Structural Damage and Wood-Destroying Organisms

The structural integrity of a wooden home is constantly threatened by wood-destroying organisms. Termites are the most destructive, eating the wood from the inside out, often causing massive damage before they are even detected. Carpenter ants do not eat the wood but hollow it out to build nests, also weakening the structure. Decay, or wood rot, occurs when fungi attack wood that has a high moisture content. In Florida and many other states, a "WDO Report" (Wood-Destroying Organism report) is a standard requirement for closing to certify that the home is free from these pests.