15 Questions and Answers on Termite Control
Information courtesy of Insight Pest Solutions
Stay calm, termites aren’t an immediate threat unless the building is literally on the verge of collapse, which is quite rare. Termites do not bite humans or transfer diseases.
Get quotes and hire a pest/termite professional. Look for reviews, discuss with neighbors, and ask hard questions about pricing and warranties.
It rarely hurts to get a second opinion. Get all of the facts and details straight before you authorize any work!
If needed, make repairs to the home. Your termite specialist may be able to recommend a contractor if you need a referral.
When selling your house, be sure to disclose that you have experienced and successfully resolved termite issues. Discuss whether your warranty is transferrable to the buyer.
To control subterranean termites, liquid treatments or baits are typically used. For drywood termite control, tenting and fumigating a structure is the most common treatment. In the vast majority of cases, new homes receive a termite treatment during construction that lasts anywhere from 6 months to 5 years, depending on application procedures, product quality, and environmental factors.
When responsibly used by licensed professionals, no. Thankfully, the dangerous products that leave a residual for several decades have been outlawed.
Applications are designed to bind with the soil so extended benefit can be achieved; however the products have been specifically formulated to breakdown to protect the environment. The products themselves are very similar to the products that would be used on or in a consumer’s home.
If a drywood termite treatment is performed with a fumigant, you need to leave for 1-2 days.
Also, if an interior liquid treatment is needed, you may need to stay out of that room for a couple hours.
Contact kill applications will eradicate those that are treated but will not eradicate the entire colony. Attempting to solve the problem on your own may lead to further damage and frustration.
Baits can be effective; however there is no guarantee that they will find the bait or prefer the bait over the cellulose discovered in the home. Liquid applications may not kill the termites either but placing the liquid in all areas where termites may enter the structure (including underground) yields a much higher chance of preventing access and damage to the home.
If a new slab has been poured, in many cases sub-slab injections will be required to achieve optimal results. This will require drilling through a concrete slab which may include garages, porches, patios, etc.
Before a home is built, termite resistant barriers such as uniform-sized particles and stainless steel screening can be installed between the home and the soil. When used as continuous horizontal barriers installed during pre-construction, these barriers withstood intensive foraging activities of several termite species under field conditions. However, these non-chemical barriers are not widely used at this time, so discuss options with building contractors. For homes without active termite barriers, preventing or reducing conducive conditions is the best organic option. (See Takeaways at the bottom)
This varies drastically depending on the size and type of the structure, type of treatment required, type of product used and type of warranty offered or selected. Treatment costs can vary from $600-$2000+.
Termite treatments are more costly due to the substantial increase of time and products required as well as the increased liability the company accepts when a warrantee is provided.
No. If a termite crawls through the products that protect your home from ants and spiders, it will die. However, termites regularly gain access to homes without contacting any areas treated on a regular pest control service plan.
Although termites are not “pushed” to the neighbors’ homes, their homes may be in danger just as your home was. When one food source is removed they will seek another food source.
The absence of Termites, or the discontinuation of further damage are both good signs that the application worked. However, a warranty and routine inspections are important because most termite damage is not easily visible.
Structural repairs to replace damaged framing members will be required to safely support your home. Cosmetic repairs such as damage to finish carpentry may be desired by the homeowner.
1. What should I do if I have termites?
Stay calm, termites aren’t an immediate threat unless the building is literally on the verge of collapse, which is quite rare. Termites do not bite humans or transfer diseases.
Get quotes and hire a pest/termite professional. Look for reviews, discuss with neighbors, and ask hard questions about pricing and warranties.
It rarely hurts to get a second opinion. Get all of the facts and details straight before you authorize any work!
If needed, make repairs to the home. Your termite specialist may be able to recommend a contractor if you need a referral.
When selling your house, be sure to disclose that you have experienced and successfully resolved termite issues. Discuss whether your warranty is transferrable to the buyer.
2. How are termites controlled?
To control subterranean termites, liquid treatments or baits are typically used. For drywood termite control, tenting and fumigating a structure is the most common treatment. In the vast majority of cases, new homes receive a termite treatment during construction that lasts anywhere from 6 months to 5 years, depending on application procedures, product quality, and environmental factors.
3. Will these termite products (termiticides) harm the environment?
When responsibly used by licensed professionals, no. Thankfully, the dangerous products that leave a residual for several decades have been outlawed.
Applications are designed to bind with the soil so extended benefit can be achieved; however the products have been specifically formulated to breakdown to protect the environment. The products themselves are very similar to the products that would be used on or in a consumer’s home.
4. Will I have to leave the home for the treatment?
If a drywood termite treatment is performed with a fumigant, you need to leave for 1-2 days.
Also, if an interior liquid treatment is needed, you may need to stay out of that room for a couple hours.
5. Can’t I just spray termites with bug spray when I find them?
Contact kill applications will eradicate those that are treated but will not eradicate the entire colony. Attempting to solve the problem on your own may lead to further damage and frustration.
6. Why do you have to drill holes in concrete and dig a small trench around the house?
Baits can be effective; however there is no guarantee that they will find the bait or prefer the bait over the cellulose discovered in the home. Liquid applications may not kill the termites either but placing the liquid in all areas where termites may enter the structure (including underground) yields a much higher chance of preventing access and damage to the home.
7. What if I added an attached garage or other addition to my home?
If a new slab has been poured, in many cases sub-slab injections will be required to achieve optimal results. This will require drilling through a concrete slab which may include garages, porches, patios, etc.
8. Are there any organic solutions or home remedies?
Before a home is built, termite resistant barriers such as uniform-sized particles and stainless steel screening can be installed between the home and the soil. When used as continuous horizontal barriers installed during pre-construction, these barriers withstood intensive foraging activities of several termite species under field conditions. However, these non-chemical barriers are not widely used at this time, so discuss options with building contractors. For homes without active termite barriers, preventing or reducing conducive conditions is the best organic option. (See Takeaways at the bottom)
9. How much does it cost to treat for termites?
This varies drastically depending on the size and type of the structure, type of treatment required, type of product used and type of warranty offered or selected. Treatment costs can vary from $600-$2000+.
10. Why is a termite treatment so much more expensive than a regular pest control treatment?
Termite treatments are more costly due to the substantial increase of time and products required as well as the increased liability the company accepts when a warrantee is provided.
11. If I have a seasonal pest control service for ants, spiders, mice, wasps, etc., does that mean I don’t have to worry about termites?
No. If a termite crawls through the products that protect your home from ants and spiders, it will die. However, termites regularly gain access to homes without contacting any areas treated on a regular pest control service plan.
12. Will the termites be pushed toward my neighbors if I get a treatment?
Although termites are not “pushed” to the neighbors’ homes, their homes may be in danger just as your home was. When one food source is removed they will seek another food source.
13. How can I tell that the treatment worked?
The absence of Termites, or the discontinuation of further damage are both good signs that the application worked. However, a warranty and routine inspections are important because most termite damage is not easily visible.
14. What types of home repairs are typically needed after a termite infestation?
Structural repairs to replace damaged framing members will be required to safely support your home. Cosmetic repairs such as damage to finish carpentry may be desired by the homeowner.
15. How can I find out more about termites?
- Read Termite 5: 5 Q&A, 5 Busted Myths, 5 Prevention Tips
- See the full Termite Infographic at: Everything a Homeowner Needs To Know About Termites and Termite Control
