Termite and wood rot care for Palos Verdes Estates homes in the coastal fog, 90274

Red tile roofs, stucco walls and the wood behind them

The peninsula's oldest neighborhoods, around Malaga Cove and the Lunada Bay and Valmonte areas, were planned with a strong Mediterranean character: stucco walls, clay tile roofs, wrought iron and deep wooden eaves. That look hides more wood than people expect. Rafter tails extend beyond the walls, carved beam ends frame balconies, and wooden window frames and doors sit deep in thick walls. Tile roofs also leave the underside of the sheathing and the battens shaded and out of sight.

Drywood termites colonize all of that. On an inspection we go into the attic beneath the tile, check each exposed rafter end, and look closely at window and door casings and the wooden grilles and shutters common on these homes. Because the community has architectural review for exterior changes, any replacement wood we install matches the original sizes and profiles as closely as possible.

Fog, slopes and dampwood termites

Fog arrives off the water on many mornings, especially from late spring into early summer, and it can linger on the bluff-top streets well into the afternoon. Hillside lots also send rain and irrigation water downslope toward foundations, retaining walls and the posts of decks. Wood that stays wet for long periods attracts Pacific dampwood termites, which are large, need damp decaying wood and leave bigger pellets than drywood termites.

Typical spots are deck ledgers, balcony joists, the lower ends of pergola posts, wooden stair stringers down a slope and fence posts set in soil. The fix starts with water: correcting drainage, adding flashing at a ledger, or setting posts on concrete piers. Then we remove decayed wood, treat the area and rebuild with sound lumber. Borate on new framing before it is closed in helps protect it.

Eucalyptus groves and roof rats

Tall eucalyptus trees line many streets and canyon edges here, along with pines and dense coastal shrubs. Roof rats nest in that cover and in palm skirts, traveling at night to fruit trees and bird feeders. Clay tile roofs give them extra places to hide, since the gaps at the eaves and the ridge can open into the attic if bird stops or eave blocking are missing.

We inspect the roof edge carefully, install or replace bird stops where needed, seal vents and pipe openings, and trap inside until activity stops. Gophers are another frequent call on the larger lots and slope gardens, where their tunnels can also loosen soil around irrigation lines.

Tenting a hillside home

When drywood activity is spread through the attic and walls, fumigation is often the most dependable choice. On a hillside lot the challenges are physical: tarps must be carried and secured on slopes and around terraces, tile roofs need careful handling to avoid broken tiles, and plantings along retaining walls must be cut back. We walk the lot first, plan where the tarps can safely anchor, and arrange the gas shutoff and relight with SoCalGas for the two to three days the house is closed.