Where Do Termite Inspectors Look? Inside, Outside and Up in the Attic

Termite inspectors look wherever wood, moisture and soil come together: along the foundation and slab edge, in the garage, around plumbing in kitchens and bathrooms, at windows, doors and baseboards, up in the attic and in the yard around trees, fences and mulch beds. At each spot they look for live termites, mud tubes, droppings, wings and damaged wood.

Knowing the route helps you get more out of the visit. If you clear the right areas beforehand and understand what the inspector can and cannot see, you end up with a more complete answer about your home. This guide follows a typical South Florida termite inspection from the street to the attic.

What a Termite Inspection Covers in Florida

Termite inspections in Florida follow state rules. When an inspection is done for a real estate transaction, Florida law (section 482.226) requires a licensed pest control company to report the findings on a form prescribed by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS). That form, the Wood-Destroying Organisms Inspection Report, covers termites, powderpost beetles, old house borers and wood-decaying fungi.

Every inspector, whether for a sale or a routine checkup, is looking for the same three things that the FDACS form records:

• Live wood-destroying organisms, such as termite workers, soldiers or swarmers
• Evidence, such as frass (droppings), exit holes and shelter tubes
• Damage to wood that is visible during the inspection

The inspection is visual. The FDACS form states that findings are based on what was visible and readily accessible at the time and do not guarantee the absence of termites or damage. That is why where the inspector looks, and what they can reach, matters so much.

Outside the Home: The Foundation and Yard

Most inspections start outside, because subterranean termites come from the soil. The inspector walks the full perimeter and checks:

• The foundation and slab edge for mud tubes running up from the soil
• Cracks in the slab, block walls and stucco; FDACS notes that large settlement cracks in a slab give subterranean termites access
• The gap between siding or stucco and the soil. FDACS recommends siding and foam board insulation stop 6 to 8 inches above grade, because termites can tunnel up behind it unseen
• Wood touching the soil, such as fence posts, deck supports, door frames and wooden steps
• Mulch beds and planters against the house, where moisture and wood debris attract termites
• Drainage, gutters and sprinklers that keep the foundation wet
• Trees, stumps and woodpiles near the house, for tubes and hollow wood
• Eaves, fascia, soffits and exterior trim, where drywood termites can enter and leave pellets

Many of the conditions on that list are things homeowners can change. Our list of things you could be doing to attract termites covers the most common ones.

The Garage: Where Problems Often Show First

The garage is one of the most important stops. It usually has an exposed slab edge, an expansion joint where the garage slab meets the house, and block walls where tubes are easy to see. It is also where people store cardboard boxes, lumber and paper on the floor.

Inspectors check the base of every wall, the corners, the joint at the door into the house, the door frame, the water heater area and any wood shelving. Stored items pushed against the walls are the biggest obstacle. Read why garages often show termite problems first for more on this hot spot.

Inside: Kitchens, Bathrooms, Windows and Trim

Inside the home, the inspector focuses on places where plumbing or moisture meets wood, and on wood that drywood termites like.

Bath Traps and Plumbing Penetrations

In slab homes, plumbers often leave an opening in the slab under the bathtub, called a bath trap, so the drain can be serviced. According to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, bath traps give termites an easy way into the home, especially when leftover wood or cardboard forms remain in them, and they should be one of the first places inspected indoors. Inspectors look through the access panel when there is one, and also check where pipes come through the slab under kitchen and bathroom sinks and behind toilets.

Baseboards, Door Frames and Window Sills

Inspectors tap and probe baseboards, door frames and window frames for hollow or soft wood. The EPA describes probing exposed wood with a flathead screwdriver as one way to find hollow spots. They also look for blistered or bubbling paint, which can hide galleries just under the surface.

Pellets Under Wood and Furniture

Drywood termites live inside the wood and push out their droppings through tiny holes. UF/IFAS describes West Indian drywood termite pellets as six-sided in cross section and the kick-out holes as usually 1 to 2 mm wide. Inspectors look for these piles under window sills, trim, cabinets, wooden furniture and picture frames, and for shed wings near windows and light fixtures.

Up in the Attic

The attic is where drywood termites often go unnoticed. Inspectors check roof sheathing, trusses, rafters, ceiling joists and the top plates of walls for pellets, kick-out holes, shed wings and damaged wood.

The attic is also where you may find a record of past work. Florida law requires a company that treats a property for wood-destroying organisms to post a notice of treatment at the attic or crawl space access, or another readily accessible spot, listing the company, the date, the pesticide and the organism treated. Inspectors look for these notices and note evidence of previous treatment on the report.

Some older South Florida homes have crawl spaces instead of a slab. There, inspectors check piers, sill plates, floor joists and the soil for tubes and moisture.

Termite Inspection Checklist: Where Inspectors Look and What They Find

What a Termite Inspection Cannot See

Even a careful inspector cannot look through drywall, tile or a finished ceiling without opening it. The FDACS form says areas concealed by wall coverings, floor coverings and furniture are not evaluated, and it has a section for listing obstructed and inaccessible areas in the attic, interior, exterior and crawl space, with the reason for each. Florida law also requires the report to list any accessible areas that were not inspected and why.

The form also makes clear that it is not a structural damage report. If damage is found, a qualified building professional should assess how serious it is. Read the inaccessible-areas section of any report carefully: it tells you exactly what was not looked at.

How to Prepare for a Termite Inspection

A little preparation makes a big difference in what the inspector can see:

1. Clear garage walls by pulling boxes and shelving a foot or two away.
2. Empty the cabinets under sinks in kitchens and bathrooms.
3. Make sure the attic hatch is reachable and not blocked by stored items in a closet.
4. Locate bath trap access panels, often in a closet or behind a panel next to the tub.
5. Unlock gates, sheds and outbuildings.
6. Save any wings, swarmers or pellets you found in a sealed bag, and note where you found them.
7. Gather past paperwork, such as old WDO reports, treatment contracts and bait station records.

If your home already has a bait system, ask the inspector to check the stations too. Our guide to how often termite bait stations should be checked explains why regular service matters. For the clues you can watch for between visits, see when a homeowner sees termites, and for scheduling, how often you should get a termite inspection.

A Toro Termite Inspection

Toro’s termite control service begins with a free inspection of your home or business. A trained technician identifies the termite species and checks how far the damage goes, then explains what was found and recommends the right option: Sentricon baiting for subterranean termites, TORO-GUARD non-tenting treatment for localized drywood colonies or tent fumigation when drywood termites have spread through the structure. Toro also offers pre-purchase inspections for buyers.

Toro’s technicians are trained at the TORO Institute with on-staff entomologists, and the company has served Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and the Keys since 1969. To learn more about the termites an inspector may find, visit the termite pest library.

Contact Toro today

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Frequently Asked Questions

Educational content. This article is for general information about pests in South Florida and is not medical, legal or professional advice. If you have a bite, sting or allergic reaction, contact your doctor; in an emergency, call 911. Pest problems vary from home to home, so a licensed professional should inspect before treatment. When using any pesticide, always read and follow the product label.

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