When residential property
in Hawaii and most of the U.S. is sold it is customary to have a
TERMITE INSPECTION REPORT done. It is not required by law but most
lending institutions want to know about the property they are lending
on as do the buyers of the property. The laws pertaining to termite
inspections vary from state to state. It Hawaii the law is HRS 460-J
section 19. The results of the inspection must be reported on a
form developed and approved by the State referred to as a PC-9.
The inspector is looking for and must report on eight items.
- General description of the building
or premises inspected. (house,
condominium, etc.)
- Were any areas of the building
or premises obstructed, enclosed, or otherwise concealed from
inspection? (There are always
some areas that can not be inspected such as between the walls,
under the carpets, etc.)
- Describe the areas of the building
or premises which were not inspected due to obstruction, enclosure
or inaccessibility, and the location of each such area, together
with the reason(s) that each such area was not inspected.
(Inaccessible areas should be listed.)
- Was visible evidence of active
(i.e. live) termite infestation observed?
(Drywood or ground) (The inspector is looking for evidence of
live termites. However, he does not need to find live termites
to come to the conclusion there is an active infestation.)
- Was visible evidence of inactive
termite infestation observed? (Are
there signs the house was infested in the past?)
- Was visible damage due to termites
observed? (Damage is noted but
only a contractor or architect can determine if the damage is
a structural problem.)
- Is further treatment for control
of drywood and/or subterranean termites recommended? State general
type of treatment recommended. (The inspector makes recommendations
as to what type of treatment; tent fumigation, ground termite
treatment, etc.)
- State whether any existing conditions
of the premises contain the potential for future termite infestation.
(Are there situations that could lead to future infestation of
termites, such as leaking plumbing, soil-to-wood contact, construction
defects?)
All the termites in Hawaii, as with most of the insects we commonly
see, have been introduced since the arrival of Captain Cook. The
most common termite is the West Indian Drywood Termite, Cryptotermes
brevis. It is spread throughout the tropical areas of the world.
This termite swarms in the Spring and once a male and female have
paired off they will nest in any wood they can find including furniture,
doors, cabinets, the framing of the house and books. They are attracted
to light and are frequently found in window frames or wood close
to exterior lights. They feed on the wood and excavate a network
of galleries where they live and raise their offspring. This termite
is most easily recognized by the fecal pellets they push out of
the gallery. There are several other species of drywood termites
in Hawaii but they are not usually found in homes. The only truly
effective way to control these termites is with a tent fumigation.
The fumigant is able to penetrate inside the walls and kill the
termites where they live. Fumigation is not practical in condominiums
so they are ‘spot-treated’ by injecting liquid insecticide
into the termite galleries.
The termite of most concern the Formosan subterranean
termite, Coptotermes formosanus. It was probably introduced from
South East Asia about 150 years ago. It has become established throughout
Oahu and parts of the neighbor islands. It usually nests underground
and will forage over about an acre looking for food. The nest can
have several million termites in a colony and they will consume
about two pounds of wood a day. It enters homes through cracks in
the slab, around the plumbing, areas of soil-to-wood contact such
as fence posts, and hollow tile walls.
THE TERMITE INSPECTION PROCESS
The law calls for a visual inspection of the structure
and the inspector will tap on the wood throughout the house listening
for hollow spots. He is looking for droppings from the drywood termites
and the damage caused by ground termites. The inspection should
include every accessible area of the house including the crawlspace
under the house and the attic. The exterior and all interior areas
will be inspected. Cabinets and closets will be opened and inspected.
WHAT IT DOESN’T COVER
This inspection is only for termites. It does not cover
other wood damaging insects or rot. It does not cover areas that
are not accessible such as behind the kitchen appliances and cabinets,
under the floor coverings, inside the walls and floors and rooms
or closets that are locked or inaccessible. Areas that are not accessible
are noted on the report. The report should list as many areas of
infestation and damage as possible but it may not detail the extent
of the infestation/damage and whether it is structural. The report
does not recommend repair. The report is considered reliable for
fifteen days. This is due the activity of termites and their surreptitious
nature.
WHAT THE SELLER SHOULD EXPECT
The seller should be prepared to have as much as the house
accessible as possible and to allow the inspector access to the
attic, all rooms in the house and should also provide any history
of termite treatment.
WHAT THE BUYER SHOULD EXPECT
The Buyer should expect a written
report noting areas of active infestation, areas of previous termite
infestation, areas with termite damage, conditions conducive to
future infestation and recommendations for treatment if there is
active infestation. There will be a diagram noting the approximate
placement of infestation and damage. Conditions conducive to future
infestation will also be noted.
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