Wood Destroying Organism (WDO) Home Inspection Practice Exam

To treat the soil beneath a slab covered by wood flooring, what should be done?

1. Drill and treat in a checkerboard pattern

2. Apply surface treatment only

3. Use only chemical sprays

4. Leave the slab untreated

The correct answer is: Drill and treat in a checkerboard pattern

The correct approach to treating the soil beneath a slab covered by wood flooring involves drilling and treating in a checkerboard pattern. This method ensures an effective distribution of the treatment chemicals throughout the area, allowing for optimal coverage and penetration into the soil where wood-destroying organisms may reside. A checkerboard pattern is particularly advantageous because it creates a systematic way to cover all areas under the slab. The drilling intervals can be calculated to maximize the area treated while minimizing the amount of chemical used, leading to more efficient and effective pest control. This method not only addresses existing pest issues but can also help prevent future infestations. Other approaches, such as applying surface treatment only, are insufficient in this scenario because they do not affect the organisms living below the slab. Chemical sprays alone would not penetrate the soil adequately to reach the targets effectively. Additionally, leaving the slab untreated would obviously fail to address any potential wood-destroying organisms present in the soil underneath, which poses a risk to the structural integrity of the wood flooring above.