Home termite remedy?

[Lar]

In article , [e-mail] says... :) Thanks. So far, I called 2 exterminators, and both will only :) come out and do an inspection on the condition that, if they :) find termites, we agree to let them do the work and bill my :) insurance company. I would never agree to such terms as :) these. :) :) The only thing with that is, insurance does not cover termite work. Every exterminator will know that. Where are you located at?

[Lar]

In article , [e-mail] says... :) :) Being in Hawaii myself and having spot treated with Term-Out for years, :) question(s): :) :) - is this safe around pets (cats to be exact) :) - is it safe to spray upwards (crawlspace under the house, attic) :) (the MSDS looks it it ought to be - Termout isn't so nice to get :) on oneself) Resmethrin is one of the older pyrethroids. Pyrethroids are more toxic in the concentrate, but is used at very low rates which will make the working solutions extremely low toxic. Resmethrin was a popular treatment to spray the carpets for fleas 20 years ago, but it had a tendency to smell like cat pee in areas where the sunshine would hit it. The pyrethroids will stop activity of the termites where applied, but the longevity of of resmethrin specifically, probably won't be too long lived after application. If you are treating subterranean termites with it, what they will do is just side step the chemical and emerge from the ground elsewhere. Treating drywoods or arboreal species may depend on early detection and getting the product on them before the colony has had a chance to of grown too much.

[Maren Purves]

If you call an area where that's the case termite country, think again. Around here _every_ house 10 years or older either has been fumigated or should be fumigated (or both).

The inspector showed us the pinholes in the

This means nothing. During terminte season you'll find it everywhere (and termite swarms can happen any time it gets warm enough, which around here can be just about any time of year when it stops raining for long enough)

One of the window sills was so eaten that

This however means that the owners let it go and I probably would have

done the same. (Depends on price, but the house prices around where I am aren't subject to this thread :-) )

they'll come back in eventually, only with ground termites it takes longer (or so I've heard and read, we don't have any). Try that with drywood termites (which is what's rampant around here).

Maren, Hilo, HI.

[Maren Purves]

probably , on subterranean termites all I know is what people who have them told me. (they're 'ubiquitous' in some parts of town, but not where we live. Drywood termites are ubiquitous everywhere in town here, to the point that schools get fumigated on a regular basis.)

Maren

[Elmo]

Don't f*ck around with home remedies. Get a professional.

When we were buying a house in termite country, every offer we made was subject to the results of a termite inspection. We were there when the inspector came at the first house (hereinafter known as Termite Heaven) which had a note on its disclosure that it had been treated and repaired following termite damage. The inspector showed us the pinholes in the walls which were inactive and a few others with "mud" that were active. The wings on a window sill indicated a recent swarm which had not been completely cleaned up after. One of the window sills was so eaten that the paint just lifted off to reveal the active infestation beneath. That offer was withdrawn.

The inspector (who we hired to do regular 6-month inspections at $35 each on the house we later bought) explained that subterranean termite infestations _can_ be ended by trenching around the slab and filling the trench with nasty stuff. This works because a you cut them off from the water they need to survive and they die off in situ. (If you have a crack in the foundation slab that's a different story.) Dry wood termites can only be killed by tenting the house and gassing it with *really* nasty stuff.

[Don]

Hey Tom, I have a few carpenter ants on occaision..................what did you do/use to rid yourself of them? thanks

[Elmo]

That's all we had so I'm guessing that your knowledge of the life-cycle of subterranean termites is somewhat less than that of a professional in an area where they are ubiquitous.

[stretch]

If you have termites, there is high likelyhood that you have moisture problems. Get rig of the moisture problem and reduce chance for reinfestation. email me with your email address and I will send you an article on drying crawlspaces. Different things work in different climates. Or post your email with spaces around te dot and @.

Stretch Kevin O'Neill sixfoot7 @ sccoast . net

[Norminn]

clipped

Most folks are pretty clueless about termites until they get them. They are not something to dump any old kind of poison on if you value your home.

The "termite insurance" I am familiar with covers the pest control guy. If you have a recurrance, it pays the cost of treating and repairs, I believe. All of the termite inspections I am familiar with are free, no strings. Of course, if they find termites the average person will have them treated by someone.

[Lar]

In article , [e-mail] says... :) The "termite insurance" I am familiar with covers the pest control guy. :) If you have a recurrance, it pays the cost of treating and repairs, I :) believe. All of the termite inspections I am familiar with are free, no :) strings. Of course, if they find termites the average person will have :) them treated by someone. :) Companies will either offer a retreat warranty or a damage repair warranty. I don't offer the damage repair due to the companies that do offer it usually are well over $1000 higher than my treatment costs (mine avg $800-$1000)and the yearly renewals (mine average $115-$145) can be well over double. Along it gets to pretty much of a beating having the "damage claim manager" give excuses as why their company isn't liable for any damage found. The National average a few years ago for repair claims was around $300.

[Fred]

at

pyrethrin

bottl

much.

give

only

they

my

offer

Maybe some do, but so far I haven't found any around here. I'm in Orange Co, Calif. When we bought the house, it had been tented recently, but still were droppings in the garage. None of the termite services would come for a fee then either.

[Fred]

Orange Co, Calif.

will only

if they

bill my

as

termite work.

at?

[Fred]

popping up in

try a DIY job.

Just trying to learn a little about any service I'm not familiar with before writing a check. Sounds like you got a great deal, though, for $600 and $50/year. Will make a few calls in the morning. Like you, I would much prefer a pro do the job.

chemicals and

spotted

also have a

yearly inspection

well spent.

[Fred]

Thanks, Kevin! Here you go.... all suggestions are welcome... lexmark8792@ YANKTHISOUT yahoo.com.

have moisture

chance for

will send you an

different

and @.

[Fred]

professional in

people who

to the point

I guess I'll have to get in my ubiquitous car, go down to ubiquitous hardware and buy some ubiquitous spray.