termite treatment? (Homosassa: insurance, new home, buy)

[RetGI]

We recently relocated to Homosassa and I'm curious about the frequency of termite treatments here. We purchased a new home and have had a couple bug treatment companies trying to get our business. So, is it necessary to treat for termites every year and what's a fair price?

[TampaKaren]

I looked up a recent quote I received. The $999 plan includes full Subterranean and Drywood Termite treatment with a 12 month warranty. After year one, the contract is renewable for four years at $199 per year.

[debidibly]

If Termidor was used, it is supposed to last several years (5-7) I believe, unless it is disturbed. When our home was built it was treated and shortly after we had moved in and landscaped the company came back out, inspected, and retreated, at no charge. There were no signs of problems but we were told that the permiter of the house had been disturbed too much since treated. Many treatment companies offer an insurance policy that will compensate you if termites damage your home. They will come out annually and inspect and retreat if necessary which is included in that "insurance" price.

As for regular bugs, the price depends on whether you are using the regular spray method or tube in the wall method. The tube method (which I have) is almost twice the price of spraying. I switched to spraying this year for cost and I can't be sure if I am seeing more bugs as a result of that or if it's just because our home is finally settled and they're finding their way in. I have found the spray companies have required me to call back and schedule them for regular intervals whereas the tube people just showed up quarterly. I may try treating myself with what I can purchase at the local "Bug Depot" stores.

[Ambroseavery]

I'm an ex-Termite-Pest Control Technician. The best termite treatment by far, is the use of sodium borates, or disodium octoborate terahydrate. (I call it DOT) Don't let the technical name scare you, as it's about as toxic as table salt!
As a matter of fact it's a natural mineral from the salt family. It's basically a form of boric acid that is water soluable, meaning you can mix it with water easily. It has basically no toxic fumes and thus, no odor. Borates mode of action isn't the same as most typical termite treatments. Borates are used as a wood treatment, instead of treating the dirt around your home. It renders the wood impenatrable, to not just termites, but almost all wood destroying organisms.
If you've never heard of it, it's because it basically works too good to be profitable for your local Pest Control Company, especially here in the good ole' US. But the companies that care more about Mother Earth than profits are starting to catch on. They've been using borates in Australia and Europe for over 50 years now and it's still working! If your local PC Operator isn't aware of it, or doesn't use it, find one that does.
Besides, it's so easy to apply, any do it yourself homeowner can treat their own home, especially if they have an easily accessible "crawl-space" type construction. Borates comes in a powder and/or a thick liquid and it is simply mixed with water and sprayed or brushed on bare wood. It can be purchased under various trade-names at any do it yourself type pest control stores, or websites.

[ozlo]

Sodium borate = Borax, isn't it? You can buy that stuff at the grocery store!
I know it's good in its powder form for sprinkling into carpet, brushing it deep into the fibers, then vacuuming out several hours later or the next day. At least for fleas, that is.

[debvic]

Boric acid products are also used as a fire retardent on wooden structures. Good for getting rid of roaches and fleas too. And it is safer than other products out there.

[Dutch62]

The original question is "is the frequency' of termite treatments.
You cannot treat every year as per label laws..retreatment is either done because of re-infestation or lack of contract. Fair price depends on what you have as far as construction.

Borates are very limited once the construction is done unless you want to strip off all the drywall and apply it directly to the studs etc. You could drill all the voids in between each stud and foam it but a soil treatment with termidor sc will cost less and be more practical and less destructive.