termites, identification, treatment

[Steel 0]

Does anybody here know anything about termites? How to know if you have them? What to do about it? How much it costs to treat for them? If somebody who knows nothing about them, can quickly learn what needs to be known to treat for them? If it possible that some freakin SOB guy that works in extermination could plant some in a home? How much damage they could cause and how quickly? Or anything relating to the topic I may have missed...

If I could make a wish, I think I'd pass.
Can't think of anything I need
No cigarettes, no sleep, no light, no sound.
Nothing to eat, no books to read.

[lemonjelly 0]

big mounds appearing in your garden

*************************************************
RED LIGHTS & OFF LANDINGS ARE JUST MY THANG
http://www.redlightrob.co.uk

[mcrocker 0]

http://www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/entomology/444-500/444-500.html
http://www.google.com/search?q=termite+treatment&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

[PLFXpert 0]

Generally, there are entrance and exit sites that you might not see, but if you walk the premisis with the exterminator, he can point them out to you, if there is evidence.

I believe a termite-bond is a good thing to have. It will cost you up front, but every year after that, it won't cost much at all.

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

[EDYDO 0]

I live in South Carolina and my experience is based on what we have here. I make a living off of rental property and have a lot of experience with termites.

They must return to the ground regularly for moisture, so they will make visible tunnels of dirt going up to the structure (assuming a crawl space structure...slab floors are another story). They actually live in the ground and just feed on the building. They can usually be identified by crawling under the buliding and looking around the perimeter and the piers for these tunnels. It is possible they could come up inside concrete blocks, but this usually isn't their only entrance and others are visible. They damage slowly, but are not to be taken lightly.

It is difficult to buy chemical that is effective against them due to changes in federal law. Chlorodane worked, but was said to damage the environment and cause cancer. Look at some of the links given in this thread for chemicals. One can usually "spot" treat and kill them without doing the entire building, but a pest control company will insist on treating the entire building. I have personally found spot treating to be 100% effective.

It is not unusual for a pest control inspector to come from under a house with a piece of termite infested wood that he carried there, just to make a sale. It is unlikely that he would/could infest a building because it takes a queen to form a colony.

The cost depends on a lot of things, such as size and accessibility, but $1000 is not unusual.

Ed

[DontPanic 0]

Quote

They must return to the ground regularly for moisture, so they will make visible tunnels of dirt going up to the structure (assuming a crawl space structure...slab floors are another story). They actually live in the ground and just feed on the building.

You should be aware that in the Southern U.S., a new termite, called the Formosan, is making inroads. They are very prevelant in New Orleans right now, and are beginning to show up in Mobile, AL. I'm not sure about Texas.

These termites don't need to return to ground, which makes killing them much harder.

IMHO, you have some time to talk to a few exterminators. Typically, you don't have to act so fast you can't get a few quotes and different opinions. But you should definately be working diligently on addressing the issue.

[Steel 0]

thanks, and thanks to everybody else. I will read up on some of the links and see what I can do about securing the perimeter of the house.

If I could make a wish, I think I'd pass.
Can't think of anything I need
No cigarettes, no sleep, no light, no sound.
Nothing to eat, no books to read.

[wmw999 2,589]

I'm in Houston, and I had termite treatment about 4 years ago. I had tunnels along the foundation (they can be hard to see -- in crevices and corners and the like).

One thing to consider is that if you want to sell your house eventually, you will probably have to disclose that you had termites at one time; treatment by a certified professional (it was under $1000 for me), particularly if he can provide a warranty with inspections, can go a long way towards making it clear to potential buyers that the danger is in the past, and not the future.

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[marcandalysse 0]

get a professional!

there are two kinds of termites here, one type lives outside and comes in to munch, the other lives full time in the wood.

we have a terminex system around our house. its a bunch of bait sticks that the pro checks out every few months. it only works for the ones that live outside. if the pro finds termites chewing away on the bait, he replaces it with poisons.... they just move somewhere else and after a while they come back and the process is repeated forever!

the ones that live in wood means tenting the entire house and spraying inside.....yuch!

[QuickDraw 0]

I would see a doctor as soon as possible.

-- Hope you don't die. --

I'm fucking winning

[skybill 22]

Hi Steelie,
You gotta look before ya leap!! Termites are sly and crafty characters!! They will eat into a painted2x4 board and just leave the paint!! As a real estate agent said when I pointed out a house I wanted to look at,"No I already cased that one out and if the termites quit holding hands it'll collapse on top of us!!" Best bet if you got em in your house is get a pro to kill em and get a contract (Year to year) if they show back up the agent will 86 them again. Hope you don't get those formosan mites like they have in New Orleans!!

SCR-2034, SCS-680

III%,
Deli-out

[mnealtx 0]

Nuke it from orbit...it's the only way to be sure...

Mike
I love you, Shannon and Jim.
POPS 9708 , SCR 14706