My house has termites. (San Diego, Corona: real estate, how much, hotel)

[Axxlrod]

My house has termites. Seems like it's just in one area though.

Anybody have any recommendations for locally-owned treatment companies in the north county coastal area? I'm right on the Encinitas/Carlsbad border.

I'd prefer to use an alternative treatment just because having the house tented will be a pain with 3 kids and pets to move out for 3 days. Plus removing all food and plants, etc...

Anybody have any experience with the companies that use orange oil?

Thanks.

[cruitr]

I've heard nothing but negatives from people who used orange oil termite treatments. It just doesn't kill all the termites.

Also, I know how painful it is to fumigate your house using a tent. It took us almost two weeks to prepare our house for fumigation day.

About 2 years ago, we used a small company called Hungry Termite. Victor (the owner) is very knowledgable and walked us thru the whole process. I hate surprises. Ask Victor about orange oil. He may recommend it if the termites are really only in one area of your house.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/hungry-termite-san-diego-2

[Slytrix]

How do you know it has termites?

[cruitr]

Originally Posted by Slytrix

How do you know it has termites?

Every house in San Diego has termites. It's just a matter of how much damage have they done.

In my case, I noticed tiny white pellets on a window sill. I thought it was sawdust. Turned out to be termite poop. What goes in must come out.

[Axxlrod]

Thank you for the rec, cruitr. I'd much rather use a small local company where I can communicate with the owner, than a large faceless corp/franchise.

I know we have termites because I can see them. There is a little pile of termite droppings, looks like sawdust, right below a small round hole in the base board. Plus I saw one of them stick it's head out of the hole; wasn't fast enough to grab it though.

Another reason I don't want to tent is that we have wall-crawling ivy on two sides of our house going up 30'. Took years to grow that high. Tenting will kill the ivy.

[echo42]

Originally Posted by cruitr

Every house in San Diego has termites. It's just a matter of how much damage have they done.

In my case, I noticed tiny white pellets on a window sill. I thought it was sawdust. Turned out to be termite poop. What goes in must come out.

This is true. You can treat for them by expensive tenting or alternative methods and as long as your neighbor has them, which most do, they will be back within six months to a year. The termite industry in California is nothing more than a legal shakedown. CA real estate laws require inspections and tenting when selling a house, someone pays for it and exterminators profit for an unnecessary job. Merely a cash grab.

Learn to coexist with your termites. They will be hard pressed to inflict serious damage over time without you noticing it. I have a hundred year old house in North Park that has not been tented in decades. Yes, I have the sawdust poops but they are completely harmless and easily wiped away. Check your rafters and beams every now and then and make repairs when necessary. Trying to fight them is futile.

[RosieSD]

Originally Posted by Axxlrod

Another reason I don't want to tent is that we have wall-crawling ivy on two sides of our house going up 30'. Took years to grow that high. Tenting will kill the ivy.

I'm so sorry to hear about the termites, Axxlrod. We went through that once with our house and it was a pain to tent.

I hate to tell you this, but we were told by several different contractors that having plant material close to (or on) a home actually ATTRACTS termites. They don't just eat dry wood; they like plant based material too and the moisture plants produce also attracts them. Plus the dead leaves that plants drop form nice little nesting spots for termites and make it harder to spot them when they're burrowing into your foundation.

So, you may want to reconsider the ivy or learn to live with termites reappearing periodically. We opted to remove all of the plants that were touching our house and foundation and we haven't had termites again since then (it's been over 15 years).

[1AngryTaxPayer]

The sub-terrain termites love vegetation and rotted wood. You might not think you don't have termites but if you have any wood touching dirt, you do.

[lvmensch]

Mostly you need to get over it. Every place in S. CA has termites. And the best way is to simply tent ever 5 to 8 years. You hear other stories but none really work. and unless you are sufficiently DIY that you climb up into the attic and check all the wood every 6 months or so you should simply expect the tent when the time comes. Set it up as a vacation and go spend a week in Cabo or PV or wherever.

[cruitr]

Originally Posted by lvmensch

Mostly you need to get over it. Every place in S. CA has termites. And the best way is to simply tent ever 5 to 8 years. You hear other stories but none really work. and unless you are sufficiently DIY that you climb up into the attic and check all the wood every 6 months or so you should simply expect the tent when the time comes. Set it up as a vacation and go spend a week in Cabo or PV or wherever.

I'm with you. Termites are a way of life in SoCal. Just replace/repair/paint the damaged wood, tent, and fumigate every 5 to 8 years or so.

Living with termites is a pain in the ass and ain't cheap. But compared to other parts of the country where you shovel heavy snowfalls, evacuate for hurricanes, roast in 120 degree deserts, or live with frequent floods, I'll deal with the termites. Especially when you hire a great termite guy.

2-3 day drive vacations along the California coast are a great way to use old hotel points. The dogs like it, the kids like it, and you get to explore new California beaches. Corona Del Mar and Balboa Island are real gems.