When you have a home inspected, the home inspector will carefully look at the structure of your home for signs of damage, which may include water damage, rot, or termites.
Threshold rot often occurs after years of water seeping into wooden members. Wood rot on sills next to steps and flagstones is very common. Unfortunately, this is because builders often leave out the metal flashing on the sill/wall/siding surface before pouring the steps or slab.
In many cases, it is impossible to know if there is proper flashing where it should be. Sometimes material such as “Ice and Water Shield” can be used. If you have an older house, it is possible that asphalt paper was used, since many years ago it was allowed. However, paper can deteriorate quickly, exposing thresholds to water. Your inspector can look under the siding with a mirror to see if there is any evidence of flashing.
Water stains and rot are often visible in the basement in the windowsill areas next to steps and flagstones. Unfortunately there is no way to tell how bad the rot damage really is unless the steps or flagstones are removed. That is why an inspector must look very carefully at these areas and do everything possible to assess the situation.
Another cause of weakened thresholds is termites. They often enter wood sill areas in a home on exterior steps and concrete slabs. Termite damage can cause structural failure and require expensive repairs.
Termites can get into a house through gaps in steps and flagstones. This is because the steps and slabs are installed after the main base is poured and the gap is filled. This leaves enough room for termites to enter. In fact, a step or a slab is similar to a pile of dirt that is in contact with your house. Such a pile of dirt creates an avenue where termites can sneak into a house and start eating away at the wooden members.
A sure sign of termite damage is when you see a compressed wood member, like the sill attached to the foundation. If the sill has weight on it, it will squash like a wet sponge. That’s because the termites have eaten the inside of the wood. That leaves gaps and gaps that can collapse the sill to the consistency of cardboard.
Termites are like little construction engineers. They would rather sneak into your house than build a termite tunnel into the side of the foundation. Therefore, an inspector must be very careful when looking for termites in areas such as the basement next to exterior steps and flagstones. Porches built on flagstones are also common places for termites to enter.
If your inspector doesn’t know what to look for, they may miss evidence of termite damage. If termite damage is overlooked, the new homeowner may be forced to make major repairs and bills after closing on the home.
While your home inspector should know about termites and the damage they cause, they shouldn’t be in the business of termite extermination and pest control. In other words, it would be a conflict of interest if you were to inspect the house and then get paid to get rid of termites. ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) has standards that prohibit such conflicts of interest.
If termite damage is found in your home, it is recommended that you obtain three estimates for the repair. Negotiate before a closing or prepare to absorb the costs yourself.