Termite Protection After 5 Years
 

Our initial five year termite protection with Massey is ending soon. What happens next? Have others stayed with Massey or have you shopped around for other providers. I suspect some ground bait system will be the next step. Any ideas of costs involved?

Thanks,
Charlie

If you stay with Massey you probably won't be charged an initial inspection fee.. If you switch companies, I think you'll find you'll be charged a one-time "first inspection" fee. One company even has a dog that sniffs out termites.

I think termite insurance is usually around $100 per year. It's my understanding that the companies don't do much to prevent termites. The yearly insurance will protect you for repairs in the unlikely event of termite attacks. I think it works like Auto Insurance.

I suggest shopping around. Personally, I am not a fan of ground bait systems.

I strongly resisted the termite prevention/protection push that was evident when I built some 7 years ago. But, to a certain degree, I fell for it.

Then, last month (Dec '11) I was "pressured" again to extend my supposedly now out-dated coverage against critters which I am frankly still not convinced pose a danger to my concrete block and stucco home.

With great reluctance, however, I accepted Massey's plan that for $400 they'd protect my home for 10 years. My thinking: Where else can I get supposedly permanent protection for $40 a year? By 2021, I suspect that I'll either be gone, or have absolutely no idea who Massey is or what termites are or why I should care about either!

;)

SWR
:beer3:

Termites
 

bbbbb

New Home Owner?
 

Does a New Home have to have termite protection? How often?

And protection vs inspection? Are you just paying for someone to look and see if they are there? and then treat or do they spray?

Ground Bait!

I'm confused!

Maybe one good thing about NY no termites! Cold must kill them critters.

H

Here is good info from Massey....

http://www.masseyservices.com/termite/

It's well worth the protection plan based on their annual inspection.

Tks
 

Went to their site, I will contact them when I get down there. Anyone had and local guys that seem to Get ER Done!

Termites that is?

I had a neighbor in a former location in Florida who had a block and stucco home. He decided against termite protection. A few years later he discovered his rafters were infested. Cost him a bundle in repairs. Buying a plan was a wise move on your part.

This is exactly what the Massey inspector told me when he came for our annual inspection....especially when some neighbors might be doing nothing to guard against termites that "WILL come" ("it's not a matter of 'if' but 'when' they come).

We just received a notice about our renewing the termite protection on our home. My only question here is, has anybody had termites detected with damage while under Massey's protection program? If so was their any problem in having them repair any damage covered by the agreement? I'm not interested in comments about others services at this time, I just want to know if there is any problem with Massey following through with their guarantee!

Massey
 

They say I have a five year protection plan but after 1 year they want more money to continue. I don't understand. :shrug:

I had the same conversation with them. The wording on their billing statement is very misleading. Here is the exact wording: "Bldr Pretreat 5 YR Total Protection.....$120.00"
To me that sounds like my $120 is giving me 5 yr protection. However, the $120 is due annually! To be fair, elsewhere on the bill it states that "payment of this renewal extends the subterranean termite protection for one year". As with all things, e caveat emptor!

Thanks for the clarification
 

Appreciate it:wave:

I appreciate the comments so far, but i'm still looking for any comments about filing claim damages if their has been anyone who has.

wood floors
 

As termites are a problem in Florida, is that the reason for tile floors versus wooden ones? We were hoping to install wood floors but would prefer not to offer a buffet for them.

Yes, termites, especially subterranean, are a problem. Go ahead with the wood floors. If your home is inspected and treated properly, the floors are no problem.

I just was over at the building and asked about termites. They showed me the borac? that they put on the walls in building and all around about halfway up and between the framing and said you will never have a problem. Maybe on the stick houses but not on the cinder. Also that wood floors that are laminate are no problem. But did not seem at all concerned with termites. Kind of a non issue.

If you let your policy lapse we were told it would be $500 to restart. If we all have protection where do the little fellows live?

Well I just had our termite protection renewed and we opted to have our home treated for total coverage. The renewal cost included the annual fee and the total coverage fee. It was $350 total and included direct wood treatment of attic area for subterranean termites, drywood termites, powderpost termites, wood boreres and formosan termites.

