Termites

[deerefan]

I live in a very rural area, lots of woods surround me. I was told a time back when I asked about treating my house for termites that it was not really a big problem for me b/c the termites have plenty to eat in the forests and probably won't bother my home. Any truth to this and if not how do you guys prevent termites?

 

[brin]

We built our house 5 yrs. ago and paid $400 or so to have it treated for termites and let it go at that..we are also surrounded by woods..My neighbor on the other hand pays a huge amount of money to the termite folks every so often for treatment..I pass on that .we are on a basement with poured walls and I keep a close eye out for any dirt tunnels..never have seen one and until I do I will keep my money in my pocket. Even if you have a termite problem, they don't eat your house overnight..you will , in my opinion spend far more trying to prevent it than you will to repair termite damage if it ever happens..you just have to check around your foundation walls at least once a year. Just my opinion and experience.

 

[arrabil]

Just don't store your firewood in the basement like the idiot previous owners did in our house! Cause once they're in, they don't know there is a forest outside.

 

[tallyho8]

If your house is on piers, you must have termite shields like in the photo. If it is on a slab, you get the ground treated before you pour the slab and usually again around the slab.

This is just for subterranean termites which are the most common in our area. Just cross your fingers that you don't get Formosan termites.

 

[winston1]

Termites don't eat live trees. They eat dead wood. They can do lot's of damage and many times you can have them and not know it till you bump a piece of trim or something and a hole shows up. They only eat the internals of the wood, trying their best to not let you know their around. If you are on a slab they will tunnel under and come up around your plumbing, etc. Not necessarily a dirt tunnel to be seen. Having said all this, I personally don't have my home treated. I have had them twice but caught them in early stages. I have done treatments myself. Being the East Texas redneck that I am for several years now I take my used motor oil and pour it around my slab edges. Please don't turn me in! It really is not that damaging to grass or my wifes flowers. Haven't had any termites since I begin this practice.

 

[heehaw]

i was in a farm supply store a couple years ago: they had some boxes of something, can't even remember what, stacked right in the middle of the show room floor: to their surprise, the concrete floor had cracked under the boxes, an termites ate almost everything available, before they noticed. an the slab was pretreated prior to pouring the concrete: the termite co was retreating the place an paid for the loss:
heehaw

 

[20 20]

I live in a very rural area, lots of woods surround me. I was told a time back when I asked about treating my house for termites that it was not really a big problem for me b/c the termites have plenty to eat in the forests and probably won't bother my home. Any truth to this and if not how do you guys prevent termites?

Look at it this way your house will be made of wood. Does the termite care which wood is which, or is interested in just eating and building in the easiest spot?

I treated my house while I was building, it was cheap and from everything I've read and researched it should be fine for close to 75yrs. I used a borax mix and a sprayer. I had used borax before for other critter{boring beetles} problems and I have to say it work real good. All you have to do is spray it on your lumber, plus it's organic{only deadly to insects}. When they go to eat the lumber they also eat some of the borax{and take it back to the queen} and can't digest it, THEY DIE . The only catch with borax is that it has to be where it won't be washed of, like in rain etc.

 

[heehaw]

where do you get the borax an how much per gallon of water?? i bet that would work on carpenter bees/ants too: an the bees are really putting the hurt on a couple sheds.
heehaw

 

[brin]

where do you get the borax an how much per gallon of water?? i bet that would work on carpenter bees/ants too: an the bees are really putting the hurt on a couple sheds.
heehaw

heehaw - I pasted an old TBN thread below that covers Borax pretty well..looks like just 20 Mule Team Borax will do the trick...
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/rural-living/98799-diy-termite-prevention.html

 

[20 20]

Heehaw, Brin is correct, 20 mule team, can be bought most anywhere. I believe the last I bought came from walmart{Don't care for the store but ya gotta do what ya gotta do }. Depending on what type of sprayer you'll use will depend on how much to try and thin. I used a cheap pump sprayer at 1st and mixed with HOT water. The HOT water seemed to help disolve the stuff. It will clog up the sprayer especailly if you leave it for any length of time. I ended up using my cheapo sand blaster attachment now. It doesn't clog and really splatz{if that is a word } the borax into/on the wood. When I was done my wood looked white and I covered every little crack and crevice. Some folks like to mix it with anti-freeze to help it stick plus the anti-freeze is a poison. I wanted to stay as organic as possible. If I'm not mistaken in the forestry forum they talk about it in detail????

