Discovered termites at the new house...EEEEEK

[Dueller]

8 weeks after purchasing new (to us) house minor (I hope) active termite infestation was discovered. Termite certificate at closing shows no damage, current or prior activity. Hopefully is new as there was only one small "tunnel" going up concrete foundation to wood.

Anybody do their own termite treatment as opposed to the $1200/year thing?

[mikester]

Depends on where you are...

I find termites around once or twice a year. I have a contract with a local company here in socal that covers treatment outside of actually tenting the house. They use borate to treat the affected areas. I spend about $275 a year on it. The initial treatment which treated all exposed wood around the house (attic and underneath) for about $1000.

I am told in SoCal that 80% of all wood structures have termites somewhere so I wouldn't panic. Plus they are slow moving tormentors so again - don't panic. Take your time to find the right treatment at the right price.

Since you just bought the house I'm not sure what implications there may be on that deal.

[Aurel]

When I sold my house, the inspector found some termite tunnels and I had to treat it. The big companies wanted big bucks to do it. I found a local guy through my real estate agent who charged 200 bucks. This is what it should cost to have someone spend 1 hour spraying some chemicals in and around your house. Anything else is a ripoff, cashing on people`s fears.

Aurel

[Porsche-O-Phile]

You can always reframe it with steel studs if you're paranoid (but it's gonna' cost ya').

[sammyg2]

If there is a tunnel that means they are subterranean termites. that means you need to poison the ground around and under the house.
Don't know how or where you would obtain that poison as it's tightly controlled to keep it out of the hands of the do-it-yourselfers. If you can get the poison you can do it yourself fairly easily if you know what you are doing.

[MRM]

Dueller, pay the extra money for a professional to do it for the same reason you don't want your mom writing her own will. $1,200 a year is cheap to protect your single most valuable asset. The upside to doing it yourself is that you save a thousand bucks a year. The downside risk is that you lose your home and your $250,000 asset (and home) becomes worthless. If the termites get too far in you'll lose the whole structure. You'll be left with an asset that is worth the value of the lot your house is on - minus the cost to demolish your house. You just can't take chances with that kind of down side risk.

[Dueller]

Thanks for the input, guys. My first step is to contact the PO and the company tyhat did the inspecction for closing to gauge their potential liability/willingness to treat. It may be a very recent activity with little or no damage. since we only found two small tunnels. Obviously it must be addressed ASAP.

When my exterminator discovered it he called their termite people who came out immediately with contract in hand and was doing high pressure sales/scare tactics. That really turned me off because he was evasive about the potential damage and was obviously pushing the contract right then.

The exterior is unpainted rough cut cypress and shows no damage/infestation, The tunnel is on an exterior wall leading under the siding on the garage so they are obviously going to the pined studs. I'm going to rip out interior dry wall to see the level of infestation.

[Super_Dave_D]

Here in Florida you are crazy NOT to have a Termite (Repair)Bond.

[onewhippedpuppy]

The Sentricon (sp?) systems that you bury in the ground are sold at many hardware stores. You can dig just as well as an expensive pest control "expert" can. I think they require occasional re-baiting.

I can tell you for sure, don't mess with Terminex. Like many warranties, theirs is worthless. When I did remodeling I went out to a house that was receiving regular Terminex "treatments", for well over $1k per year. Single old lady, so she was an easy target. She had started seeing holes in here ceiling, which was made out of 12x12 pressed wood tiles (essentially cardboard). Ever push on a ceiling tile and find that it's actually a layer of paint? Or pull one down and have it turn into a waterfall of termites. That was NOT a fun job.

Basically the termites had eaten her ceiling from the inside, despite the treatment. We collected some termites in a jar. We kept the tiles with obvious tunnels in them. She eventually (grudgingly) got the Terminex guy to come out. He denied that it was termite damage, then accused us of lying about the source of the termites. Despite our best efforts, I don't think they ever paid her. She eventually paid my boss to install the in-ground system and maintain it, and paid out of pocket to repair the damage.

I've been told that once the govt outlawed Chloridane (sp?), professional termite control became about as legit as mold abatement.

[RWebb]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

If you can get the poison you can kill yourself fairly easily if you don't know what you are doing.

get a pro to do the tmt. - once.

you will need to change their habitat so they cannot come back - that means your home, and ALL the spaces around it - don't allow any dark, damp spaces to exist - if that's unavoidable, use lots of concrete & no wood

- tell your neighbors too! the farther the termites have to disperse, the less likely they can hit again

have the place inspected every year

[RWebb]

Originally Posted by MRM

Dueller, pay the extra money for a professional to do it for the same reason you don't want your mom writing her own will. $1,200 a year is cheap to protect your single most valuable asset. The upside to doing it yourself is that you save a thousand bucks a year. The downside risk is that you lose your home and your $250,000 asset (and home) becomes worthless. If the termites get too far in you'll lose the whole structure. You'll be left with an asset that is worth the value of the lot your house is on - minus the cost to demolish your house. You just can't take chances with that kind of down side risk.

Bingo!

[Dueller]

UPDATE: Fears were unfounded...no active or old infestation. But found some old wood in yard that had some infestation. Thankfully nothing in around house.

Gonna clean out obvious habitats in getting the yard ready for spring planting.

Any of you guys DIY treat areas as a precautuion? What do you use? Or do i find an honest mom/pop out fit and ask them to treat without the Terminix ripoff warranty they want $1200 for using fear tactics??

I have a LOTTTTTTT of wood on my house...in fact ALL wood.

[Rikao4]

Lego flamegun
Rika

[pwd72s]

Where is Chlordane, Dursban, & Diazinon now that you need them? Guess we know the answer to that..."The termite protection act"...

[sailchef]

I have a contract with a local company. Paid @$600 15 years ago to have house treated. That was after signs of a swarm in my sun room. Every 3 years I spend another @ $250 to keep up contract. They come out twice a year to inspect. If they find activity they will treat again at no cost. They have never found new activity. I go under the house 2-3 times a year and have yet to see anything. Its worth the piece of mind, and the contract is a a good thing to show potential buyers of the property.

Also. Lowes carries the bait stakes, they take the food and go back to the nest to feed. In theory it gets em all.