Overall in the year we've had Massey's I'd have to say the service has been a little pricey, but well worth it. They have been responsive every time I had an inquiry, maintained all schedules and they've responded in a timely manner when we need them to come to the house for a problem, even to set the irrigation timer when we messed up the settings.

I also like that you can go online to review your account online, and that includes future and past scheduled and unscheduled services. Think we'll keep them around for a while!

I'm not sure there are any little fellows in "new" TV as most residents are meticulous about termite protection. I heard there are termites in some houses in Historical but that may be an old wives tale, or a sales pitch by a termite company.

Skyguy,

I was just quoted $499 by Massey for continuing our coverage. We have a 1700 sq/ft ranch. In this case does size matter?

Humm.... interesting! Our home is 1998 sq/ft designer. Must be that either I'm better looking than you are, or they asked you to drop your pantaloons and found that yours had more square inches than mine? :1rotfl:

Maybe you should change your name from skyguy to funnyguy! You're a riot, Alice!

Thanks for the info and I'll get the "bottom" of this!

When you check, make sure it's the same service we're talking about. Mine was for a one time attic prevention treatment only. Our ground inspection would be separate and will be due in a few more years.

Alice "to-da-moon" funnyguy

We have a CYV in The Villages but have our house right now in Phoenix AZ. We dropped our coverage for termites and quess who shows up? It ended up costing us 1G for treatment. We r moving to our CYV permenantly in June. Won't ever go without protection again. Florida is rated #1 in termites and the way our house is built with the walls touching the dirt...by the way, if u think just because u have steel and block u also have drywall which they love and ur roof trusses r made of wood. Wood floors and laminate...better make sure ur protection covers that. We were told it is excluded. Now we will go with bamboo which is a reed and not wood.

Ohhhhh no!
 

Ruthie! Cancel the Vacation Plans another Village Fee! Oh what Fun it is to Pay for the Village life of Play!

Cancel your cancellation Herv! The treatment I'm talking about is a one shot treatment and is supposed to be good for the life of the wood treated. Our annual inspectin fee is normally $99. :$:

Lol
 

I know my friend. You did good and we are going to have to look into that. PM me what ya did later or email

It's sorta hijacking this thread but I was just kidding of all those $100, $400, $350 $150 etc good deals that have added up over the last 6 months for us and I assume many other good people on this site.

Cookie Jar seems a little light or damn right empty! I thought I would save money moveing to TV. Now it all adds up to about the same as here in NY with less service needs but much higher taxes.

Oh well it is what it is and now back to packing. If I packed as fast as the butterflies in my stomach are moving it would be done quicker. SNow maybe tomorrow here.

I think you have nailed it and the OP didn't say he had termites did he,only that he hadn't had coverage for awhile.

We just renewed with Massey this week. We have a smaller ranch, 1200 sq. ft., frame/siding, and the cost was $499 this year, with a 10 year guarantee, then $120 per year, for 9 years.

They have a procedure where they "inject" product into the ground all around the house. They don't do anything inside unless you request it (because you think you might have a problem). We didn't because we just bought the house in November, had an independent inspection, and we were all clear, plus Massey has had it covered since it was new in 2005. I don't know how much extra inside treatment might be.

Our Massey rep, Mike Cannon, seems to be extremely knowledgeable.

The more I read the more costs pop up, I see surge protectors, lightning rods, lawn care, cricket moles the list goes on :read:

Now termites this one looks like another contractors gold mine.

The sq footage is not what it goes by it's the linear footage of the slabs perimeter. The retail cost of the chemicals (yes you can buy them) is about $150, so a contractor gets them for less.

The product clearly states 10 years before re-treatment, so what's this 5 year anniversary thing.

$500 to spray the perimeter?? then they want $100-120 per year to take a look. How long does that take?

It sounds like a higher cost than it should be to have it done.

What if you don't treat, can you rely on insurance?

Also I read that on new construction, after the slab is poured that is a perfect time to treat.

