Comments on: Severe termite damage-how fast do termites eat wood?

By: The Bug Doctor

The Bug Doctor — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 02:24:00 +0000

You’ll solve that particular problem but you won’t alleviate the threat. You might want to have a professional come out and inspect that area as well as the rest of the home. Not sure if you saw my article/video on termites in brick homes. http://pestcemetery.com/termites-brick-house/

I should do a follow up on that article because I was just back in that house the other day and there was ‘significant’ damage uncovered when the new home owner cam in and started fixing it up.

By: Pamela Forbus

Pamela Forbus — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 14:51:00 +0000

We have a concrete block house off the back of the house is a 2X4 addition. We are doing some remodeling and when we opened the wall we found termite damage. Can we just replace the wooden 2×4 with steel studs and have solved our problem? The damage is all on the bottom part of the wall not even near the ceiling truss area.

By: The Bug Doctor

The Bug Doctor — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 15:19:00 +0000

Yes there are x-ray machines but very expensive to have someone out with it. Thermal imaging is not quite as visually effective but you can get a shadow image of the studs and damage- Try an awl (tiny) poke it in the drywall through to the stud. Hit damage and the awl will go in and you can feel the ‘missing or soft damaged’ wood/stud—good wood and the awl will not go past the drywall once it hits solid wood.
Not something we as exterminators are ‘allowed to do’ in our visual inspections so you may need to get permission from owners before poking holes in the drywall.

By: Anthony

Anthony — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 22:24:00 +0000

IS THERE A WAY TO LOOK INSIDE THE WALLS WITH AN X-RAY TYPE OF MACHINE TO DETERMINE HOW MUCH DAMAGE HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE???
THE HOUSE IS 6 YRS OLD, HAS BEEN VACANT FOR 2 YRS. AND THE TERMITE INSPECTOR FOUND AND TREATED IT TODAY–THIS HOUSE IS IN MYRTLE BEACH, SOUTH CAROLINA. WE ARE LOOKING AT BUYING THIS HOUSE ???????

By: Annerledford

Annerledford — Mon, 23 May 2011 05:04:00 +0000

Thanks so much for your reply. Ijust wasn’t sure how much I need to stay on their case about this, so now I am not going to let it rest until it is done!

By: The Bug Doctor

The Bug Doctor — Mon, 23 May 2011 01:01:00 +0000

Hi Anne,
Procrastination doesn’t help for sure– funny how it’s “no big deal” when it’s your $$– I have kids too…
Damage won’t decrease that’s for sure but if you can see your way clear to getting the job done soon it shouldn’t be that much worse. (don’t get me wrong-it could be pretty bad already and it may be a big surprise one way or the other when you open the wall-if you do that is) The termite job probably won’t be higher unless you were to wait til say next year, prices tend to inch up each season.

Hope you get the job done soon, it’ll put your mind at ease and stop any further damage.

By: Annerledford

Annerledford — Sun, 22 May 2011 13:26:00 +0000

Termites swarmed into a beadroom of my son’s home the first of April this year. they jumped right on getting inspections and estimates of treatment. They haven’t even checked into the extint of the damage yet. As of today, however, no treatment has been done. They were in a real hurry at first and now seem to be in no hurry. I am very concerned about how much more damage is occurring (almost 2 months now), especially since I will probably be paying for the repairs. Also, by their waiting like this, could the cost of treatment also increase? Thank you for any insights you can give me on this situation.

By: The Bug Doctor

The Bug Doctor — Tue, 03 May 2011 03:18:00 +0000

You should check your contract and see if it is ‘repair’ or just ‘retreat’ first. (you probably did) From there if you have a repair, you need to begin trying to enforce what you paid for. Being nice and diplomatic goes a long way but in the end you may need to get legal help.

Did he say WHY he wasn’t responsible? Sometimes things that are conducive to termites like leaky pipes, wood to ground contact etc. will void any guarantee.

By: david

david — Sun, 01 May 2011 12:02:00 +0000

Just found out this week we have termites. The inspector is also the guy that bonded my house. He says there were no termites at inspection time or when he treated. Now there is. He treated but says he is not responsible for the damage the termites have caused.
Can you get me some information on how to fight this.
David

lawsonlls@aol.com

By: The Bug Doctor

The Bug Doctor — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 07:01:00 +0000

I’m glad to help-

Thanks for reading my blog!