[NHtransplant]

I've been in my current house for about 2 years and have notice these small, maybe 1/8", holes that were drilled into the drywal just above the baseboards. I didn't think much of it and figured they switched the baseboard out at some point and these were just nail holes left from the old moulding. Well I just realized that the holes are only drilled in the exterior walls and they are even present above the hot water heat baseboards. I even see the same holes drilled into some wood paneling about 12" up from the floor (to hide them in a seam). They also seem to be spaced out to be in each bay of the wall.

Has anyone ever heard of a reason for drilling these small holes into the bays of the exterior walls? My only thought was maybe it was for an exterminator to shoot some pesticide spray in.
Anyone seen this before???

Thanks

 

[joecaption]

Could be though I've never seen it done that way. More likly a DIY did it.

 

[TarheelTerp]

I've seen that sort of thing done on OLD houses in order to find the studs...

 

[NHtransplant]

The house was built in '68 and a large addition was put on in about '80. The holes are there on the old and new part of the house. Holes are only on the first floor.

 

[firehawkmph]

I'm going with what Tarheel said. ******* studfinder. Can you see any evidence of the baseboards being nailed right under those drilled holes? Stick a small nail in the hole. It should only go in a little deeper than the drywall and stop. If that's all they are is studfinders, go ahead and spackle or patch them and touch up with paint.
Mike Hawkins

 

[r0ckstarr]

My only thought was maybe it was for an exterminator to shoot some pesticide spray in.

Wouldn't the exterminator drill at the tops of the walls to get more coverage inside the wall?

 

[NHtransplant]

That's a good point rockstarr.
The holes are definitely in the bays not at the studs. I stuck a stick in a bunch of them and didn't hit studs.

I'm not worried about what the holes are, I'm just curious what the point was. I thought maybe someone would have seen it before but it may be just some DIY think that the PO did for some reason.

 

[Jtom]

Hi.

Long time lurker who just signed up.

My neighbor had Orkin over due to carpenter ants, and they drilled holes just as you described. Sprayed some type of powdered insecticide into each hole.

Jeff

 

[NHtransplant]

That's helpful Jeff. Thanks. I'll bet that's it. The house was empty for a while and I know the PO had an exterminator here before we looked at the place because there were bait stations and mouse traps in the basement. The good news is that I've had a friend over from Terminex before and he looked the place over and everything looks good now.