ventilated. Intact ground cover, working vents and no standing water. A damp crawlspace supports both termites and wood-decay fungus.
Keep mulch and plantings off the siding. Deep mulch banked against the foundation holds moisture and hides tubes from view during an inspection.

Questions

Common questions

What does WDO stand for?

Wood-destroying organism. It covers subterranean termites, powderpost beetles, old house borers, carpenter ants, and wood-decay fungus — anything that eats or rots structural wood. A WDO inspection looks for evidence of all of them, not just termites.

Is a termite inspection part of a home inspection?

No. A home inspection notes visible conditions conducive to wood-destroying organisms, but a WDO report is a separate regulated inspection performed by a licensed structural pest control operator. In Kentucky that licensing sits with the Department of Agriculture under KRS Chapter 217B and 302 KAR 29:050.

Do I need one?

Most lenders require a WDO report on VA loans, and many require one on FHA and conventional loans in areas with significant termite pressure. Kentucky sits in Termite Infestation Probability Zone 2, rated moderate to heavy, so it comes up often here. Your lender or agent will tell you whether yours requires it.

What does it cost and who performs it?

$125, coordinated through Craddock, a licensed Kentucky structural pest control company based in Glasgow. I schedule it alongside your inspection so it is one appointment to arrange rather than two.

When do termites swarm in Kentucky?

Eastern subterranean termites, the species responsible for most damage in Kentucky, swarm in daylight from roughly February through May. Dark southeastern subterraneans swarm March through June, and light southeastern subterraneans later, around August through October. Swarms often follow a warm day after rain, and can occur in winter inside heated buildings.

I found winged insects indoors. Termites or ants?

Termites have straight antennae, a broad waist, and four wings of equal size. Ants have elbowed antennae, a pinched waist, and front wings noticeably longer than the hind pair. Termite wings break off easily, so a pile of discarded wings on a sill is a strong sign. Keep a few specimens — identification is much easier with an intact insect.

Does a swarm mean my house is being eaten?

It means a colony is nearby and mature enough to reproduce, which warrants a proper inspection. The swarm is the alarm rather than the damage itself. Subterranean colonies can be enormous and may be centred in a neighbour's yard rather than under your house.

Need a WDO report with your inspection?

Tell me when you book and I will schedule it alongside — $125 through Craddock Pest Control.

Book your inspection

Sources. University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Department of Entomology — EntFact-604 Termite Control: Answers for Homeowners, EntFact-605 Protecting Your Home Against Termites, EntFact-639 Termite Baits: A Guide for Homeowners; Kentucky Department of Agriculture structural pest control regulation, KRS Chapter 217B and 302 KAR 29:050.