Property Enhancements, Additions and Alterations may Compromise Wood Destroying Organisms and Other Pest Protection

The secretive behavior of termites and other wood destroy- ing organisms make them difficult to detect, even under the best of circumstances.

A home represents the single largest investment that most people make in their lifetimes and investing in termite and other wood destroying organism protection is one of the most important decisions you can make for your property. Arrow and its Family of Companies work to control infestations and protect your property from future infestations. We cannot be successful in protecting your property without the ability to periodically inspect your home for potential infestations.

The following information is provided to educate you on how changes to your home following a termite and other wood destroying organism treatment can impact the effectiveness of the wood destroying organism treatment, impair your pest management professional’s ability to detect a termite or wood destroying organism reinfestation early, negatively impact your termite or wood destroying organism warranty coverage and result in potentially costly damages and repair in the future.

Even well intentioned changes designed to improve the appearance, energy efficiency, or resale value of your home can impact your termite and other wood destroying organisms protection and warranty.

Before making alterations to the exterior perimeter or substructure of your home, consult with your Arrow pest management professional.  The vast majority of the structural timbers in most structures are concealed by walls, ceilings and floors. Basement and crawlspace construction provide the last remaining glimpses into the locations in closest proximity to where termites and other wood destroying organisms originate.

Arrow service professionals carefully inspect the substructure of your home including foundation walls, sill plates, band boards and joists for signs of termites and other wood destroying organisms and their damage. Covering these inspection locations can seriously impede our ability to see the areas most prone to attack by termites and other wood destroying organisms and in many cases could void your termite coverage due to contractual language in our agreement.

Some examples include:

UPGRADES TO THE STRUCTURE:

Upgrades and improvements to the structure are beneficial  but may have unforeseen impacts on your termite protection. Before making upgrades to your home, contact your Arrow Pest Management Professional to schedule an appointment to discuss how alterations could affect your current pest protection agreement.

• Enclosing or Sealing a Crawlspace or Attic - Traditionally, crawlspace areas beneath structures have been protected from moisture and associated problems (fungus, mold, etc.) by the installation of foundation vents and vapor barriers on top of the soil. In recent years, some building professionals have begun to recommend that crawlspace areas be completely sealed off from exterior air by sealing the space, installing drainage systems and conditioning the air with a dehumidifier or other means.
• Applying Spray Foam Insulation - Installing spray foam insulation in crawlspaces, basements, and attics can help improve the energy efficiency of the home by eliminating drafts and insulating the building, but when spray foam is applied over structural timbers, inspectors are unable to detect termites and other wood destroying organisms. To make matters worse, termites can easily tunnel through insulation which can provide a bridge over treated areas from the soil to the structure.

ADDITIONS AND ALTERATIONS TO THE STRUCTURE:

Additions and alterations to a property can interfere with the effectiveness of a treatment and protection from termite infestation. Before making additions or alterations to your existing structure, consult with your Arrow Pest Management Professional to schedule necessary treatments, retreatments or alterations to your termite protection.

• Building An Addition To The Existing Structure - When planning an addition or alteration that impacts existing foundation walls, the erection of new foundation walls, or changes to patios or slabs adjacent to the building, alert us before works begins. Alterations to the soil adjacent to existing foundations can impact the effectiveness of treatments. Soil or wood that was treated during preconstruction, or bait treatments provide the greatest level of protection with the least amount of disturbance to the structure.
• Altering Landscaping or Grading Adjacent to The Structure - Adding or removing shrubs, installing hardscape elements or adding mulch can interfere with the existing treatments and leave a structure unprotected. Whenever treated soil is moved or removed, the backfilled soil should be retreated to maintain protection. Even something as common as adding wood or pine straw mulch, especially if it covers treated soil, or is piled above exterior siding can be detrimental because it provides an untreated “bridge” for termites and other wood destroying organisms to circumvent treated areas. If extensive landscape projects are undertaken, inform your Arrow Pest Management Professional Management Professional who can help determine if additional treatment is necessary.
• Installing A French Drain System - Directing water away from underneath and around a building generally helps to reduce the likelihood of pest infestation. However, as with any alteration that requires excavation of treated soil adjacent to a building’s foundation, the area may need to be treated when installation is complete. To be sure, contact us to determine the best course of action.

THE BOTTOM LINE:

The secretive behavior of termites and other wood destroy- ing organisms make them difficult to detect, even under the best of circumstances. Before undertaking any changes to your home that may cover up portions of the structure that were previously visible for inspection, alert us to ensure that your warranty protection isn’t impacted. Additionally, whenever the footprint of your home changes, contact us to devise a plan to protect the structure before work begins.