Termites

[ken.p]

Hi all.

Hope someone knows of someone who can help, have a problem in the house with termites. Had a company visit each month to spray for pest, guess they where not that good. Maybe some of you use a company you can recommend..

Thanks. Ken.P

[Big Boy]

You could try typing 'termite' into the forum's Search Function.

[moja]

Spraying for termites is not the same as normal pest control. We are sprayed twice a year for termites and a totally different method is used. Speak to whichever pest control company you use and hopefully they can help you.

[dtaai-maai]

We are sprayed twice a year for termites

I make sure my nurse stays termite free too...

termites.jpg (8.46 KiB) Viewed 1108 times

[hhfarang]

We use Galaxy and they seem to be competent and as Moja said, it's different from the monthly spraying and uses a much more expensive chemical. Generally you get a one year contract with a spraying company, they come every month to spray for ants, roaches, mosquitoes etc. and may do some rat and snake prevention, but they only do the termite spraying twice a year.... at least that's the way the companies (three I think) that we have had worked.

[charlesh]

Those bloody things are endemic on our estate. Not sure that any company is that good as the chemicals are not the same as good old dieldrin!!!!! If next door not done the chemical barriers are often broken down by rain, UV or physical intrusion. The little bleeders just love the glue filled woods that most kitchen cabinets are made of. They also love the cheap eave/joist woods in the roof. 1 house had 50,000 Bht work done to replace eave overhangs only to have the same chomped out < 1 year later as next door not treated!

[hhfarang]

^ That's why eve overhangs should be made of Conwood. Looks like wood when painted, but is actually made of concrete. Let the little blighters try to eat that!

[poosmate]

eave/joist woods

Think he means the wood that is driven into the steel to fix the eves. This as well as the frame to attach the conwood or whatever is still fair game and on the termite menu.

[malcolminthemiddle]

What is the cost effective preferred method(s) to deal with this problem for new and existing builds?

One company we contacted quoted a very high price to install and maintain a ring of traps around the house that the customer "rented" from the company. Worked out at around 4,000 Baht per month excluding the installation.

[chopsticks]

What is the cost effective preferred method(s) to deal with this problem for new and existing builds?

Obvious answer but where possible avoid using wood.

eg. for skirting/baseboards use a border of cut tiles instead.

For doors and window frames pay more for better quality hardwoods that are less susceptible to termite attack.

[ste860]

the first thing is to treat the soil that the house is built on before you seal it with the floor beams,the spray just before the beams go on,ensure all timber supports that are used for the form work are removed ,so no timber is left underneath,

if you have enough space under the house install a few vents around the house to allow access to spray under the house ,these vents also allow for ventilation,termites thrive in cold dark damp places

if you are supervising a new build where the concrete columns are dig a clear ring about 450 mm down and fill with sand termites cant tunnel in sand .

keep vegetation plants 2 metres away from your building

ensure all a/c over flows pipes are not left close to the house 1.5 metres away is ok

these are a few things that will help but unfortunately even then its not 100 %

as mentioned above use con wood not real timber but ensure that any timber its fastened to is hardwood or as we have started using steel its cheaper than timber

[PeteC]

For new build I like those tubes/hoses that run under the foundation with the ports located at the bottom of the outside walls. We've got 5 ports. We get the system charged every quarter now, up from 3 times a year, and not a termite or an ant in sight. Yes HHF, our tiny kitchen ants that blend in with the black marble counters are now gone! Pete

[Nereus]

For new build I like those tubes/hoses that run under the foundation with the ports located at the bottom of the outside walls. We've got 5 ports. We get the system charged every quarter now, up from 3 times a year, and not a termite or an ant in sight. Yes HHF, our tiny kitchen ants that blend in with the black marble counters are now gone! Pete

I have that system installed as well. Would you, or anybody, happen to know what the chemical is that is used with it?

[PeteC]

No, we're using a new service this year and I haven't looked. I will next time (late November) and advise. Pete

[Big Boy]

keep vegetation plants 2 metres away from your building

This advice is contrary to advice given on house security threads.