Can't wait to see the next issue that pops up here :MOJE_whot:

The treatment is more than simply spraying..they inject a chemical into the soi using long rods and need to drill through any conrete to form a complete barrier. Most treatments are good for at least 10 years.

Yes the $120 a year for inspection is alot but it most likely includes some sort of guarantee anywhere from a retreatment if termites are found to an assurity bond to cover termite damage...each company is different.

Almost certain most home owner insurance policies will EXCLUDE any damage from wood boring insects...so you are on your own.

For new construction I thought the soil was treated before the slab was poured

Every place on this earth to live has issues. Financial costs. This is probably much less expensive, far safer, immaculately kept and, far more beautiful (In it's very own way) than any place that any of us have lived previously.

It's all good, Mr. Jimbo.

And YOU are wise to throughly investigate the need for anything anyone tries to sell you here....or anywhere.

What is likely (BUT not to be counted on 100%) with a new house is that treated or untreated the termites won't arrive until you leave.

Yes, the $120 per year is for the inspection, but basically is an insurance policy against termites. It not only covers the house, but the furniture and other items in the house that might get infested. It even covers a hotel if we need to vacate the house for treatment.

It is a lot less $ I'm kidding a bit, we pay over $11,000 a year in property taxes here :grumpy:

Has anyone asked their homeowners agent if pursuant to an inspection you can have it added to your policy?

You don't I believe need a pest control inspector with their own agenda, why not a regular home inspector?

Just thought.

Ok, what hasn't been mentioned in this thread is the Florida building code requires pre-construction treatment before the CO can issue, depending on the chemicals used your covered for the first 5-10 years.

The Florida Building Code does not require a preventive treatment for drywood termites for new construction. It does require a treatment for subterranean termites. Coastal and southern areas of the state are more likely to have infestation occur. Colonies are smaller and develop over a longer period of time than do subterranean termites therefore the potential for structural damage over a given period of time is less.

TERMITE PROTECTION IN BUILDINGS
The Florida Building Code contains provisions that prevent certain building practices that make buildings more vulnerable to termite invasion.
Building Inspectors have a critical role in protecting structures from termites.

Termite Protection Provisions of the Code are found in the following code sections:

104.2.6 Certificate of Protective Treatment for Prevention of Termites requires posting of applications - No "final approval" if all the applications not made.
104.2.7 Notice of Termite Protection requires posting of consumer notice inside the house
1403.1.6 Veneered Walls. Require at least a 6 inch space between the grade and siding for termite inspection.

The reason for this is to allow for a visual indication for example of Mud tubes and mulch or gravel against the foundation.

1503.4.4 Roof Assemblies. Protection against decay and termites requires discharge lines and gutter downspouts to terminate at least one foot from the foundation.
1816.1- 1816.2 Foundations and Retaining Walls - Termite protection requires foundations to have some form of protection from termites ("labeled for use as a preventative treatment to new construction"). If soil treatment is used, it must be done after compaction. Disturbed areas must be re-treated. Forms and traps must be plastic or metal. A vapor barrier must be installed. Concrete overpour must be removed.
Applications must also be made within one foot of the foundation under adjoining slabs. Protective sleeves around slab penetrations.
2116. Masonry - Termite Inspection (Cleaning) Cells in blocks must not contain cellulosic debris. Concrete Bearing Ledge Brick veneers must be on an integral ledge or a soil treatment must be made
2301.4.6 Preservative treated wood must meet a standard.
2303.1 Wood Construction Practices. Sites must be graded to provide drainage. Cellulose debris must be removed from the foundation. Wooden grade stakes, form boards, etc. must be removed. No cellulose material can be buried within 15 feet of the foundation.
2304 Wood Construction - Protection against decay and termites requires preservative or naturally decaying resistant wood in certain areas. Clearance between wood siding and the ground must be 6 inches.

When we were in the early stages of the build...walls and drywalls were up, I asked a worker what the greenish blue color was that was sprayed from the floor up to the top height of the island countertop. It was sprayed throughout the entire house at that height. He told me it was termite protection.