FU: Termite swarm in basement — Estimate cost for treatment... drumroll please

[OWC Jamie]

Buck wrote:
If I ever build a house, it will be steel, concrete and glass. Modern design.
Won't burn, won't rot, no termites, and lasts forever.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-...ified.html

[3d]

neophyte wrote:
In my experience, bait systems are iffy at best. You already have bait: your house.

My experience is with Terminix:
1) Their bait was un-poisoned Aspen stakes. "Their favorite food". I told the rep New England termites had never tasted Aspen, but they were known to like Pine. "Blank stare"
2) They do not put in poisoned Aspen until the un-poisoned bait has been eaten. See 1). And the termites were already living in the Pine 2x4s and destroying the house while Terminix waited for evidence of feeding on their bait.

So, make sure your "bait" is poisoned to begin with. Good luck.

Part of the termite control business model is putting in un-poisoned bait for the initial $1000 install. Hollow plastic spikes all around the house with 5-cent wood strips inside. When they come annually to check on the wood strips and see termite activity, they swap out the wood strip in that one single spike with poisoned bait. If you ever cancel the annual contract what are you left with? 19 plastic spikes with wood in them. You have to keep paying the annual fee to get the poisoned bait when they deem it necessary.

If the termite control company puts all poisoned bait all around the house to begin with in that $1000 initial install. The homeowner wouldn't bother with the annual contract. The wood to poison swap is what keeps them in business year after year with annual contracts.

[jdc]

Buck wrote:
If I ever build a house, it will be steel, concrete and glass. Modern design.
Won't burn, won't rot, no termites, and lasts forever.

Ive got just the place: http://www.luxuryhomemagazine.com/siliconvalley/39920

[samintx]

cbelt3 wrote:
House insurance.
2 gallons of gasoline : $5
Railroad Flare : $2
X(

I think you have the most effective solution except the house insurance would be expensive.miley-gen013:

[rgG]

3d wrote:
[quote=neophyte]
In my experience, bait systems are iffy at best. You already have bait: your house.

My experience is with Terminix:
1) Their bait was un-poisoned Aspen stakes. "Their favorite food". I told the rep New England termites had never tasted Aspen, but they were known to like Pine. "Blank stare"
2) They do not put in poisoned Aspen until the un-poisoned bait has been eaten. See 1). And the termites were already living in the Pine 2x4s and destroying the house while Terminix waited for evidence of feeding on their bait.

So, make sure your "bait" is poisoned to begin with. Good luck.

Part of the termite control business model is putting in un-poisoned bait for the initial $1000 install. Hollow plastic spikes all around the house with 5-cent wood strips inside. When they come annually to check on the wood strips and see termite activity, they swap out the wood strip in that one single spike with poisoned bait. If you ever cancel the annual contract what are you left with? 19 plastic spikes with wood in them. You have to keep paying the annual fee to get the poisoned bait when they deem it necessary.

If the termite control company puts all poisoned bait all around the house to begin with in that $1000 initial install. The homeowner wouldn't bother with the annual contract. The wood to poison swap is what keeps them in business year after year with annual contracts.
This.
The reason they don't do Termidor, is it is a once and done for at least ten or more years and they can't gouge you every year. The bait things are a huge rip off, IMHO.
I would try to find a company that would do the Termidor, but in NY, it might be hard. Good luck to you.

[cbelt3]

Paul F. wrote:
So, what you're sayin' is, "dust off, nuke the site from orbit... it's the only way to be sure"... is that it?

[rexs]

Several years ago I had 3 yards of 3-way soil delivered by a local farm and garden supply store. A couple of weeks later I noticed a small pile of saw dust around the base of one of the 4x4 support posts for the deck. As I stood there trying to figure out where that had come from, there was a piece of saw dust floating down. followed by another and another. At the top of the 4x4 an ant came to the edge and spit the sawdust chip at me and disappeared, followed by another, followed by another, followed by....

I tried everything available at the local hardware store. Most were some version of a bait food that they would take back to the nest and "Kill them at the Source". It only made them stronger.
I then went back and bought a bag of " termite death spray", , emptying a full can directly into the crack at the top of post. The termites came flooding out , forcing me to institute a live single person shooter dual to the death as the ants left the nest. The bag of death spray lasted long enough to for me to declare victory.
I had one post to deal with. The idea that the entire house would be infiltrated is terrifying.

[macphanatic]

cbelt3 wrote:
House insurance.
2 gallons of gasoline : $5
Railroad Flare : $2
X(

If you have natural gas or propane, you don't need either. Just saying. :wink:

[SteveO]

I've read that fipronil (same stuff as in Frontline, etc) is very effective on termites.

EDIT: Of course the only problem is getting them to sit still long enough to apply it to the back of their necks. miley-laughing001:

[OWC Jamie]

LOL