|
|
Termite Infestation: Another Bane of EIFS
Few termite inspection companies in Florida will guarantee a home with EIFS to grade. More and more homes have had the EIFS cut off 8 inches above grade. If you own a home with EIFS to grade it is crucial to have a termite inspection and bond while they are still offered. While homes built since 1996 should not have the EIFS in contact with the ground, countless structures in Florida are being built even today, with EIFS in contact with the ground. For additional information, results of a study conducted by Clemson University are available. And, information on the Georgia Department of Agriculture Web site discusses the problems of stucco with regard termites. If you think you do have a synthetic stucco problem, we can help determine if you have legal recourse to help pay for the damage to your home. Contact us for more information. © 2008 Fonvielle Lewis Foote & Messer |
Inspectors
have learned that while the termites have no appetite for the foam
board portion of the EIFS system, they will use the board as a conduit
to travel from the ground to the water-soaked wood hidden in the
walls of the home. Termite inspectors are normally able to walk around
the perimeter of a foundation and check for infestation by looking
for termite tunnels. These tunnels, usually made of mud, allow the
insects to bridge their way from the soil to the home. When EIFS
is installed to grade level, no tunnels can be seen - but they exist.
The termites bore directly into the foam board. As one inspector
in North Florida noted, "It's a great environment for these bugs.
Its dark in the foam. It stays a constant temperature and no one
bothers the termites as they go back down to the ground to get water
- until they get to the water in the walls - and then it's too late."