I got a call the other day to replace some trimboards that had rotted at the bottoms. When I took them off, I noticed termite trails and some moderate, but localized damage to the plywood sheathing, and one of the corner studs behind the trim.
I opened up the wall for about 5 feet up and cut out the worst of the stud down at the bottom. The termite trails kept going up the wall, but seemed to be only superficially damaging the stud surface on the outside. I chopped the 4 foot peice of stud i took out up on the miter saw, and it looked fine on the inside after the first 12 inches up, but their was surface damage continueing up the wall.
I also noticed that they had blue styrofoam as insulation sheathing and I had read somewhere along time ago that this was termite bait. The foam did have a bunch of holes in it down at the bottom where I was working.
My question is, if you see mud trails continuing to go up behind the siding, should you start ripping siding off till you see the end of them, like exporitory surgery, or assume the the damage will continue to be superficial on up the wall, and go ahead and close up the bottom.
The pest controll company has been called to re-treat the house.
Replies
should you start ripping siding off till you see the end of them
No, not without first having the HO see the problem. I would stop work and advise them what I found, and advise them to have a terminator look at the problem before any more work was done. If you proceed at your own volition, who's going to pay to put it back togrether? And how far do you go?
I'm sorry, I thought you wanted it done the right way.
"... if you see mud trails continuing to go up behind the siding, should you start ripping siding off till you see the end of them, like exporitory surgery, or assume the the damage will continue to be superficial on up the wall, and go ahead and close up the bottom."
I've only dealt with termite damage once. But based on that experience, I think you have to at least go to the end of the trails. (Edit: subject to Ed's excellent point above...consult with the homeowner).
You are likely to get a more authoritative answer in a bit.
Rich Beckman
Another day, another tool.
Edited 6/21/2005 10:19 am ET by Rich Beckman