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After the pest inspection it seems I do have termites in my 2 maple trees but nothing on the house. The estimate to go ahead and spray the house and trees with Termidor was $1,750 and to do bait traps instead would be about $850. Since this is my first issue with termites I am not sure what the best step would be. I think someone on here used to work in the pest control business. Should I just purchase some termite spray at Lowes and spray the trees since I don't have any at the house or do I need to pre treat the house too?

If they told you you do not have termites in your home, take their word. (They should aggressively be looking for issues.) Termites actually live in the ground very deep and colonies can be very far away from your home. if it makes you feel better get some spray (Any sort of pesticide that states it will kill termites and go at it spraying.) Termidor is supposed to work like a carrier of sorts and it kills slow allowing the material to be taken back to nests deep in the ground.

The bait traps come along with a hefty annual renewal/ reinspection fee. Please note, with the bait traps all they are initially doing is putting some soft wood into the ground to wait until termites eat it. At that point they will introduce a termiticide and not before. It could conceivably be ten years or more before any killing of termites is actually attempted. (That is why I called it a racket.) If you want to go that route stick some 2x4's in the ground and pull them out once a year and check them. (That will give you the same result.)

Get your home checked once a year and go from that point... You will be fine. (I owned my own company and had 11 employees at one time. We never did the first bait treatment but I am fully trained in that area along with termiticides. Used to be certified but my pest control days are long gone except for my own home/homes.

I hope this helps...

Oh, I was pretty close guessing the price... ;)

Oh again, Not sure how close you live to neighbors but if they get their home treated with Termidor they may kill your termites too. (Just a thought.)(That is how Termidor is supposed to work.)
 
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If they told you you do not have termites in your home, take their word. Termites actually live in the ground very deep and colonies can be very far away from your home. if it makes you feel better get some spray (Any sort of pesticide that states it will kill termites and go at it spraying.) Termidor is supposed to work like a carrier of sorts and it kills slow allowing the material to be taken back to nests deep in the ground.

The bait traps come along with a hefty annual renewal/ reinspection fee. Please note, with the bait traps all they are initially doing is putting some soft wood into the ground to wait until termites eat it. At that point they will introduce a termiticide and not before. It could conceivably be ten years or more before any killing of termites is actually attempted. (That is why I called it a racket.) If you want to go that route stick some 2x4's in the ground and pull them out once a year and check them. (That will give you the same result.)

Get your home checked once a year and go from that point... You will be fine. (I owned my own company and had 11 employees at one time. We never did the first bait treatment but I am fully trained in that area along with termiticides. Used to be certified but my pest control days are long gone except for my own home/homes.

I hope this helps...

Oh, I was pretty close guessing the price... ;)
Would it be better to get Termidor and saturate the ground around the 2 trees and let them carry it back to the colony or get some fast acting type of spray like a Bioadvanced spray from Lowes?
 
Would it be better to get Termidor and saturate the ground around the 2 trees and let them carry it back to the colony or get some fast acting type of spray like a Bioadvanced spray from Lowes?

I am not sold on the science of termidor like it is stated (BUT, I have not kept up on any formula changes like I used to.). It usually comes with a higher cost but if you can get some for home use, it may assist you in having a better peace of mind. Go with your feelings in this situation. At least it seems you have a good diagnosis of the issue.

Preface: I haven't went into the type of home you have, below ground finished areas, type of foundation, proximity of any well or cisterns....(I have just been basic) if you respond with more specific's I can get more specific.

When I had my own company I was one of the only actual licensed pest control operators that actually did the termite work. It is hard work but it is also where the liability is concerning pest control companies.

Edit: If you do your own don't get it in your mind that what you buy you will mix it stronger than the label tells you to mix it. (Termiticides and most pesticides do not work that way. Insects have to actually ingest or contact the pesticide/ termiticide for it to be effective. Mixing it stronger than labeled will only retard the contact. keep that in mind.)
 
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I am not sold on the science of termidor like it is stated (BUT, I have not kept up on any formula changes like I used to.). It usually comes with a higher cost but if you can get some for home use, it may assist you in having a better peace of mind. Go with your feelings in this situation. At least it seems you have a good diagnosis of the issue.

