Working Smarter in the Termite Business I consider myself a creative person. Whenever I find a way to perform part of my job more efficiently—whether as a termite company owner, inspector, or technician—I’m eager to adopt it. Over the years I’ve developed a few simple systems and tools that make me more productive while also […]
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The Hidden Costs of Fumigation When I provide homeowners with quotes for both fumigation and a local treatment with borates, many compare only the upfront costs. Sometimes they’ll say, “It’s not much more to tent.” What they’re often overlooking are the additional expenses that come with fumigation. Hotel Stays You’ll need somewhere to stay for
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Why Aren’t Homes Built to Resist Termites? When homeowners discover termites in their homes, they often wonder why we build houses out of wood in the first place. It’s a fair question. Considering that termites, fungi, and other wood-destroying organisms are constantly trying to consume the very materials our homes are built from, wood-framed construction
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7 Ways to Avoid Tenting Your Home I’ve never met a homeowner who looks forward to fumigating their home. In fact, the fear of tenting is often what prevents people from contacting a termite company in the first place. Many of my fumigation proposals take weeks to be approved, while homeowners frequently agree to alternative
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How Termites Eat Wood—and the Science That Stops Them If you ever looked closely at a worker termite, you’d probably wonder how something so small and soft—something you could crush between two fingers—can destroy solid wood. The hardest part of a termite is its jaws. Unlike human jaws, which move up and down, termite jaws
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They Found a Wing I was speaking with a customer in San Marcos. She lived in a two-year-old home in a brand-new neighborhood. I’m not sure what prompted the termite inspection, but the inspector reported finding a single termite wing in her attic—and that was enough to spark a quiet panic. Neighborhoods operate differently today.
Why Termites Love New Homes One is like a well-done strip steak—dark, dry, and chewy. The other is a medium-rare ribeye—red, juicy, and melts in your mouth. To drywood termites, the strip steak is redwood. The ribeye is Douglas fir. Before the 1970s, most homes in Southern California were built with redwood. It’s a harder,
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California Termite Is Hiring Thanks to a strong year of growth, California Termite is seeking a full-time Termite Technician to join our team. This is a ground-floor opportunity with unlimited potential for the right individual. The ideal candidate holds a Branch 3 Applicator’s license and has experience with basic wood repairs. However, just as important
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Inspecting an Attic for Termites Last week, we inspected the outside of the house. This week, attics. Maybe there’s something wrong with me, but I like inspecting attics. Sure, they’re dark, dirty, and full of hazards—but they’re never the same, and they’re a crucial part of a complete termite inspection. I compare inspecting an attic
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Why You Should Borate Your Attic—And Any Other Unpainted Wood in Your Home Borate is one of the best ways to protect the unpainted wood in your home from future termite infestation—and to help contain any activity that may already be present. Exterior paint does a decent job of protecting wood on the outside of
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