Author Topic: Anybody have any experience with Termite treatments?  (Read 8940 times)

FrugalZony

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1565
Anybody have any experience with Termite treatments?
« on: October 31, 2013, 04:49:32 PM »
OK, so I found out we have termites. I was pretty sure from comparing what I have spotted around the house yesterday to pics I have seen online.
I had one company come out and do a free inspections/quote kind of thing.
They want 1100 $ Use Premise and use thermal cameras and all kinds of fancy stuff to detect and treat
I called around for comparison quotes, one company based on square footage and some other questions they asked gave me a $ 395 quote and I asked if there were any extras or to expect changes once a technician comes out, they said "no", they use Thermidor, they also claim to beat anyone
The third company gave me a ballpark of 600-900 to be specified once they come and do an inspection and they use Thermidor as well
I am surprised by the variance of the offers

obviously I want an efficient treatment that takes care once and for all and don't want people to cut corners.

Anybody have any experience with this or advice?
I read up a bit and it seem diy is not a good idea for something like that.


Numbers Man

  • Guest
Re: Anybody have any experience with Termite treatments?
« Reply #1 on: October 31, 2013, 05:14:59 PM »

Spork

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 5742
    • Spork In The Eye
Re: Anybody have any experience with Termite treatments?
« Reply #2 on: October 31, 2013, 05:39:49 PM »
I've had them several times (my condolences).  I did DIY once, but I did it under the supervision of a buddy that was once a "bugman."

I have a hard time seeing the tunnels (I live in subterranean termite areas... I don't know how the other kinds operate.)  So I outsource the "maintenance" part.  I'm okay paying for someone to inspect every 6-12 months.

As for treatment, the prices often vary by whether they provide just treatment or also provide repair.  I've always done the repairs myself... but if you don't... don't toss out a higher price without figuring out if they're including repairs. 

They can do a lot of damage and they seem to leave a scent trail.  Even after you get rid of them, you'll often get re-entries at the same points as the old ones.

Hindsight

  • 5 O'Clock Shadow
  • *
  • Posts: 4
Re: Anybody have any experience with Termite treatments?
« Reply #3 on: October 31, 2013, 05:42:43 PM »
Have you found termite damage IN your house? IE have you gone into your basement/crawlspace and seen termite damage? Or have you just seen termites in the areas around and outside your house? If the latter, you may not have a problem. Termites are all over underground and eating dead wood. It doesn't mean they are in your house.

My termite knowledge is basic so someone may correct me if I'm wrong on any of this.

Easiest way to check is to look for tunnels. Termites can not be exposed to open air; they love and need moisture at all times. Wood touching the ground is their favorite thing because the wood stays wet and they burrow up from the ground into the moist wood.

They will burrow through concrete but don't like to, and since concrete is typically what is in contact with the soil, they have to crawl along it, which they will only do in a mud-tunnel they construct, to get to the wood.

Check for mud tunnels along concrete foundation that lead along the foundation from the ground to the wood of your house. Search online to see what they look like. Check this outside and in your house too (Basement/crawl etc).

If you see what looks like damaged wood, it might be years old and from a past infestation. Hack at it with a flat-head screwdriver to break some small pieces of wood off. If the infestation is accurate, you should see some white termite nymphs (no wings).

If you don't find anything, the best treatment is bait stations. You can install these. They stay in the ground and you replace the baits as they are taken. The termites take the bait underground, back to their nest, and it slowly kills them and the queen. It's the standard preventitive way of dealing with them and it's pretty effective.

If you have an ACTIVE termite infestation, I'd advise you to call in a pro at that point. It gets a little more complicated here as you have to know exactly where they are entering the house, and treat with a special long-lasting chemical at just the right depth. I guess it's possible that you could buy this and treat it on your own but I have no experience with that and can't speak to it.

If you try sprays that kill them when they cross a boundary, it won't kill the queen so the colony will just keep living and sending more termites out. If they are already in your house, the bait stations might not work because the colony that found its way into your house may likely bypass any bait stations and keep going straight for the house. This is why I suggest the pro when it gets to this point.

Argyle

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 904
Re: Anybody have any experience with Termite treatments?
« Reply #4 on: October 31, 2013, 08:15:21 PM »
You might check Angie's List and also google the names of the companies + "complaints."

I had a termite treatment (termites definitely in the house -- we could see them) and it was about $500.  It also depends on how big your house is and what the conditions are.  Mine is quite a big house.

Definitely worth getting them treated as soon as you notice the problem.  If not, the structural repairs later on can be pricey.  Ask me how I know. :)

FrugalZony

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1565
Re: Anybody have any experience with Termite treatments?
« Reply #5 on: October 31, 2013, 10:45:12 PM »
Thanks all for taking the time to respond and for your suggestions!!

