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Squanchy

Squanchy

Keep on squanchin
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First time homeowner here, let me start this off by saying I try to save a buck anywhere I can.

I was told by my real estate agent the house we bought was termite bonded till the end of the year. I came home to a note on Sunday from terminex that they are going to pull my bait stations up. So I guess the realtor had her information wrong. Anyway I already spray monthly with talstar professional insecticide that takes care of ants and also states subterranean termite protection if sprayed properly. Just being extra careful should I buy these ground bait stations for termites? Terminex uses bait stations so I assume that's the best?


 
Terminex quoted $295 for termite protection and $99 down and $39 a month for pest protection.

Termite protection is bait stations and a warranty if termites get in. I assume there's probably fine print somewhere I was not given any clauses just a phone conversation.
 
Termites are the Devil! There are a few things many over look when dealing with preventing them moving in and staying. The first thing is treating the top of the soils with a “sprinkle” really does little good … soaking the soil entirely around the foundation is really the best cure and prevention … many gallons of good stuff (Termidor is great and is guaranteed for 10 year or so). A big application thing is going along the edge with a trowel or such and breaking the dirt‘s surface open a little for it to sink in … not run off.

Also keep “food” from attracting them anymore than possible. Do not store wood, cardboard or such under the house if possible and if you do keep it away from the foundation and off the ground on cinderblocks. Don’t stack up the wood pile next to your house (it attracts other “critters” than can get in your house also). If they don’t have an easy meal to start they may not try to move in at all.

As to the bond … you’re gonna pay a yearly “inspection” fee … which should be $75 or so Buck for the guy to come out, due a termite inspection and tell you about the conditions he sees. That bond is important when you go to sell the house … the bond is worth it.

As to DIY … if you have a company treat it with a 10 year treatment like Termidor you pay once & cry once and only have the yearly inspection. I also don’t think you’ll get a bond with that … just my 2¢.
 

I havent done squat in 32 years other than get a quote where the company estimated it would take 80 gallons of poison in and around my house to treat it. No thanks. And I got a terminix quote but thought the bait stations were a joke but apparently NC Ag Extsn is down with it. I just had my crawl space cleaned out and minimally encapsulated. If those guys had found termites they would have wanted to charge me to spray for them. Need to check my homeowners insurance and see what they say.
 
I paid for the termidor treatment, then I went to DIYPestControl and bought a few jugs of it for myself. I reapply it whenever I do work near the foundation or put down new mulch.

Have a termite bond, but don’t recall if they came out this year, gotta check.
 
The bait stations attract any termites in the area and they take the bait back to any nest. If you are really worried about get the company to do it. Otherwise get the bait spikes at lowes and do it yourself. I have several friends that do it themselves and the stations have a little pop up when it's out of bait to let you know.
 
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Cowboy said:
The bait stations attract any termites in the area and they take the bait back to any nest. If you are really worried about get the company to do it. Otherwise get the bait spikes at lowes and do it yourself. I have several friends that do it themselves and the stations have a little pop up when it's out of bait to let you know.
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I asked a termite guy about this, he said that they aren’t attractants, the termites find them randomly and then chow down. Seemed better to me to just treat the place.
 
agree with NCFubar:

"As to the bond … you’re gonna pay a yearly “inspection” fee …
which should be $75 or so Buck for the guy to come out,
due a termite inspection and tell you about the conditions he sees.
(important part)
That bond is important when you go to sell the house … the bond is worth it."
 
JimB said:
I asked a termite guy about this, he said that they aren’t attractants, the termites find them randomly and then chow down. Seemed better to me to just treat the place.
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My termite guy said they smell and are attracted to them like crack when they find it. That's why they put them every 3-4 ft. Kind of like you said not gonna bring them in from the neighbors yard.
 
find out where the farmers get their chemicals. go there and get the real stuff, not the cheap crap lowes sells. make sure to wear eye protections, chemical gloves, and a respirator, cause that stuff aint no joke.
 
Fire ant will eat them, but then you have fire ants. We just sold a house we lived in for 21 years. When the buyer asked if we had a termite contract with anyone I told them I have never even had the house sprayed. When they did there inspection the guy found no trace of termites or damage. @Burt Gummer can testify that I had a nice herd of fire ants on call at all times
 
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We use Home Team pest control and have for several years. They have performed good service with no complaints. We do inside for bugs and outside for termites. It is about $600 annually for all of it I believe.
 
Majicmike said:
Fire ant will eat them, but then you have fire ants. We just sold a house we lived in for 21 years. When the buyer asked if we had a termite contract with anyone I told them I have never even had the house sprayed. When they did there inspection the guy found no trace of termites or damage. @Burt Gummer can testify that I had a nice herd of fire ants on call at all times
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Hers is right. And thanks to you, there’s 100 piles of them coming down my driveway
 
I spray these pesticides every 3 weeks:

-Bifen IT (generic Talstar P): Instant kill repellent for broad spectrum, including termites

-Permethrin SFR 36.8% - primarily mosquito control

-Tekko Pro (growth regulator, lasts 7 months but I add it every other month or so. Not completely sold on the effectiveness of this, tbh, but I use it)

-Applied with this backpack fogger

Takes 15 minutes & we have literally zero bugs. Higher upfront cost but it’s cheaper in the long run - under $7/spray last time I mathed it.

I do this for all my neighbors now, more than covering my cost
 
There are a few things I won’t mess with myself. Termite protections is one of them.

I called around to quite a few places until I found one that used real chemicals.

Wilson and sons came in, dug a 6 inch deep trench around the house and poured it full of chemicals.

They drilled and pumped chemicals every 6 inches wherever there was concrete close to the house and drilled into the cinder block wall in the garage and did the same.

Then they inspected everywhere.

They come out every 4 months to reinspect to spray for bugs and ants etc. $75 a trip.

And once a year $125 for the termite inspection.

Worth every damn penny.

Good people with similar beliefs and tv viewing habits as me so we talk a bit when they come out.
 
Chdamn said:
Wilson and sons came in, dug a 6 inch deep trench around the house and poured it full of chemicals.

They drilled and pumped chemicals every 6 inches wherever there was concrete close to the house and drilled into the cinder block wall in the garage and did the same.
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This is the actual way to treat a home for termite. They are subterranean and the ground itself needs to be treated. Spike and bait traps are a hopeful approach, but you have to treat the soil under the house.

This can be done the Harry Homeowner way with Bifen IT. They have a dosage amount for treating the soil around a home, but it requires digging.

Companies inject it in the ground.
 
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