Question:
2 years ago, when I was buying my house, subteranian termites were found in
the garage, along right and center walls. It was Section 1, so seller payed
for the treatment. Also, subterraininan termites were found in the wood
siding around the front door. Porch was treated as well, and wood was
replaced.
Now I found termites in the left was of the garage (it was not treated), and
at the porch area again. An Orkin guy game over, did the inspection, and
recommended to do a spot treatement. Every foot they will drill a whole in
the garage floor,along left wall, and place chemical prelude. He said that it
is not necessary to treat other walls in the garage, because they were
treated before. Also place this chemical on the outside of the wall, and
under the porch. There is about 25 feet of concreet to be drilled (garage
floor and porch), and about 35 feet in the ground (outside wall). He quoted
me the price of $500, and 1 year warranty.
Should I go for this? Is this a good price? Will this work?
He basically scared me away from doing complete house, because I have a slab
foundation, so to do a complete treatment, eligible gor 7 year warranty, I
would need to tear up my carpeting and linolium, so that a treatment could be
done inside the house.
Are there any other alternatives? Anybody knows of a good, reputable company
is San Jose, CA area?
The guy was really nice, so I signed contract on the spot, but I still have
72 hours to cancel this deal, so please let me know your oppinions as soon as possible.
Can anyone help me please?
Answer:
Here are some of my thoughts though...
1. What kind of warranty are you are getting? Retreatment? If so, beware! I
had a retreatment warranty, and have had retreatments and termite swarms in my
home every year since and including 1996. Since you are experiencing repeat
termite problems, if I were you, I would look HARD for a company that offers a
damage bond guarantee. Some of the PCOs on this board who offer them say they're
valuable. Others say the deductibles are usually higher than the damage, and so
are not worth the paper they are written on. So read your guarantee carefully,
and ask a lot of questions. I'll just tell you that retreatment guarantees have
been totally worthless for me, because the PCO is only obligated to repeat the
same treatment that didn't work in the first place. Every few weeks there's
another homeowner on this board telling a tale of woe about three failed
retreatments in a row, and because all they have is a retreatment guarantee,
their only option is to get a lawyer and try to sue. Think about where you will
be if next year the termites come back - and with a spot treatment, well...
2. I am very suspicious of spot treatments. Chemical treatments DO NOT KILL
TERMITES! They act as a repellent barrier, and leave the colony - which may be
many yards away - untouched. Now how can a "spot treatment" that does not kill
the termite colony possibly protect your home from an obviously active termite
colony? The termites will simply find another way in. In my case, I had my
entire home treated around a 360 degree perimeter - they drilled out from my
basement walls, drilled into my basement floor - the works! But if there is so
much as a single gap in that treatment as wide as a pencil lead, the termites
will find a way in and resume eating your house, as they have with mine.
3. If you are averse to drills, I suggest you look into a dealer that offers
Sentricon (or possibly another baiting system). These systems have the advantage
of killing the termite colony and avoiding drilling in your home. They also
don't involve pumping gallons of poisons into the soil. They have the
disadvantage of being more expensive, not being an "instant" cure (can take
months or even years to work), and they require monthly maintenance (about $200
per year in my case) essentially forever. I'd suggest you find a Sentricon
dealer, and talk to them. If you do, and if they only offer a retreatment
guarantee - kick their butt out the door. The only thing more worthless than a
chemical retreatment guarantee is a bait retreatment guarantee.
4. Finally - beware of nice guys. I've had half a dozen of them work with me
over the past four years, and the termites are still today turning my kitchen
floor into a moonscape.