Maybe I did not express myself clearly. I do KNOW we do have them. I knew what to look for and I did found mud tubes.
I did only go look for the mudtubes, when I found evidence IN the house (drywall) and the first guy who came out did confirm we had them.

None of the quotes includes repairs, all are just for treatment.

Hubby wants to go with the cheapo guy. I tend to go with the middle option.
I did however reach out to the Bill company Number's man suggested, thank you!
Do you have personal experience with them?

I just read a lot of things about the Thermidor versus Premise and I am not sure if the heat camera to track activity is just a gimmick or if it will really make a difference....

And I definitely don't want to do it myself. I was just amazed by the spread of 395-1100 $ between the companies.

Also any suggestions, opinions on those yearly rechecks and warranties? We tend to forego warranties, but I am interested in hearing opinions.

Thank you

Boz86

  • Stubble
  • **
  • Posts: 117
Re: Anybody have any experience with Termite treatments?
« Reply #6 on: November 01, 2013, 07:13:50 AM »
In our case, we insisted they use Termidor. My research at the time showed it was a very effective treatment.

I didn't do it myself because I didn't want to buy the one-time use tools to drill and also to foam the termidor.

With the termidor being so effective we didn't continue the service. But we do watch for them ourselves. I also removed any outside water sources from near the house (a.c. condensate, gutters, etc). And don't disturb the soil treatment area.




Numbers Man

  • Guest
Re: Anybody have any experience with Termite treatments?
« Reply #7 on: November 01, 2013, 10:22:21 AM »
FrugalZony - I had no personal experience with Termites but know of one guy who loved the company that I recommended. Plus the reviews on this company seem to be solid.

clutchy

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 339
Re: Anybody have any experience with Termite treatments?
« Reply #8 on: November 01, 2013, 12:22:27 PM »
I think I have termites...

Nords

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 3421
  • Age: 63
  • Location: Oahu
    • Military Retirement & Financial Independence blog
Re: Anybody have any experience with Termite treatments?
« Reply #9 on: November 02, 2013, 11:19:45 PM »
Maybe I did not express myself clearly. I do KNOW we do have them. I knew what to look for and I did found mud tubes.
I did only go look for the mudtubes, when I found evidence IN the house (drywall) and the first guy who came out did confirm we had them.
None of the quotes includes repairs, all are just for treatment.
I just read a lot of things about the Thermidor versus Premise and I am not sure if the heat camera to track activity is just a gimmick or if it will really make a difference....
Termidor rocks.  Total kill after one treatment, no followup necessary.  If they spray around the landscaping (not just the foundation) then you'll probably kill off any deadwood infestations (as well as driving the ants away from the house for a few months). 

You know what you're looking for now and you can handle your own inspections, or pay someone to do the crawlspace for you.  The termites didn't just magically decide to move under your house, though, so it's worth searching 50-100 feet out from your foundation looking for other sources of wet wood that would attract them.  And yes, Formosan termites in a tropical climate think a 100-foot hike is worth the effort.  We do a foundation check every quarter and we avoid keeping any deadwood (let alone wet wood) within 100 feet of the house.

We deferred repairs for seven years until we were doing a major renovation.  Although the termites damaged the house's wood framing, they didn't eat enough to cause any bowing or bulging or other wall/ceiling problems.  The drywall is surprisingly good at keeping the walls stiff & firm.  If none of the floors feel spongy or springy then you're probably going to be good for a few years.  When we finally started the renovation, the demolition went a lot faster, too!

Although the heat camera sounds like a gimmick to me, it'll help you find any bad electrical wiring in the walls-- as well as any gaps in the insulation or the window frames.

FrugalZony

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1565
Re: Anybody have any experience with Termite treatments?
« Reply #10 on: November 04, 2013, 09:43:13 AM »
Thank you all!
I got another quote from a guy who seems very knowledgable
He suggested to also treat our sunken in living room
That company does nothing but Termites and uses Thermidor and I did some more research comparing the two Premise and Thermidor.

All your suggestions and pointers definitely helped making an informed decision
Appreciate all the help!! Thank you!

And Nords, yes, we will definitely get rid of some wet wood on the back patio. Thanks!

GreenSheep

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1072
Re: Anybody have any experience with Termite treatments?
« Reply #11 on: September 11, 2017, 08:30:00 AM »
Posting to follow... may need this after our termite inspection.

GizmoTX

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1450
Re: Anybody have any experience with Termite treatments?
« Reply #12 on: September 11, 2017, 02:19:29 PM »
Termidor. It works & is safe.
Decades ago, we went the bait station route (different house) & it's not effective (except for the company selling it).

Dave1442397

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1646
  • Location: NJ
Re: Anybody have any experience with Termite treatments?
« Reply #13 on: September 03, 2019, 12:56:17 PM »
^^^ Now there's a link I'm not clicking on. First post, revives a thread from 2017, and has a link in it...um, no.