 

[heehaw]

we have used 20 mule team borax for years as a washing "booster" to aid in cleaning some loads of clothes: i have two boxes of it in the utility room now: have not thought about using it for killin bugs, but will sure give it a shot: i bought bifenit off ebay the last couple years an have used it extensively to combat critters: an it seems to work pretty well. i use a hose end sprayer around the house, an the first time i sprayed it last year, it looked like the yard was moving, there were so many little black hard shelled bugs that started running around everywhere: each time i sprayed it was less an less: but still haven't gotten rid of all of them...but sure reducing the numbers.
heehaw

 

[kenstrac]

I bought a house down south a couple of years ago and according to that states law it must have a termite inspection,that was done 2 weeks before we signed,well it must have been a drive by inspection at 60mph ,3mos after moving in my wife calls me and the attached garage is full of termites also the laundry and kitchen they went right through the Sheetrock,the walls looked like some shot it with #6 bird shot.
I called the exterminator and he went outside and drilled holes every 16" through the brick and sprayed this house was only 1 1/2 years old this cost me $3k
A word of advice the seller must have the inspection done by state law find a reputable inspector and have your own test done.Hire a reputable exterminator to come on a yearly schedule ,it's cheaper in the long run.

 

[arrabil]

Our inspection had a guarantee. If there were termites found after they claimed there weren't any they would eliminate them for free. I think it was a three year guarantee but it might have been two.

 

[tallyho8]

I bought a house down south a couple of years ago and according to that states law it must have a termite inspection,that was done 2 weeks before we signed,well it must have been a drive by inspection at 60mph ,3mos after moving in my wife calls me and the attached garage is full of termites also the laundry and kitchen they went right through the Sheetrock,the walls looked like some shot it with #6 bird shot.
I called the exterminator and he went outside and drilled holes every 16" through the brick and sprayed this house was only 1 1/2 years old this cost me $3k
A word of advice the seller must have the inspection done by state law find a reputable inspector and have your own test done.Hire a reputable exterminator to come on a yearly schedule ,it's cheaper in the long run.

If you have an inspection certificate stating the house is free of termites then you should consult an attorney. You have a valid claim for damages against the inspector.

 

[herd]

If you have an inspection certificate stating the house is free of termites then you should consult an attorney. You have a valid claim for damages against the inspector.

I live in SC, 'bout 60 miles inland. It is foolish and foohardy to think that one can forego a termite pre-treat and an ongoing annual spraying of termiticide. These pests are atrocious and if you build today without termite treatment, I promise you that you will have termites before the end of next year, most likely in the Spring when they swarm.

 

[Pops15]

I live in a very rural area, lots of woods surround me. I was told a time back when I asked about treating my house for termites that it was not really a big problem for me b/c the termites have plenty to eat in the forests and probably won't bother my home. Any truth to this and if not how do you guys prevent termites?

Have you inspected your house for termites? You're at higher risk for termites if you have a slab floor or block foundation. They can build their tunnels in the inside of the blocks where you can't see them.

I have seen termites eating LIVE bushes and trees. That was in an area that has a huge termite problem. They were so bad they'd eat all but the exposed surface of 2X4 scrap on the ground in about 3 days. Needless to say the guy we built that house for had his place treated.

Even if the termites don't eat your live trees they can feed off fallen trees and limbs in your woods.
Termites have to have a source of water. When they treat for termites they usually don't try to kill them in the wood. They treat around the foundation so when they travel back into the ground for water they'll go through the poison. If you have a roof or plumbing leak they won't need to travel back to the ground for water.

