Pre-treat for termites or wait until visual?

[hal1]

New home build in new subdivision 5 years ago. Here in Arizona it's the old adage - there's two types of homes - you know the rest.

Do I get the typical treatment now (trench, can't drill due to post tension) or just wait for visual and get the free annual inspection?

Also, any thoughts/about Termidor vs Altriset?

 

[Copymutt]

Buddy w/ a multi million dollar home in Cave Creek lost his custom huge mesquite floor to the buggers. Sad part is the foundation was pretreated.
It would appear pretreat is not a guarantee. That said, I've been under an inspection contract for over 30 yrs. In that time I've found a few old damage tunnels, nothing active.
No preference on the chems, but sooner is better than after.

 

[wags999]

Typically a new build will be treated and have a warranty of about 5 years. That's what ours had here in Az...it's also what we will have when our new home is completed. Watch for mud tunnels on your slab, spray religiously during the year for all 'bugs".. Keep vegetation away from your home at least 2'...also make sure no sprinklers are spraying on the house. Good Luck...

 

[hal1]

I understand all of the above. The 2 posts seem to have 2 different answers to my query. One seems to suggest to get it treated now, the other says to be watchful, implying that I can wait until I seem signs, or my yearly inspection/

 

[LeeG]

I waited until I saw the tracks. Then I replaced all my baseboard that had been eaten. Now, I retreat every 3-4 years. It’s cheap insurance even if not 100% effective.

 

[HenryAZ]

When we built here in AZ, we had perforated tubes run under the slab, terminating in 3 GHT bibs in the west stem wall. Every other year, our regular (local) exterminator hooks up to them and pressures in about 75 gallons of Termidor. It has done a good job, along with regular monthly treatments around the foundation, inside and out. The Termidor treatment also brings up some interesting creatures that live deep down there somewhere. This thing came up to our front porch one year. It was about 9" long before I dumped a can and a half of wasp/hornet spray on it. That made it kind of draw itself in, resulting in what you see.

 

[AZ Pete]

where in AZ makes a difference. Our first homes were on old agricultural lands....termites long gone. Our current home is in the non agricultural desert. Original pre treatment was a "barrier" which failed in about 5 years, now use Termidor (professionally applied). Termidore seems to,last about 10 years. PM me, and I will give you the name of our pest co. they have been very good for us.

 

[pcmeiners]

Termidor, or wait until you see them. At that point you will have had significant damage already.

Be careful with trenching, I had a number of dead wild animals because they dug into the trenched area...bury it deep. Termidor is phenomenal

 

[PWC Repair]

I waited........ok for 21 years.....saw some damage this summer and now I get to replace a corner of my living room!
A friend of mine works for a commercial pest company, he sold me some Termidor.

 

[hal1]

Ok, Termidor. So it seems the concensus just to get it now, before activity is seen.

 

[georgiadave]

Termidor can be bought online at Domyownpestcontrol. If you do it yourself, you know the concentration is right, and coverage is complete, not to mention the cost saving.

 

[hal1]

I know, and that's where I buy my Bifenthrin and generic Talsar. I also know about the concentration and 4 gallons per 10 linear feet, but for about $600 I'd rather let someone else do it as it would take me a weekend to shovel back gravel and trench a foot down - not that I really think they do a full foot down

 

[kaymccampbell]

Gawd yes, do it now. Why wait for the voracious little bastards to literally eat you out of house and home.

 

[hal1]

The more I think about this the more I realize that this is a good weekend project, And it's true that saving $600 is the same as earning $600, and yes, I'd would manual labor for $300 a day, and it won't take me a full 2 days.

Part 1) So here's my thoughts. Based on the last time I had it done I really don't think he trenched to 1 foot(edit, I now read it's only 6-8 inches - but it 10 inches better)? Also, did a terrible job of getting the gravel back, mixing the soil with the gravel when filling it is and wasn't thrilled with his finished grading. So I was thinking that even if i did pay to have it done I was going to pull the gravel back myself - further than they would. So as long as I'm doing that, I can get some tarp down to put my soil on as I trench, then just roll it back in.

Am I over simplifying it, or is that really all there is, as well as needing to treat the soil I pull out.

Part 2) I need about 68 mixed gallons of Termidor to fill 170 linear feet. Do I just mix it in a big garbage can? Then what would be the easiest way to then fill the trench? Or just mix 4 gallons at a time and trench one 10 foot section at a time then back fill. Again, am I over simplifying it or is this really all there is to get the same results as the pro's. Especially since their not drilling due to post tension including the patio and porch which was poured as one.

3) Can I use a higher concentration of product or is there no increased benefit? I've got 170 feet

 

[redmondjp]

Does nobody use boric acid down there? It bitters the wood so nothing wants to eat it. Also known as bora-care. My brother treated his house with this as he built it.

 

[50pascals]

In Arizona I've seen termite treatment systems roughed-in to the walls. With small poly tubes run along the bottom of the wall stud bays.

Is this not done anymore?

I have relatives in Cave Creek, I'll have to ask them.

 

[johnnyradiant]

Is there a way to set-up an 'irrigation system' for your trench for the next treatment that will have the countdown timer starting 'now'. It sure would be neat if they would announce their arrival but usually it is more like 'oh, by the way, we like that corner of the house, but it is time for us to move onto another part of the house, nice to meet you'. Unless you know it has had an effective treatment in the last couple years treat and do your regular inspections. $600 in home repairs due to insect incursion does not go very far and any interest earned on banking the $600 for a year or 2 will only net you a cheap cup of coffee if your lucky.