Attic Adventures Many homeowners seem to feel sorry for me when I need to inspect their attic. They’ll say things like, “I bet it’s going to be hot up there,” or “You must hate this part of your job.” But truthfully, I don’t mind attics at all. I definitely prefer them over crawl spaces—and even […]
What Every San Diego Homeowner Should Know About Over-the-Counter Termite Poison If I’m inspecting a home for termites and the homeowner tells me they’ve been trying to handle the problem themselves with over-the-counter sprays or foams, I already know one thing—the problem got worse, not better. Even if they don’t mention it, but I spot
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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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What Every Homeowner Should Know About Orange Oil It seems like every time I’m on Nextdoor and someone asks for advice about termites, someone recommends orange oil. Part of the reason is that many people believe orange oil is the only alternative to termite fumigation—which isn’t true. Another reason is the general fear of chemicals
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Poisoning Termites vs. Poisoning Their Food There are different ways to poison termites. One way is to poison the termites directly. Fumigation does this by filling the structure with gas. Homeowners attempting DIY treatments may spray visible termites with pesticide. Orange oil treatments involve drilling into termite galleries and injecting a solvent that kills on
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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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Hidden Attics I was recently conducting a termite inspection in Carlsbad. Before I begin any inspection, I ask the homeowner a few questions: What are you seeing? How long have you lived here? Was the home tented before you moved in? Have you experienced any termite swarms? And how do you feel about fumigation? If
8 Circumstances When It Makes Sense to Fumigate Your Home for Termites Nobody wants to fumigate their house. For many homeowners, the thought of bagging all your food and leaving your home for three days is horrifying. Ironically, the belief that fumigation is the only solution can cause some people to ignore early signs of
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What Lies Beneath? Last week we inspected attics. Inspecting Crawl Spaces I can’t imagine that anyone actually enjoys inspecting—or spending time in—a crawl space. Sure, there are crawl spaces that feel more like basements, where you can stand up and walk around, but those are few and far between. Most crawl spaces in California have
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