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We are close to signing a contract on a two-family on the Bed Stuy-Bushwick border. The inspector found evidence of termite damage. He easily poked through part of the main beam, which was rotted at the back of the house, and saw empty termite channels there with his infrared tool. He said he didn’t think the infestation was active. He recommended replacing one quarter of the beam and said it might turn out we have to sister a cross beam too. That was all.

The house is a wood frame with an unfinished stone cellar. It is covered in vinyl siding.

Question: Should we do our own termite inspection before we proceed further? Will they be able to discover how extensive the damage is?

I am assuming the damage could range anywhere from just the quarter of the beam to practically the whole house being eaten up. Am I right? (The house seems sound, nothing is crooked.)

I have googled this topic extensively and find advice runs the spectrum, from “don’t worry, inspectors always give you the worst-case scenerio” to “the whole house could be a pile of sawdust, and you can never get rid of termites.”

Anyone have advice or experience with this? Thank you.