[mrfixit]

Originally Posted by Barefoot

Yes, you definitely need this service. Your home is one of the largest investments you will ever make.

YES.....Termite treatments are necessary.

.........as an added bit of insurance........you could plant "Catnip" around your home..... Termites hate catnip.

...if you can buy some "essential catnip oil" the termites will be GONE.

[jblum315]

Termites in Florida have learned to tunnel their way through concrete to get to wood. Folks in Bermuda learned the hard way that concrete is no deterrent. Fire ants only sting you. Termites can reduce your home to dust and you will never know they are there.

[logdog]

Nobody NEEDS insurance... until they need insurance. Termite damage can easily cost 5 figures out of your pocket. Termites are rare in TV but we are still in Florida.

I've used Home Defense and a sprayer for many years for pest control and it'is a great product and will save money. But now I just pay the man for a total lawn, shrub, pest and termite plan.

[hmaster]

Originally Posted by Luv2travel

I was getting ready to pay my annual bill for termite and pest control services and asked myself do I really need this service. I have never heard of a termite infestation in The Villages and the only bugs they seem to control are fire ants, which should really cost much less than they charge. Plus our house interior is all metal framing, with non-wood siding, but we do have wood framing in the exterior walls. What are the risks of not having this done. I lived in the woods of Virginia for 20 years and only had termite control out when we built the house. Any thoughts and reasons to have this service would be appreciated.

Yes, you should always maintain some type of termite protection. The rule of thumb in Florida is that termites are in the ground and can service anywhere. And yes there are plenty of reported cases of termites in The Villages. I have seen them while doing home inspections there.You probably can do you own pest control but not for termites.

[faithfulfrank]

Originally Posted by Susan G

Hello all...Actually I am moving from the 'termite capitol" for both subterranean and Formosan -- Louisiana.

No way I would be with out termite protection, that being said, I EXPECT my property to be trenched around the perimeter and the correct pesticide to be re-applied each year. (That's what we pay for, right?) Just moving in a pre-owned CYV in Tamarind Grove and property is already under contract with Massey I believe. I will be looking for company that uses Termidor or Talstar to re-treat when contract expires. Termidor is the best...don't know if pest control co's use it here. Anyone know if there are Formosan termites here? Those are the big, bad boys that swarm in the spring and do not require ground contact to survive. They have destroyed much property in the New Orleans area and are very resilient even after Hurricane Katrina flooded the area.

My vote is "YES" for a contract, but to the pest control companies, as Coach Sean Payton of the New Orleans Saints says: "DO YOUR JOB"!!

I just had Heron trench all around my house and apply 8% Termidor. They told me many companies apply 6% Termidor or some generic equivalent. Their contract clearly stated I was getting actual 8% Termidor, not something "like" Termidor.
I watched them do it. It was not a small amount. It was easily a few hundred gallons. I was told and have confirmed that this has to be done only once every ten years or so.....studies done on this product years ago until now show no degradation over the years. Of course, they come back every year and do a thorough inspection to keep the bond in effect.

Since we are on the subject, just a few words of advice. Keep your hedges trimmed at least 12 inches from your home. Keep mulch at least 12" away from your home. Do not leave wood scraps, etc around your home, and never pile wood against your home.

Frank

[tommy steam]

Originally Posted by mrsanborn

If you read your warranty closely, it only provides protection against subterranean termites. Not the kind that will swarm, in other words, dry wood termites. The homes I have seen treated by Massey have had BoraCare applied from the slab to approximately four feet up. A color additive is mixed with the BoraCare since the original chemical is clear.
Of the six homes I have watched being built in my hood, not a single homesite has been treated with a ground injectable pesticide.

Think about this. You are paying $138 to $150 per year for $1 million in coverage to a company who doesn't even fake to re-apply a chemical to further protect their own warranty against a threat that is so devastating.

"BORACARE provides prevention and control of Termites, Carpenter Ants, Powderpost Beetles and Decay Fungi. Boracare can be used on all cellulosic materials including wood, plywood, particle board, paper, oriented strand board (OSB), cardboard, and wood composite structural components. Since Boracare is applied directly to the wood, it can be used in areas where environmental contamination is of concern. The active ingredient in Boracare is an inorganic salt and once in place will not decompose or volatilize out of the wood. Treatment is long lasting as long as the treated material is not exposed to rain, continuous water or ground contact"

My answer is to the original poster is no to the termite warranty unless the company is going to retreat the outside perimeter of the home since if the BoraCare was properly applied, nothing is getting in through the walls.

As far as other bug control, use Home Defense for the inside and spray Bifin I/T or the Talstar One (brand name). Both Bifin I/T and Talstar contain 7.9% bifenthrin (sp) and will kill/prevent most everything (including subterranean termites) except the bad boy spiders (Black Widow and Brown Recluse).

Just a heads up, my neighbor has a company do his bug spray at $45 per application. The chemical listed on the bill is, yup, Bifin I/T. Bifin costs approximately $35 for 32 applications (exterior) at max application rate.

bump

[Benitacathcarb]

Originally Posted by jimbo2012

The only time it isn't needed is on a new build for 5years.

Jimbo 2012, what did you mean that it isn't needed on new builds for 5 years? We just bought a new house in fernandino and I was wondering when I needed to call for spraying services to begin. Want to be safe ... Not sorry.

[jimbo2012]

I called Massy who did the work on all the builds, that green stuff U see on all the about 3' down.

They said good for 5 years, I think it's also in you're warrantee, after that I would worry about it.

But if you're the nervous type they would love to sell an Eskimo snow.

[quirky3]

If you don't keep up the termite bond and don't have your coverage status in writing, many potential buyers won't even consider looking at the house. I have kept up the annual termite bond and I will only consider houses that have done the same when I am ready to sell and buy again.

[jimbo2012]

Sure but not needed until the 5th year.

Ask Massey

[gingersnap]

We had a rep from one of the landscaping companies here at our place this past week. He was telling us about some bark that was placed around a client's home that was infested with termites...yikes!

[jimbo2012]

And was he selling something to use that story?

[mulligan]

Even with the 5 year warranty, you have to pay for the annual inspection...$125 + or-

[jimbo2012]

That's not in the contract therefore not required.

[KathieI]

Originally Posted by jimbo2012

I called Massy who did the work on all the builds, that green stuff U see on all the about 3' down.

They said good for 5 years, I think it's also in you're warrantee, after that I would worry about it.

But if you're the nervous type they would love to sell an Eskimo snow.

Sorry, Jimbo... I don't believe Massey... Fired them after the first year I got here. Lied through their teeth.. I had a severe mouse problem (probably because of the pond) the first year. They told me they solved it and then I found a whole family dead under my stove. 7 babies... UGH!!!! Immediately replaced Massey with a reliable company.