Termite Control Recommendations for Dummies

There are situations where a conventional termite treatment is very difficult, undesirable, or even impossible. Some situations call demand specific handling, others might require alternative strategies. As an instance:

The treatment requires extensive drilling of floor slabs through wooden, tiled or carpeted floors, or via other masonry that could be ruined.

Liquid treatment could be prohibited, e.g., there is a good or cistern under or too close to the foundation wall.

The Buzz on Termite Control Remedies

Liquid treatment is considered unacceptable for whatever reason. The treatment requires drilling of flooring slabs through wooden, tiled or carpeted floors, or through other masonry or you do not want liquid dyes employed under/around your residence. In such situations, there are only a few alternatives like termite baits or mechanical control (currently available only for houses under construction). .

Wood TreatmentsAlthough neighborhood or"place" wood treatments prevent termite activity in the treated region, they are not complete termite treatments and they will not prevent intruders from attacking wood in different areas. One treatment option employs the compound disodium octaborate tetrahydrate (DOT). This borax-derived chemical is applied to critical wooden structural components in the crawlspace and parts of the framing in a home under construction.

How Termite Control Remedies can Save You Time, Stress, and Money.

But, depending on the type of construction involved, it may be possible for termites to skip this treatment and attack nearby untreated wood such as baseboard molding, trim, etc.. Chemicals that are acceptable for wood treatments are recorded in the current edition of the North Carolina Agricultural Chemicals Manual. .

FumigationIn North Carolina, structural fumigation (occasionally called"tenting") is seldom used because of our common subterranean termites. Most residential fumigations are done for drywood termites, that are rather uncommon in North Carolina, or for wood-boring beetles particularly in log houses.

In most cases, the termite treatment on your house includes a one-year termite protection warranty from the pest control company. After one year, you have to decide if you want to continue your contract. The expense of a renewal for a house that was treated with a liquid termiticide is typically between $85-$200, depending on the size and construction type of the house and possibly the type of guarantee (explained below).

Recall: termites are always around us and constantly looking to get"meals" (wood). That fact alone does not mean they're constantly attacking your residence. It simply means there is always some chance that termites might find their way unseen into your house. .

The Basic Principles Of Termite Control Remedies

The US Environmental Protection Agency requires that termiticide manufacturers prove that their chemicals can remain successful in the soil for a minimum of five decades. In most situations, these chemicals usually survive longer when implemented properly. But this 5-year requirement is not a guarantee that termites cannot (or may not) invade your home within a five year period.

These kinds of situations can provide termites with opportunities to invade the home. .

Annual termite contracts are somewhat like health insurance policies. You are paying to guard your home against the possibility of termite attack. An annual contract can be an effective way of preventing termites from causing significant harm through the years. Likewise, this 5-year requirement from the EPA does not mean that the compound is completely ineffective after 5 decades.

Facts About Termite Control Research Revealed

It's important to understand that an annual contract does not mean that the pest control company re-treats your home every year. Unless there's some evidence of termite activity in the house, annual advice treatments are in fact illegal under most termiticide labels (and therefore more illegal under both state and national law).

When they find evidence of termite activity or if you find evidence of termite activity, then the company takes some appropriate measures, usually a local or'spot' treatment of the infested region. You ought not have to pay for any additional treatment to fix a termite problem; this cost is covered by your annual fee.

For instance, routine home maintenance aids prevents moisture issues or other conditions that are conducive to termite activity in the region, i.e., if termites find such place, they're more likely to remain busy or expand their action in that region. Make sure that the termite inspector explains any problem areas that he/she finds during the inspections so you can fix these issues as soon as possible.

If you're not home when the home is inspected, the inspector must leave some sort of notice or report about his/her findings. If you're not clear on the outcomes, call the company's office and ask them to explain whether anything important was found. .

Facts About Termite Control Remedies Revealed

Does my contract policy termite damageAn important point on your contract concerns harm. Many people assume that their contract automatically covers damage repairs, but that's not always the case. Many termite protection contracts offer"retreatment only", i.e., the pest control company will retreat areas as necessary in order to fix the issue, but the retreatment is all they are obligated to perform under the conditions of this kind of contract.