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How To Read a Texas Wood Destroying Insect Report

Greetings, and thank you for choosing Green Team Pest!

Many homeowners elect to have a Wood Destroying Insect (WDI) inspection completed alongside their home inspection. This report is a critical part of protecting your property from termites but understanding it isn’t always straightforward. We’re here to help with that.
This guide was created to help you confidently read and interpret your Texas WDI Report. The terminology used in these forms can feel technical or unfamiliar, especially if you’re not used to construction or pest-control language. Because every WDI inspection in Texas follows a state-mandated format, we’ll walk you through each section step-by-step and explain what it means for you as a homebuyer or homeowner.
This guide is general in nature and may not reference every specific condition found in your own report. If you come across anything in your inspection that needs further explanation, or something that concerns you, please reach out to your inspector or to our team. We’re always happy to help.

Thanks again and we wish you the best!
The Green Team Staff

Reading the Texas WDI

Making sense of your Texas WDI report, one section at a time.

What’s Inside Your Texas WDI Report (Quick Overview)

(Download the full PDF for detailed explanations of each section.) Page 1: Inspection address, scope of inspection, and important definitions. Pay close attention to highlighted areas. Page 2: Details about the pest control company, the purchaser of the inspection, and who’s authorized to receive the report. Sections 5A & 5B: Outline which structures were inspected (e.g., primary dwelling, detached garage) and where the inspection sticker is located. Section 9: Lists all areas that were inaccessible during the inspection—an important part of understanding limitations. Sections 10A & 10B: Identify conducive conditions to termite activity. These must be corrected for VA loans before closing. Section 11: Notes past or present WDI activity and any evidence of prior treatment, along with recommendations for correction. Section Explanations: Provides additional guidance for clearing conducive conditions or addressing active infestations. Structural Diagram: A coded outline showing the location of conducive conditions or WDI activity (e.g., “C/L” = soil line too high). Final Page: Purchaser statement and signature line—consult your real estate agent before signing.

Evidence of Wood Destroying Insects

(If the inspector found evidence of wood destroying insects, the corresponding box will be checked “Yes”.) Active Infestation This means the inspector saw evidence that insects are currently at work consuming wood in or on the structure. This could include seeing the insects themselves, or other evidence such as mud tunnels or pinholes in drywall. In these cases, we always recommend treatment. Previous Infestation This indicates that the inspector observed destroyed wood or some older evidence that doesn’t have the markers of current activity. In these cases, we recommend that you ask the homeowner if they have any paperwork detailing prior treatments. If there is no record of a prior treatment, we will recommend that the property be treated. Previous Treatment This indicates that the inspector observed a treatment sticker, bait stations, or some evidence that the property has been treated in the past. In these cases you should request paperwork from the homeowner if it’s available.

Conducive Conditions

The most common conducive conditions are listed on the form with check boxes. Notice that there is a letter code associated with each condition in section 10B. These codes will be included on the diagram where that condition is present. If your lender requires a “clear report” call us once these conditions have been corrected and we can return to the property and issue an updated report. Wood to Ground Contact (G) •Wood to ground at siding or at a deck: recommend altering wood contact with the home and re-inspecting, or a preventative treatment Formboards left in place (l) •Formboards are most commonly left in place at the joint between a concrete patio and the slab. This is common with newly constructed homes. The mere presence of formboards does not always constitute a conducive condition. We recommend removal or a preventative treatment Excessive Moisture (J) •Excessive moisture can apply to many conditions: standing water in a crawlspace, an A/C line that's dripping next to the foundation, an active roof leak, etc. We recommend addressing the situation as needed. Like all life forms, termites need food and water. If we can remove one of these elements, we give them no reason to come to the house! Debris under or around structure (K) •Compost heaps next to the home and scrap wood in a crawlspace are examples of this condition. We recommend removal of the debris and re-inspecting. Footing too low or soil line too high (L) •Building standards regarding high soil differ a bit from the pest control standards. Your inspection report might require 6 to 8 inches of clearance to grade, but as pest control experts, we only consider less than 2 inches of clearance to be conducive to pests. We recommend lowering high soil to show at least 2 to 3 inches of visible foundation or a preventative treatment. •In the case of a low footing, we recommend a preventative treatment because typically the soil cannot be removed to show the foundation. Wood Rot (M) •Recommend addressing the rotted areas of wood by repairing, replacing and/or sealing wood. Heavy Foliage (N) •We recommend trimming/removing foliage to at least 6 inches from foundation and re-inspecting, or a preventative treatment. Planter box abutting structure (O) •By design, planter boxes cover the foundation. We recommend a preventative treatment or (if it is a possibility) removing the planter box. Wood Pile in Contact with Structure (Q) •We recommend removing the pile of wood to at least 1 foot away from the drip line of a structure. Wooden Fence in Contact with the Structure (R) •This typically applies to wood fences that are physically attached to the structure. We recommend altering the connection to structure, or a preventative treatment. Insufficient ventilation (T) •This is usually found in crawlspaces but could be found indoors. The sign of this is high humidity and is usually accompanied by micro-organic growth. This can generally only be corrected by alterations to the structure (adding vent, etc.). Other (C) •This choice is generally used when more specificity is needed for an existing condition. Occasionally it is used for a condition not covered by another choice.

Pro Tips

Green Team Pest has the expertise to treat for all manner of wood destroying insects. We will always be happy to provide you with a quote and treatment recommendation should you need it during your home-buying process.


Green Team Pest is proud to be an authorized installer of the Sentricon® Termite Preventative System, an advanced baiting system that is always active. Highly effective bait stations are placed around the home in strategic locations. Once the termite colony has been eradicated, Green Team will return periodically to monitor the system and refill the bait as needed.


Traditional termite treatment typically involved trenching around the perimeter of the home and then backfilling the trench with chemically treated dirt. Concrete drives and walks located next to the home had to be drilled through so chemicals could be injected into the dirt beneath. Treatments like this are vulnerable to rain and can wash away after a few big Houston storms.


Sentricon is a proven solution that won’t wash away, leaving your home safe from destructive termites! Reach out to Green Team Pest if you would like a quote. The final page of this guide has a discount voucher for a Sentricon® system!

How To Read a Texas WDI.pdf

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