| reply to lmacmil
you get what you pay for? a lot depends on the contractor doing the treatment. unfortunately there are folks in the industry that charge for treatments and don't apply any (termidor). termidor is a good product but as with anything else, it needs to be applied and monitored by someone who knows what their doing. some in the trade are content to sell treatment coupled with triple digit annual damage renewal contract premiums, fully prepared to hire a cut rate contractor to do damage repairs if something does happen.
both systems work if properly installed and monitored. there are factors (soil makeup, moisture, debris) that an experienced contractor will be aware of and adjust his/her treatment accordingly. if your concerned by reinfestation, there are bait monitors that can be installed in the problem area. best approach is to do monthly inspections yourself. if house is built on a slab, check for cracks and patch. termites look for moisture, if there's a leak somewhere or a downspout in the area, you need to dry it up. if there's underground wood debris, firewood etc. move it out. no entrance, no water, no food = no termites. |
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lmacmil
join:2001-01-26
South Bend, IN | said by builderbob :
if house is built on a slab, check for cracks and patch.
The family room, laundry and 1/2 bath are on a slab (same slab as the garage.) As you would expect, the living space floors are covered with carpeting or vinyl so cracks can't be seen. I will never buy another house with slab construction. |
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| DIY folks tend to go overboard when termite infestation is found. if you don't see swarms in spring, any tubes found may be old. one solution might be to rebuild with pressure treated lumber. more expense but may be worth the peace of mind? you can also pretreat lumber (DIY) with borate spray. I would replace all material that appears infested. |
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robbinPremium,MVM
join:2000-09-21
Leander, TX
kudos:1 | As far as do-it-yourself is concerned, Termidor is readily available online. It is not a really dangerous chemical. Termidor contains the active ingredient Fipronil which is the same ingredient in Frontline flea preventative for dogs and cats. Frontline plus has an additional ingredient (Methoprene). The point is Termidor is not extremely dangerous to humans or hazardous to apply. |
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2 edits | The fact is a fact! Termidor also helped us get rid of termites and as far as I have read on do it yourself forums it's the most recommended tool/method/substance for termite extermination. And the price is ok!
Well, you won't see daily such a thread on DSL forums 
Josh |
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