Preface: I haven't went into the type of home you have, below ground finished areas, type of foundation, proximity of any well or cisterns....(I have just been basic) if you respond with more specific's I can get more specific.
I just have a crawl space which is a poured concrete footer and concreate block which he inspected yesterday. He looked at the foundation and the base plates and said there was no indication of termites at all. We purchased the house approximately 11 years ago and the previous owners daughter told us her parents had the house treated sometime before we purchased it but I am not certain how long before we bought it that the treatment was completed. There are several places in the garage and driveway next to the house where holes were drilled which I assume was to pump the treatment around the foundation and then plugged.

After doing some research it seems that the Termidor can take up to 90 days to kill the colony and I wasn't sure if a faster treatment would be better. By the way I appreciate your help.
 
After the pest inspection it seems I do have termites in my 2 maple trees but nothing on the house. The estimate to go ahead and spray the house and trees with Termidor was $1,750 and to do bait traps instead would be about $850. Since this is my first issue with termites I am not sure what the best step would be. I think someone on here used to work in the pest control business. Should I just purchase some termite spray at Lowes and spray the trees since I don't have any at the house or do I need to pre treat the house too?

You can buy termidor online. I did my own house and don't regret it. Check out "Do your own pest control" online. You can purchase it there.
 
I saw on the TV show, "Backroads and Bluegrass" a farm that was a huge maple syrup producer here in Kentucky. It is produced by Ky Farm Bureau, so you may be able to get information from them, also.
My friend Darryl owned a farm in New Hampshire and it had 1500 maple trees "plumbed" to collect the sap. Here is a pictures of the lines running to the collection tank.

180269320_3905703719545183_2310240405672765583_n.jpg


He got enough money from the sap to pay his taxes.
 
My friend Darryl owned a farm in New Hampshire and it had 1500 maple trees "plumbed" to collect the sap. Here is a pictures of the lines running to the collection tank.

180269320_3905703719545183_2310240405672765583_n.jpg


He got enough money from the sap to pay his taxes.
Speaking of taxes, I guess it is a co-incidence but yesterday I got a form letter from The White House and Mr Biden. He was bragging about the IRS sending out the American Rescue Plan checks to millions of Americans, and probably illegals too.

Meanwhile the IRS can not process refunds on a timely basis. I may never get it back.
 
I just have a crawl space which is a poured concrete footer and concreate block which he inspected yesterday. He looked at the foundation and the base plates and said there was no indication of termites at all. We purchased the house approximately 11 years ago and the previous owners daughter told us her parents had the house treated sometime before we purchased it but I am not certain how long before we bought it that the treatment was completed. There are several places in the garage and driveway next to the house where holes were drilled which I assume was to pump the treatment around the foundation and then plugged.

After doing some research it seems that the Termidor can take up to 90 days to kill the colony and I wasn't sure if a faster treatment would be better. By the way I appreciate your help.

Holes for termite treatment should be no more than 18 inches apart in concrete slabs or porches. I used a half inch drill bit for the holes in slabs and 1/4 inch drill bits for concrete block no more than six inches apart unless you could treat the block from above (The block wasn't caped or covered at the top.) If it has been treated at all I would do is keep it inspected annually or as you remember to do it. Termites can always live out in the yard in any event. (Any time)

Edit: I wouldn't "saturate" the ground. You will be wasting product. Use it where it is intended to be used. A slow kill is a good kill normally where termites are concerned.)
 
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Speaking of taxes, I guess it is a co-incidence but yesterday I got a form letter from The White House and Mr Biden. He was bragging about the IRS sending out the American Rescue Plan checks to millions of Americans, and probably illegals too.

Meanwhile the IRS can not process refunds on a timely basis. I may never get it back.
I'm sure it's the same letter a friend of mine sent me. Did you catch the part where the "president", Socialist Joe, takes credit for the $600 check in December....before he became "president"?

'...$1400 per person for most American households. With the $600 direct payment from December, this brings the total relief payment up to $2000. This fulfills a promise I made you,......
 
Sadly (in a way) I'm enjoying the termite conversation @Creed Bratton and @BBUK are having. I found some damage last Fall. Under part of the house is a root cellar (remember house built in 1857). Dirt floor and they had built wooden shelving along 3 walls which were all outside walls (stone foundation). Could see where the little boogers had come up from the ground, up the 2x4s that rested on the floor. So I spent a week or so cutting all the timbers and throwing them out. Found online a DIY formula for termites....small amount of boric acid mixed in with anti-freeze...and either spray it on or brush it.Have no idea if it works or not.

