I am located in central Georgia. The home inspection report showed only two main problems. The first is water sitting in the backyard. I just need to figure out how to get the water to move in another direction, but there fortunately was no water found under the house. It was dry! The other issue was the inspector found termite tunnels that were under the house. He said they were not touching the wood anywhere, but it is something that needs to be treated right away. Will treating this take care of the situation or do I still need to worry about something that I can’t see? After “treatment” will everything be good to go?
Discussion Forum
Discussion Forum
Up Next
Video Shorts
Featured Story
The best tool for straight, splinter-free cuts is made even better without a cord.
Highlights
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Replies
You will need a termite contract and if they can treat the house its as simple as writiing a check. <G>
The water in the back yard isnt helping with the termite problem.
Whats holding the water ? Youre gonna have to be a lot more explanitive if we get that taken car of ,...
Tim
The backyard slopes towards the house. It doesnt actually reach the house, there is a low spot before it reaches the house and that is where the water is sitting. I was thinking about installing a french drain. The land in this subdivision doesnt really perk - that is why they were put on city sewage - so I am afraid that the water will not soak into the french drain well.
my son turned down a really nice house in greenville sc cause the whole back yard sloped toward the house with only a small swail to collect the water. there was water under "his" house. be careful try to look at it in a heavy rain.
standing water causes all kinds of problems like health problems
Edited 2/7/2006 9:10 pm ET by edwardh1
drop a load of sand in the low area.. 2+3=7
"drop a load of sand in the low area."
My experience is that filling in low areas just moves the low area somewhere else.
We now come to the part of the show called "If it ain't broke, you're not trying [Red Green]
My experience is that filling in low areas just moves the low area somewhere else.
Amen to that! He is better off getting rid of the water, not trying to build up the yard, because at some point the house is going to be the low spot and trying to raise it up a bit would be a bit pricey.
jt8
"Take your life in your own hands, and what happens? A terrible thing: no one to blame." -- Erica Mann Jong
I metion dropping a load of sand beause the aggregate of the sand are better suited for wet area. Althought the water will not totally go away it will wick to the side without creation an unstable mud hole. You will be able to walk on it without sinking.. 2+3=7
"explainative"... an excellent new word. You may be in Webster's next year.
"explainative"... an excellent new word. You may be in Webster's next year.
It worked . <G>
Tim
>>The other issue was the inspector found termite tunnels that were under the house. He said they were not touching the wood anywhere, but it is something that needs to be treated right away.
Doesn't matter if he can see them touching wood: they form tunnels to keep from dehydrading when they need to travel in an exposed area, so they might have been bypassing an obstruction in block(?) foundation, but made it to the wood in an unviewable location.
Or, if they haven't made it yet, they could later on.
It needs treatment if there is no history of prior treatment AND a continuing treatment warrantty.
Dealing with surface water is a hihgly local situation: one size does not fit all.
I imagine a dry well, if that's the right term, might help. That's what we've got. Just an empty well in the back yard with a grate - the water goes into it as the backyard fills up.
You should be able to get a termite company to do a 2nd inspection, if your realtor wrote up the p&s correctly. That would be well worth it.
Keep in mind that even the best inspector is gonna miss several things. He/She is only there for a few hours to a day at most.
Re-grade the yard to drain in the direction of a neighbors house. Then host a barbecue.
Is this a house you're thinking of buying, or one that you currently own? If you were thinking of buying it, I would make termite treatment part of the purchase deal. If it is a house you already own, then the termite treatment is going to come out of your pocket.
I just had my project house treated. The price (ain't cheap) included yearly inspections and a 5 year warrenty. From a home owner point of view, once the buggers are treated you can stop worrying... but don't forget to have it inspected at least once a year.
And get rid of the water. If it sits there long enough, it will find its way under your house. damp, underhouse environments make mold and termite havens.
jt8
"Take your life in your own hands, and what happens? A terrible thing: no one to blame." -- Erica Mann Jong
Is the water coming from you property only? Are neighbors draining their water into your lot?
Can you get rid of the water by installing drainpipes to a stormsewer (if available) Digging a drywell is ok but that will also fill up if it rains enough and then what?
Grading back to the house is a no no in the first place. Housefootings set too low?
Do you have perimeter drainpipes? If so can you drain into them? Maybe a combination of drywell and sumppump.
You have got some good advice above and some not so good.
Regrade the yard and get a termite treatment with a warranty.
RE dry wells, yea, the only time they fill up and are non-functional is when you need them the most. Another said drain the yard into you foundation perimeter drain - very bad idea.
they are doing a liquid treatment tomorrow . 7 year contract. they check once a year. thanks for all your advice. you can always count on people breaktime for good replys
Look at this for your drainage issues: http://landscaping.about.com/cs/lazylandscaping/ht/French_drains.htm
Dave