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There are situations where a conventional termite treatment is very problematic, undesirable, or even impossible. Some situations call require specific handling, others may require alternative approaches. As an example:

The treatment necessitates extensive drilling of flooring slabs through wooden, tiled or carpeted floors, or through other masonry which could be damaged.

Liquid treatment may be prohibited, e.g., there's a well or cistern under or too near the foundation wall.

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Liquid treatment is considered unacceptable for whatever reason. The treatment requires drilling of floor slabs through wooden, tiled or carpeted floors, or through other masonry or you do not want liquid pesticides employed under/around your residence. In these situations, there are only a few alternatives such as termite baits or mechanical control (currently available only for homes under construction). .

Wood TreatmentsAlthough local or"place" wood treatments prevent termite activity in the treated area, they are not complete termite treatments and they will not stop termites from attacking wood in other areas. One treatment option uses the compound disodium octaborate tetrahydrate (DOT). This borax-derived compound is applied to critical wooden structural components in the crawlspace and regions of the framing in a house under construction.

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But, depending on the type of construction involved, it may be possible for termites to bypass this treatment and attack nearby untreated wood such as baseboard molding, trimming, etc.. Chemicals that are suitable for wood treatments are listed in the current edition of the North Carolina Agricultural Chemicals Manual. .

FumigationIn North Carolina, structural fumigation (occasionally called"tenting") is seldom used for our common subterranean termites. Most residential fumigations are performed for drywood termites, which are rather uncommon in North Carolina, or for wood-boring beetles especially in log houses.

In most cases, the termite treatment on your house includes a one-year termite protection warranty from the pest control company. After one year, you must decide if you want to continue your contract. The cost of a renewal for a home that was treated with a liquid termiticide is typically between $85-$200, depending on the size and construction type of the house and possibly the kind of guarantee (explained below).

Remember: termites are constantly around us and constantly looking for"meals" (wood). That fact alone does not mean that they are constantly attacking your residence. It simply means there is always some chance that termites could find their way unseen into your house. .

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The US Environmental Protection Agency requires that termiticide manufacturers establish that their chemicals can remain effective more helpful hints in the soil for at least five decades. In most situations, these chemicals usually last longer when implemented properly. But this 5-year requirement is not a guarantee that termites cannot (or will not) invade your house within a five year period.

These kinds of situations can provide termites with opportunities to invade the house. .

Annual termite contracts are somewhat like health insurance policies. You're paying to guard your house against the possibility of termite attack. An annual contract can be an effective method of preventing termites from causing significant harm over the years. Similarly, this 5-year requirement from the EPA does not mean that the chemical is completely ineffective after 5 decades.

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It's important to understand that an annual contract does not mean that the pest control company re-treats your house every year. Unless there is some evidence of termite activity in the home, annual treatments are actually prohibited under most termiticide labels (and therefore illegal under the state and national law).

When they find evidence of termite activity or if you find evidence of termite activity, then the company requires some appropriate measures, usually a local or'spot' treatment of the infested region. You ought not have to pay for any additional treatment to fix a problem; that cost is covered by your annual fee.

By way of example, routine house maintenance helps prevents moisture issues or other conditions which are conducive to termite activity in the region, i.e., if termites find such area, they are more likely to remain active or expand their activity in that region. Be certain the termite inspector explains any problem areas that read this article he/she finds during the check over here inspections so that you can fix these problems as soon as possible.

If you're not home when the home is inspected, the inspector must leave some sort of notice or report regarding his/her findings. If you're not clear on the outcomes, phone the company's office and ask them to explain if anything important was found. .

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Does my contract coverage termite damageAn important point about your contract concerns damage. Many people assume that their contract mechanically covers damage fixes, but that is not always the case. Many termite protection contracts provide"retreatment only", i.e., the pest control company will escape areas as necessary in order to correct the problem, however the retreatment is they are obligated to do under the conditions of this kind of contract.