Very old house obviously and there is no signs of any termite damage over the years until the last year or so. One thing I thought that may have caused it....on either end of the room are about 12x8 inch 'windows' with metal/lead bars (like a jail). For ventilation and I assume the bars...spaced about an inch apart...were to keep varmits out. I had made out of plywood and coated with insulation, covers to put over them for Winter. Used to take them off every Spring, but the last few years I guess I got lazy and didn't. Hence the 'root cellar' had no ventilation and became kind of damp/humid. In talking to some people, they seem to think that may have been the cause/problem that got the termites in. Hope so, 'cause them suckers are off now.

My bro' just bought online a gallon of that Termidor (think that's what he bought). Where you dig a trench around your house and pour it in? I may get some too....but this old house has had english ivy growing around it for maybe 75-100 years and it would be a bear to dig a trench in that.
 
Sadly (in a way) I'm enjoying the termite conversation @Creed Bratton and @BBUK are having. I found some damage last Fall. Under part of the house is a root cellar (remember house built in 1857). Dirt floor and they had built wooden shelving along 3 walls which were all outside walls (stone foundation). Could see where the little boogers had come up from the ground, up the 2x4s that rested on the floor. So I spent a week or so cutting all the timbers and throwing them out. Found online a DIY formula for termites....small amount of boric acid mixed in with anti-freeze...and either spray it on or brush it.Have no idea if it works or not.

Very old house obviously and there is no signs of any termite damage over the years until the last year or so. One thing I thought that may have caused it....on either end of the room are about 12x8 inch 'windows' with metal/lead bars (like a jail). For ventilation and I assume the bars...spaced about an inch apart...were to keep varmits out. I had made out of plywood and coated with insulation, covers to put over them for Winter. Used to take them off every Spring, but the last few years I guess I got lazy and didn't. Hence the 'root cellar' had no ventilation and became kind of damp/humid. In talking to some people, they seem to think that may have been the cause/problem that got the termites in. Hope so, 'cause them suckers are off now.

My bro' just bought online a gallon of that Termidor (think that's what he bought). Where you dig a trench around your house and pour it in? I may get some too....but this old house has had english ivy growing around it for maybe 75-100 years and it would be a bear to dig a trench in that.

I sure worked on some of those type homes. I did some make-shift work many times but being up front about it with the customer always had a good outcome. Yeah moist humid areas are termite haven's. I'd stay away from the anti-freeze. Dog's like it too much. All it is outside of a car is poison.

I had cases in your type of homes where I drilled directly into the wood member where I knew termites were at and slow fed them termite baits of one sort or another. If I didn't completely stop them I sure slowed them down to where they weren't destructive any longer. Mitigation in stead of eradication may be the key in your type environment.

You may have many other type of wood destroying insects too. Powder-post beetles come to mind immediately. that takes direct treatment.

Note: Have to be REAL CAREFUL concerning any close wells or cisterns/ water supplies as it seems you may have one of those in close proximity?
 
It is a shame because it's a beautiful city nestled in the mountains. The decline started about 20 years ago and has steadily increased. We loved staying at the Grove Park Inn or a chalet up high. One year we stayed on a llama farm bed and breakfast in Clyde, outside of Waynesville (1994). That's when we started discussing buying some mountain land in the area and building a log home when we got closer to retirement. It was close, really close but I got cold feet. Possibly the best thing that ever happened to us.

I'm not sure why the sudden turnaround. Maybe it was already happening and we didn't see it. I do know that several of the Hollywood elite bought homes there, including Tom Cruise. That could have been why so many nut jobs started moving in.
I took the Director to Grove Park Inn for ginger bread house competition sponsored by Food Network.....I have a friend in the pigeon game that lives in Waynesville......my wife is from Yancey County......Burnsville was the nearest town 20+ miles......folks started buying vacation property back in the mountains in the mid 70's.....two guys from CA rented a farm my FIL owned back up on the mountain.......they stayed for about two years......when they left they stopped by the house on their way out......they had a nice small herd of black Angus beef cattle......they gave the cattle and their papers to the FIL.......they told him that they had grown enough cannabis on the place that they was going back to CA and retire........Kermit Banks Jr. was the sheriff at that time.....he and the FIL had grown up together and were very good friends.......he had stories to tell about catching people growing cannabis......one time he got word that one group was going to move a bunch of their product......Kermit said when he was pulling up they were toting a casket across their swinging bridge....it was full of cannabis......
 
