In the early spring of this year, I inspected a home built in 2006 and found Lyctid Powerpost Beetles in the hardwood flooring installed in the kitchen and hallway.
I have been inspecting now for over eight years and have not encountered this type of beetle before. They are very rare to this area, preferring to infest hardwoods mostly from the Northeast, such as ash, oak hickory and walnut. The chance of any structural damage is very slim as most framing is done with softer wood pine.
But an infestation could affect the property resale value and can be a real cosmetic issue. As I talked to the agent and the buyer, I learned that the seller had the floor installer replace the infested flooring a few months before the inspection. But the beetles were still in the flooring and the odds are about one in a million that he would replace the flooring with wood that is infested.
Costly treatments options are available such as tenting the whole house. Alternatively, a spot treatment is not very effective. The most cost effective solution is to remove all flooring, treating the sub floor area and installing new uninfected wood.
As a home inspector, you just never know what is around the next corner.
About the Author
Dwayne is the former past President of the Washington Association of Property Inspectors, Dwayne is also a committee member for the Washington State Pest Management Association (WSPMA), Dwayne has been serving the Thurston County home inspection markets of Olympia home inspection, Lacey home inspection and Tumwater home inspection for many years. Boggs Inspection Services can be reached at 360-480-9602.
