Termites---Budget Killer

[findmewdw]

We found a swarm of termites in our 20 year old home. We have listened to two pest control companies with both wanting to do different things. One company wants to put out a bait system and the other one wants to use a chemical, Termidor, and make a barrier around our house. Both are between 1200-1500. Yikes!
I'd love to know how other people have dealt with these pests!

 

[PartyFromSaturn]

We just spent $1500 on the chemical method. Total budget buster! It was guaranteed though, so at least we won't be paying anything else on this issue for a while.

We also has a huge tree fall the same week, so we have blown through our emergency house fund, plus some!

 

[1Mouse2RulethemAll]

If the bugs are still flying around, I would get off the shelf termite killer at a home improvement store. If the termites have shed their wings, you'll more than likely have to get professional treatment.

 

[ssawka]

The cost of treatment is far less than the cost of possible damage. We are on a yearly contract with Orkin. Can't remember what the initial outlay was, but I think we now pay about $200 a year. Anyway, we originally got the contract when a friend of mine had damage and it was about $8000 just to get rid of the "buggers" and that wasn't even to repair the damage.

Forgot to add: We initially had the bait system, but our dog used to dig up the baits, so we had to do a new contract for the chemicals.

 

[Pumpkinmuffin]

We bought our house brand new so the cost of the termite protection was built in the price. We have the bait system and the termite guy comes out quarterly and opens and inspects each one. If there's any 'guys' in there he replaces the bait. We pay $80 a quarter for it.

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

We had our house checked for termites about 5 years after we bought it (it was also checked during the house inspection). The guy found termites were starting to make their tunnels up towards the house in the garage (no damage done they were still on the brick working their way up).

We used a company that my parents and brothers had used and checked out. We paid $675 (our house is 2 stories, 2000 sq feet and we have a 2 car garage if that helps).

They drilled holes in the garage all around it and under the crawl space and put chemicals in there and they did the perimeter of the house - dug a hole all around the outside and put the chemicals in there and then covered up with dirt - I can't remember what they called it.

It should last for 10 years although we have the option of paying $100 / year to guarantee it.

 

[simba20]

We were quoted $800 by our pest control company for them to dig a trench around the house and load in a chemical. We were goign to have it done when we got our tax money, but now that money is going towards our homeowner's ins to repair our wooden fence that was warped and blown apart when a storm hit three weeks ago while we were at Disney....ahhh maybe next year.

 

[apnep]

During my bathroom remodel, we found termite tunnels...they were not active, but we treated the house anyway using the thermador treatment around the perimeter of the house. $1500 isn't bad. That's about what we paid. I'd much rather pay that than have serious damage done to my house that costs serious bucks to repair later.

I'd do it and have peace of mind because if you just spot treat, they're going to move to another section of the house. Good luck!

 

[palavra]

I hear you! $750.00 to fix the termite damage we found last spring. At least the house is protected now.

 

[marie1203]

You might want to look into termite insurance after this time we pay $100 a year and they come check and they will take all the cost if we get termites during the year.

 

[ENSOCK]

We had them at work. It cost about 1500 to treat but then the decision was made to completely remodel to remove the damage in the walls. What I had thought was water damage was termites eating the wall. Now it is costing around $50,000 for remodeling.

 

[DVCBELLE]

We had the bait system put in when we found them a few years ago...I HIGHLY reccomend it...they were totally gone within 3 months and he comes back and checks them once a month now...

the best part for me was no DRILLING anywhere in my house AND no chemicals around my kids!! The prices were comparable so it was a no brainer....

There are a lot of places that use Sentricon (the bait system) - like the White House and Statue of Liberty.

 

[Melrosgirl]

Our last house had the bait system. Terminix then decided it was an old method and we should use the spray instead, so we switched to that.

 

[Ms. Heimlich]

I am an entomologist and have 10 years experience in the pest management business.

Do the liquid treatment.

What product are they going to use??? This is very important information!!!
You want either Termidor OR Premise. NOTHING else if you are going the liquid route. My recommendation is Termidor.

Why I don't like the bait thing: Baits go into the ground... Termites have to find them... Then they have to recruit to them. Then enough termites have to feed on the bait.... Then they have to feed on the bait long enough. OH, and if you stop service, NO MORE BAIT. The company removes the baits and you are left with NO protection.

feel free to PM me if you have specific questions.

Ms. H
AKA Janis

 

[DVCBELLE]

I am an entomologist and have 10 years experience in the pest management business.

Do the liquid treatment.

What product are they going to use??? This is very important information!!!
You want either Termidor OR Premise. NOTHING else if you are going the liquid route. My recommendation is Termidor.

Why I don't like the bait thing: Baits go into the ground... Termites have to find them... Then they have to recruit to them. Then enough termites have to feed on the bait.... Then they have to feed on the bait long enough. OH, and if you stop service, NO MORE BAIT. The company removes the baits and you are left with NO protection.

feel free to PM me if you have specific questions.

Ms. H
AKA Janis

That is not how the sentricon system works - they don't have to recruit to the traps...they take a slow acting bait to the colony and kill them all -

we had an extremely aggressive colony and they were completely obliterated in 3 months...

 

[findmewdw]

Thank you for all your replies. Orkin wants to do Termidor and another agency wants to do Sentricon. I can see benefits from both. My DH and I do not like that if we decide to discontinue service later with the baits, that the baits would be removed and we'd have no further protection. Therefore, we would have to continue service each year forever! But, I hate chemicals around my family, too. It's a big decision!
I appreciate all your comments. Thanks for taking time to write me! To the entomolgist, I might just be picking your brain after our third estimate. We have a local pest control man coming tomorrow. We found more termites today in our basement garage. YUCK!!! I want these buggers out of here!

 

[Ms. Heimlich]

I'd be happy to answer any questions you have.

Good luck with the decision. At the end of the day you have to do what is right for you, your home and your family!



p.s. Sentricon works the EXACT way I described. Their bait material is even called "Recruit." This statement was taken DIRECTLY from the Sentricon site:

The active ingredient in Recruit termite bait — noviflumuron — affects termites slowly, allowing them to recruit their nestmates to feed on the bait, ultimately causing termite colony elimination.

 

[DVCBELLE]

I'd be happy to answer any questions you have.

Good luck with the decision. At the end of the day you have to do what is right for you, your home and your family!



p.s. Sentricon works the EXACT way I described. Their bait material is even called "Recruit." This statement was taken DIRECTLY from the Sentricon site:

The active ingredient in Recruit termite bait — noviflumuron — affects termites slowly, allowing them to recruit their nestmates to feed on the bait, ultimately causing termite colony elimination.

They don't get the other remotes to come to the bait...they take the bait to the colony.

OP - sentricon has a video on their website that was really informative for us. No chemicals or drilling in my house was really huge for me. I talked to some people who told me the drilling could hurt our resale. I know we will have to disclose it anyway so I am not sure what the true effect of that would be anyway.

We do pay $200 a year to have them monitor our property and that is a drawback but I don't have to worry that termites have reinvested!!