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I took the Director to Grove Park end for ginger bread house competition sponsored by Food Network.....I have a friend in the pigeon game that lives in Waynesville......my wife is from Yancey County......Burnsville was the nearest town 20+ miles......folks started buying vacation property back in the mountains in the mid 70's.....to guys from CA rented a farm my FIL owned back up on the mountian.......they stayed for about two years......when they left they stopped by the house on their way out......they had a nice small herd of black angus beef cattle......they gave the cattle and their papers to the FIL.......they told him that they had grown enough cannabis on the place that they was going back to CA and retire........Kermit Banks Jr. was the sheriff at that time.....he and the FIL had grown up together and were very good friends.......he had stories to tell about catching people growing cannabis......one time he got word that one group was going to move a bunch of their product......Kermit said when he was pulling up they were toting a casket across their swinging bridge....it was full of cannabis......
Damn! Sounds like North Carolina's version of Kentucky's Cornbread Mafia.

Read the book BTW and I really wanted to like it because of the Kentucky connection. Truth be told, it was one of the most boring books I've ever read.
 
  • Good Morning, D-Leagueanites and Lurkers.
  • Chores done successfully.
  • No deer. Oh dear.
  • 58th Anniversary on May 3rd.
  • Our Great Grandson visited yesterday. Cute little fellow. 16 months old. Runs like Forest Gump. Looks like his Daddy looked when he was a similar age. Not speaking yet.
  • Scam phone call yesterday from the Social Security Office. F*** you!!!
  • Nothing else.
  • As you were.
  • Carry on.
  • Get well soon to the sickly.
 
I sure worked on some of those type homes. I did some make-shift work many times but being up front about it with the customer always had a good outcome. Yeah moist humid areas are termite haven's. I'd stay away from the anti-freeze. Dog's like it too much. All it is outside of a car is poison.

I had cases in your type of homes where I drilled directly into the wood member where I knew termites were at and slow fed them termite baits of one sort or another. If I didn't completely stop them I sure slowed them down to where they weren't destructive any longer. Mitigation in stead of eradication may be the key in your type environment.

You may have many other type of wood destroying insects too. Powder-post beetles come to mind immediately. that takes direct treatment.

Note: Have to be REAL CAREFUL concerning any close wells or cisterns/ water supplies as it seems you may have one of those in close proximity?
Thanks for the input. Agree with the anti-freeze, but being downstairs off the basement no animals ever go there. Plus if the dog (when I dog sit) ever would get in the basement...this part has a door that I keep closed. Have it open now just to make sure that air circulates. And, fortunately no water supply (well) or cistern so that's not a concern. I'll see in a couple months if opening up the two small window areas help. I think it will.
 
  • Good Morning, D-Leagueanites and Lurkers.
  • Chores done successfully.
  • No deer. Oh dear.
  • 58th Anniversary on May 3rd.
  • Our Great Grandson visited yesterday. Cute little fellow. 16 months old. Runs like Forest Gump. Looks like his Daddy looked when he was a similar age. Not speaking yet.
  • Scam phone call yesterday from the Social Security Office. F*** you!!!
  • Nothing else.
  • As you were.
  • Carry on.
  • Get well soon to the sickly.
Congrats Don on the 58th. You have me beat by 3 years and 3 months and 15 days.
 
I think they must have transplanted thousands of people from San Francisco.
This looks to me the result of ignorance marketed through a failed public education system with poor supervision allowing the deception of people who not knowing the truth accept a fantastical Haight Ashbury sanctuary societal cancer that has metastasized across America.
After the pest inspection it seems I do have termites in my 2 maple trees but nothing on the house. The estimate to go ahead and spray the house and trees with Termidor was $1,750 and to do bait traps instead would be about $850. Since this is my first issue with termites I am not sure what the best step would be. I think someone on here used to work in the pest control business. Should I just purchase some termite spray at Lowes and spray the trees since I don't have any at the house or do I need to pre treat the house too?
Protect your house. Termites are have a cosmopolitan distribution by definition. They are everywhere. Your maple infestation could easily be a separate non issue for your home. DIY is very doable. When dealing with toxins in your home. Get your product MSDS & directions then educate yourself with product efficacy and toxicity concerns so you can responsibly make informed application decisions for your family and pets.
 
