I absolutely hate the idea that homeowners can and do buy their own termite control products. Now I don’t mean those cheesy little red plastic spikes you pound in the ground- (I hate those too but that’s a whole other story) No, I’m speaking of professional products like Termidor, Premise, Taurus, Bifen IT, you name it and it’s available to ANY DIY who wants it. Not so much at your local Lowes or Home Depot (for now), but you can buy these and so much more on the world wide web. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, no license, no training, tax free and no questions asked.
Now I don’t see this changing anytime soon and even our state inspectors admit that there is no practical way in which they can police this, sooooooo. I’ll just think back to the many times I was told “You’re to expensive, I’m gonna do it myself”, only to watch the client pay double (or more) for the same products, struggle with improper tools and STILL have termite troubles.
Now, not that I’m gloating- YES I AM- but if I wasn’t gloating and I wanted to be helpful, I might just list some of the top reasons why you should let a a professional do your subterranean termite work. And, I might even throw in a celebrity spokesperson demonstrating the woes the do it yourself termite treatment might get you into. Now if you know what each of these reasons indicate and why they’re important AND how to treat accordingly, then perhaps you can do your own service. If not, please call your local pest pro, he/she knows what each of these mean and why they are important.
#- A large part of a successful termite treatment is knowing a termites habits. Did you know that termites tend to follow solid surfaces they come across? Does that include tree roots, the back patio slab? How does this affect your treatment? A pro knows.
#- Your home is 220 linear feet and we’ll assume it’s a monolithic slab. How much Termidor mix will you need to treat all the way around? A pro knows.
#- True or False. 1/2 of the products on the Lowes shelf for interior spray says it kills termites. = True; So why isn’t everybody buying that sprits “Rid A Critter’ bottle? A pro knows.
#- Do you own a hammer drill? Slab and basement homes often have patio slabs, dirt filled porches and such that need to have the soil beneath them treated. How are you going to get your spray under the cement? A pro knows.
#- A recent study in North Carolina found that there was an average of 23 termite colonies per acre there. The average colony, when mature (2 to 3 years old), is 60,000 strong. Do you really have what it takes to to fend off the other 22 termite nests if you’re lucky enough to rid yourself of the first? How can you be sure? A pro knows.
#- I have termite proof mulch, why do the termites still get in my beds next to the house? A pro knows.
#- I have a brick home, why do I need termite control? A pro knows.
#- My house was treated 15 years ago when it was built, why should I spend the money to have it treated again? A pro knows.
With all this in mind, Please call your local termite professional today. It could make ALL the difference in The world!
