When Termites Damage Your Home, What Are Your Options?
by Barb Ogg, PhD, Extension Educator

Termites strike fear in the hearts of homeowners because they damage the structural integrity of wood. However, they work slowly.

It takes 5-8 years for termites to significantly damage wood in Nebraska because of our temperate climate. So, if termites are found, there is no reason to panic. Decisions need to be thought out carefully because termite treatments are expensive -- easily costing $1000, or more. You want to make the very best decisions that you can.

Many people are not sure how to proceed when faced with a termite infestation. This article will help clarify logical, rational steps that can be taken. These steps are as follows:

1. If you see an insect that you think is a termite, have the insect absolutely identified. Your local county extension office may be able to identify termites for you.

2. Is there a live infestation? Subterranean termites (the kind we have in Nebraska) build mud tubes to connect their colony in the soil with wood that is above ground. They travel in these mud tubes, keeping them moist. If there is an active infestation, there will be live, cream-colored insects crawling inside the tubes. If there are no insects inside the tubes, the infestation may be old. In that case, a professional inspection is needed to examine your home to see if there is an active infestation present.

3. Who do you choose to do your inspection? You may feel most comfortable contacting a Board Certified Wood Destroying Insect (WDI) Inspector. The standards for WDI certification are high. Before they can be board certified, individuals must:

• be EPA certified,
• have liability and errors and omissions insurance,
• pass an examination and have yearly continuing education credits,
• be experienced (at least two years),
• adhere to a code of ethics.

It is important to note that individuals, not companies, are Wood Destroying Insect certified. WDI certified pest control technicians carry a badge with a picture I.D, with a certification number and expiration date on it. Ask to see this picture badge. It is not the same as an EPA certification. You can obtain a list of all Nebraska WDI certified inspectors from WDI Inc., (1111 Lincoln Mall, Suite 308, Lincoln 68508-2882; (402) 476-1528).

4. If treatment is warranted, you will want to several pest control companies for bids. Again, you may feel most comfortable when working with WDI board certified individuals.

To make an intelligent decision you will need detailed bids, in writing from each company, so you can compare treatment methods. The greatest factor in a termite treatment is not which chemical is used, but the way it is delivered which includes the volume of chemical and its dilution rate. For the most effective treatment Cooperative Extension recommends that the highest rate on the label should be used. However, there is nothing illegal with a termite control company applying an insecticide for termite control at less than the labeled rate.

5. At this point, you may want to estimate for yourself the cost of your termite treatment. This estimate may help you understand what a reasonable treatment for your home should cost. For this estimate, you will need dimensions of your home, the depth of your basement (grade level to basement footings), a copy of the insecticide label, and the cost of the chemical. From the directions on the label, you can estimate the volume of diluted liquid needed. The cost of the chemical can be obtained by calling a distributer like Van Waters & Rogers. Your local extension office may be able to help find our this information.

6. Bids should reflect the cost of the chemical plus labor, equipment costs, overhead, insurance and profit. When companies treat at the highest labeled rate, these other costs will probably be about the same as the cost of the chemical. Therefore, doubling your estimated chemical cost will give you a ball-park estimate of what a bid should cost. What if bids are very low? Beware. These companies are probably not treating the way the label directs. What if bids are much higher than your estimate? These companies may be paying their technicians more, have more overhead or be making more profit.

7. Regardless of whether your termite control technician is WDI certified or not, homeowners should be at home when a termite treatment is being done. Observe details, for example, the depth the technician is rodding next to the basement, the size of the insecticide tank, the number of times the tank is filled and how many gallons of insecticide are added to the tank. Ask questions. If you are suspicious, take pictures.

Summary: The most effective termite treatment is one which completely surrounds your home with an insecticide barrier that will not allow termites to cross it. This includes slow application rates so the insecticide fills pore spaces, injection holes that are less than 18" apart and sufficient volume to provide that barrier. In addition, the insecticide must be injected to the basement footing and under all concrete slabs. Because today's insecticides generally break down within five years or so, the highest dilution rate given on the label should be used for longest protection of your home. Directions for treating your home properly are found on the insecticide label. Every homeowner who is considering a termite treatment should familiarize him/herself with the directions on the insecticide label. Ask your termite control company for a copy. A short version of this article was printed in the Lincoln Journal Star on Sept. 24, 1995. updated on June 5, 2002

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