This looks to me the result of ignorance marketed through a failed public education system with poor supervision allowing the deception of people who not knowing the truth accept a fantastical Haight Ashbury sanctuary societal cancer that has metastasized across America.

Protect your house. Termites are have a cosmopolitan distribution by definition. They are everywhere. Your maple infestation could easily be a separate non issue for your home. DIY is very doable. When dealing with toxins in your home. Get your product MSDS & directions then educate yourself with product efficacy and toxicity concerns so you can responsibly make informed application decisions for your family and pets. (Yeah, exactly like BBUK stated but different...) ;)

fify 😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣😂😂😂😅
 
A non-controversial note on Black Squirrels. We had them all over my neighborhood in the Maryland suburbs of DC -- even more so than regular gray squirrels. I got curious about them and did some research. It turns out they are not native to Maryland at all. Back at the beginning of the 20th Century somebody brought 18 of them from Canada to the Washington, D.C. zoo, run by the Smithsonian, thinking they'd make a nice conversation piece. Of course, they quickly escaped, started breeding like, well, squirrels, and now there are pockets of them all over the area, traceable back to the original 18.
 
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A non-controversial note on Black Squirrels. We had them all over my neighborhood in the Maryland suburbs of DC -- even more so than regular gray squirrels. I got curious about them and did some research. It turns out they are not native to Maryland at all. Back at the beginning of the 20th Century somebody brought eight of them from a remote part of Canada to the Washington, D.C. zoo, run by the Smithsonian, thinking they'd make a nice conversation piece. Of course, they quickly escaped, started breeding like, well, squirrels, and now there are pockets of them all over the area, traceable back to the original eight.

I guess some sort of reparations are in order now? Just curious... PETA will surely be involved and of course represent the Squirrels...
 
Holes for termite treatment should be no more than 18 inches apart in concrete slabs or porches. I used a half inch drill bit for the holes in slabs and 1/4 inch drill bits for concrete block no more than six inches apart unless you could treat the block from above (The block wasn't caped or covered at the top.) If it has been treated at all I would do is keep it inspected annually or as you remember to do it. Termites can always live out in the yard in any event. (Any time)

Edit: I wouldn't "saturate" the ground. You will be wasting product. Use it where it is intended to be used. A slow kill is a good kill normally where termites are concerned.)

I forgot you used to be in the business. I had a large tree that I took out, next to the house. Seven or eight years later, I discovered termites in a wall that was fairly close to where that tree was taken out. When I replaced the interior wall, and some flooring, I sprayed all the new lumber with termidor, and poured some in the ground below it. Then I went out to where the tree had been and found that the ground was caving in around that area, and apparently, that was where the nest was and they had been feeding on those old roots. Beside what I did inside, I treated around the outside of the footer, and I mixed three 5 gallon buckets of termidor/water and poured down into the sunken area where the tree had been and nuked them. That was 5 years ago and I have not seen any signs of problems since then.
 
Thanks for the input. Agree with the anti-freeze, but being downstairs off the basement no animals ever go there. Plus if the dog (when I dog sit) ever would get in the basement...this part has a door that I keep closed. Have it open now just to make sure that air circulates. And, fortunately no water supply (well) or cistern so that's not a concern. I'll see in a couple months if opening up the two small window areas help. I think it will.

The newest antifreeze is supposed to be non-toxic to animals. Agree, there was a time it was instant death, and not a pleasant one, either.
 
I forgot you used to be in the business. I had a large tree that I took out, next to the house. Seven or eight years later, I discovered termites in a wall that was fairly close to where that tree was taken out. When I replaced the interior wall, and some flooring, I sprayed all the new lumber with termidor, and poured some in the ground below it. Then I went out to where the tree had been and found that the ground was caving in around that area, and apparently, that was where the nest was and they had been feeding on those old roots. Beside what I did inside, I treated around the outside of the footer, and I mixed three 5 gallon buckets of termidor/water and poured down into the sunken area where the tree had been and nuked them. That was 5 years ago and I have not seen any signs of problems since then.

Yes Sir, that should do it. By the way, do you have any close neighbors whose teeth may look like this now?..

5681-Rotten_Teeth_child-1296x728-slide1.jpg


If so, your treatment may have leached away from the intended area..but, maybe not. (Just curious) 😅
 
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