By Barry Stone
Dear Barry,
Before selling my home, I hired a termite inspector, as advised by my agent. No termites were found, but the inspector did discover some dryrot on the eaves. His estimated cost for repairs seemed high, so I hired a carpenter at about half the price. That seemed to be the end of the matter until a home inspector found that not all the rotted wood had been removed. Now I've got to pay to have the work redone. Isn't there any way to beat the high price for these kinds of repairs? -- Gail
Dear Gail,
People often complain about repair estimates quoted by termite companies, and in some cases such protests may be justified. What people seldom realize, however, is that Licensed Pest Control Operators (the grand euphemistic title for termite inspectors) offer a level of knowledge and expertise not possessed by carpenters and general contractors, as it relates to the causes, effects, and subtle characteristics of wood-destroying organisms. Because the intricacies of this specialized field are not commonly understood, unqualified craftsmen are routinely engaged to correct dryrot problems, and frequently, the outcome of such employment is disappointing.
The condition commonly known as dryrot is actually the damage caused by fungus infection (the athlete's foot of wood), wherein the fibrous structural of wood is digested by insidious colonies of micro-organisms. Mere replacement of visibly damaged boards may not constitute adequate repair. The slightest infection on adjacent wood members will inevitably spread, infecting attached portions of the structure. If residual infection, left behind by a well-intentioned carpenter, is concealed within hidden recesses of the eaves, ongoing destruction of the wood might not become apparent for many years. By that time, damages could be extensive, and repairs quite costly.
To ensure against continued infestation, all repairs, if not performed by the pest control company, should at least be reviewed and approved by them to ensure that all infested wood components have either been removed or chemically treated.
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