If you have firewood sitting on the ground you're looking for trouble. If you have firewood sitting on the ground and leaning against your house you're all but inviting termites to dine on your house.

Inspect your house for termites. Look for the obvious tunnels. Use an ice pick to check the sill plate, rim joist, joist ends, and beam.
There's a local pest control company that is notorious for giving clean reports when houses are actually heavily infested with termites.

Once you have termites the damage can come slowly or it can be very rapid. I worked in a hospital that has a termite problem. They replace the 3/4" solid oak paneling in the lobby every 16-18 months. Thats how long it takes the termites to eat through 3/4" of oak. They just leave a paper thin layer of wood with the finish on it.

Do yourself a favor. Have your house treated! Repairs can get expensive in a hurry when you're replacing the sill plate and joists. Inspect for termites at least once a year. You can do the inspection yourself. If you don't find any signs of termites don't buy the annual contract the exterminator will try to sell you. Make sure the ground is graded to run water away from your house.

 

[tallyho8]

I knew there was a termite problem in a small house I bought as a rental but since the land was far more valuable than the price they were asking, I bought it anyway.

The floor was weak and sagging and when we tore off the floorboards to replace them we found the joists were eaten up too. Then we found that all the sills were eaten up. Then we found all the studs in the front and rear wall were bad too.

It would have been cheaper to build a new house and bulldoze that one but the building codes would not allow building a new home without many property improvements that would have cost over $100,000 such as concrete driveway 1/4 mile long, subsurface drainage, etc.

After inspection we found that all the termites came in through an old unused brick chimney which we tore out when we rebuilt.

It is amazing how much strength an old house can have even when practically every board is termite-eaten. This house went through Katrina with no damage even though it was so badly damaged that we had to jack up the roof and build a new house under it.

 

[20 20]

possible silly question, is there a type of soil termites prefer{rich black soil, clay, sand, rock}? I realize they eat wood, just wondering if there is a type of dirt they would rather nest in?

 

[deerefan]

Have you inspected your house for termites? You're at higher risk for termites if you have a slab floor or block foundation. They can build their tunnels in the inside of the blocks where you can't see them.

I have seen termites eating LIVE bushes and trees. That was in an area that has a huge termite problem. They were so bad they'd eat all but the exposed surface of 2X4 scrap on the ground in about 3 days. Needless to say the guy we built that house for had his place treated.

Even if the termites don't eat your live trees they can feed off fallen trees and limbs in your woods.
Termites have to have a source of water. When they treat for termites they usually don't try to kill them in the wood. They treat around the foundation so when they travel back into the ground for water they'll go through the poison. If you have a roof or plumbing leak they won't need to travel back to the ground for water.

If you have firewood sitting on the ground you're looking for trouble. If you have firewood sitting on the ground and leaning against your house you're all but inviting termites to dine on your house.

Inspect your house for termites. Look for the obvious tunnels. Use an ice pick to check the sill plate, rim joist, joist ends, and beam.
There's a local pest control company that is notorious for giving clean reports when houses are actually heavily infested with termites.

Once you have termites the damage can come slowly or it can be very rapid. I worked in a hospital that has a termite problem. They replace the 3/4" solid oak paneling in the lobby every 16-18 months. Thats how long it takes the termites to eat through 3/4" of oak. They just leave a paper thin layer of wood with the finish on it.

Do yourself a favor. Have your house treated! Repairs can get expensive in a hurry when you're replacing the sill plate and joists. Inspect for termites at least once a year. You can do the inspection yourself. If you don't find any signs of termites don't buy the annual contract the exterminator will try to sell you. Make sure the ground is graded to run water away from your house.

I've been doing some minor renovations and have seen no sign of them yet. I spray my house every spring for other pests (roaches, spiders etc) does this stuff kill them? It seems like it would, but I just don't know.

 

[20 20]

I've been doing some minor renovations and have seen no sign of them yet. I spray my house every spring for other pests (roaches, spiders etc) does this stuff kill them? It seems like it would, but I just don't know.

It will only kill them if they come into contact. That's the problem with these little monsters, they're very secretive and sneaky