How to Evaluate and Prevent Structural Damage from Insects and Rot, fungus, Termites, Carpenter Ants, Powder Post Beetles, and Leaks or Water Entry in Buildings InspectAPedia® -
How to spot & prevent termite damage on buildings
Building flood damage control articles
Building mold damage prevention articles
Building humidity control articles
Ice dam leak prevention and damage from ice
Mobile home inspection guidelines
Mold contamination or damage cleanup or prevention
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This article lists articles that discuss the inspection, detection, prevention, and repair of
structural damage from insects (termites, carpenter ants, carpenter bees, powder post beetles, and other wood destroying insects), indoor mold, rot and building leaks or water entry.
These include house damaging mold or fungus, termites, carpenter ants, powder post beetles, & other wood destroying organisms in and on buildings.
We are also concerned with choosing mold and insect damage repair and prevention methods which avoid unnecessary application of
chemicals or other environmental impacts. Preventing these problems by good design and by building maintenance is preferred to simple chemical
applications around a property. When use of pesticides is required, there are some important choices.
Floods in Buildings & interior water damage cleanup, prevention, testing quick steps to prevent mold contamination
Home Inspectors Directory accessible via Internet - a home inspection can point out maintenance details that are key in avoiding leaks, rot, mold, insect damage
"House Eating Fungus"Meruliporia incrassata (also called "Poria" the house eating fungus) in the U.S. or
Serpula lacrymans in Europe) can cause severe structural damage. Evidence of hidden "poria" may be found by expert inspection methods which include tracing sources and paths of probable Building
leaks and moisture traps. Further, careful indoor particle sampling methods can often permit the presence of this mold to be identified in the laboratory.
Humidity: How Low Should You Keep Indoor Humidity to Avoid a Mold Problem
Mold Resistant Drywall is mold-resistant or "mold proof" SheetrockR from US Gypsum or Georgia Pacific worth it?
Mold Prevention: Avoiding Mold Problems in Buildings by Using Mold-resistant Construction Products & Practices
Mold Information Center: What to Do About Mold, mold action plan, valid and invalid test methods, mold remediation
Pesticides Contaminate House [PDF] - news article about improperly applied pesticide chemicals and building contamination
Sick House/Sick Building Information Website
Organized, un-biased, in-depth advice about mold, allergens, and other indoor contaminants: finding, testing, cleaning, clearance testing, and
preventing mold, mildew, wood destroying (rot) molds (fungi). Explains how to assure that testing for toxic or
allergenic molds is performed using valid field and lab methods. Advice and test procedures are provided for
odors and odor source detection, toxic gas testing and gas source identification.
TERMITE SHIELDS vs TERMITICIDE - Use of Termiticide (termite poison) vs. Termite Shields on Styrofoam™ board insulated buildings
Termite Damage in Buildings: causes, detection, prevention for hard-to-inspect properties - [in process], this article explains how visual clues both outside and inside a building can predict the most-likely points
of insect attack (or leaks, water entry, mold, rot). That tells the inspector or home owner where to look first for trouble as well as how to avoid
structural damage from insects, rot, mold, or water.
Termite Damage Case Study#1 - exterior clues predicted insect damage; interior access was limited but certain clear clues led right to the damage
as well as an attempted cover-up of termite damage below a "repaired" wooden floor. The real evidence was in the driveway. [in process]
Termite Damage Case Study#2 - very limited visual access inside a building made this inspection for structural damage tough. Outside
conditions suggested a risk of water entry and insect attack. Inside the house had mysteriously sloping floors - sloping in every direction.
There were few indications of ongoing building movement to explain the sloping. Perseverance led to finding severe termite damage at the
building sills. [in process]
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Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair
Our recommended books about building design, inspection, and repair, and about indoor environment testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore.
More Information on Building Diagnostic Inspections and Repairs
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InspectAPedia® Home & Site Map - Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, Repair, & Problem Prevention Advice: In-depth research & advice on diagnosing, testing, correcting, & preventing building defects & indoor environmental hazards. Unbiased information, no conflicts of interest.
The Mold Information Center: What to Do About Mold in Buildings, When and How to Inspect for Mold, Clean Up Mold, or Avoid Mold Problems
Environmental Inspection, Testing, & Diagnosis On-Site IAQ, Gas, Air Testing, Mold Investigation, Sick Building Diagnosis, Lab Services, & Remediation Plan Preparation - indoor air quality testing, problem source determination, supporting lab work, written remediation plan addressing removal of environmental and other hazards and prevention of their recurrence.
InspectAPedia ® Home & Site Map 
InspectAPedia® Home & Site Map - Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, Repair, & Problem Prevention Advice: In-depth research & advice on diagnosing, testing, correcting, & preventing building defects & indoor environmental hazards. Unbiased information, no conflicts of interest. 
