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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Borating an Attic Space Termites spread by swarming, and they can enter your attic through vents. Since attic wood is usually unpainted, anywhere they land they can start chewing. A borate treatment prevents this by making the wood inedible to termites. The borates work by killing the protozoa in a termite’s stomach, leaving them unable
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Is it Worth is to Re-Screen Your Vents? Some termite companies offer gable vent re-screening as a way to prevent termites from entering the attic. However, gable vents are just one potential entry point. Most attics also have soffit vents along the lower perimeter, which are difficult to access from inside and would look unsightly
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7 Surprises That Can Sidetrack a Termite Fumigation Fumigation isn’t exactly fun. You need to bag all your food, find somewhere else to stay for at least two nights, and trust a company to pump toxic gas into your home while you’re away. If you’re going through all that trouble, you’ll want to make sure
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Death, Taxes and Termites I joke that termites are like your kids—you’re never really done with them. Even if you tent your home, chances are you’ll deal with termites again. In fact, it might be more likely. That’s because termite fumigation doesn’t offer any residual protection. Theoretically, termites could re-infest your home the day after
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Termite Inspectors are Termite Detectives, Part One: I always thought I would have made an excellent detective. I even applied to the state police—twice. The first time, my future ex-wife told me she’d break up with me if I became a policeman. (In hindsight, I could’ve saved myself a lot of pain and anguish if
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13 Ways to Prevent Termites Believe it or not, you don’t have to wait until you find termite droppings or experience a swarm in your home to take action. Termite control can be proactive, not just reactive. Here are some key steps homeowners can take to reduce the likelihood of an infestation: Fix plumbing issues.
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A Termite Inspector’s Balancing Act Termite inspectors serve multiple customers: the homeowner, their boss, and the fumigator or termite technician who will ultimately perform the treatment. Homeowners A good termite inspector is thorough, knowledgeable, honest, and adaptable. Thoroughness is key when the goal is to offer treatment options. A localized treatment is only as good
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Borate Treatments: Long-Term Protection Against Termites Termites spread through swarming—a process where reproductive drywood termites leave a three-to-four-year-old colony, find a mate, shed their wings, and crawl into a crack in a piece of wood to establish a new infestation. For exterior wood, paint acts as a natural deterrent. Termites don’t like paint, and unless
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