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There are situations in which a conventional termite treatment is very difficult, undesirable, or even impossible. Some situations call demand special handling, others may require alternative approaches. For example:

The treatment requires extensive drilling of flooring slabs through wooden, tiled or carpeted floors, or through other masonry which could be damaged.

Liquid treatment may be prohibited, e.g., there is a well or cistern under or too near the foundation wall.

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Liquid treatment is considered unacceptable for whatever reason. The treatment requires drilling of flooring slabs through wooden, tiled or carpeted floors, or via other masonry or you do not want liquid dyes applied under/around your residence. In these situations, there are only a few alternatives like termite baits or mechanical control (currently available only for houses under construction). .

Wood TreatmentsAlthough local or"place" wood treatments prevent termite activity in the treated area, they're not complete termite treatments and they will not stop termites from attacking wood in other areas. One treatment option uses the compound disodium octaborate tetrahydrate (DOT). This borax-derived chemical is applied to critical wooden structural components in the crawlspace and parts of the framing in a house under construction.

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However, depending on the type of construction involved, it can be possible for termites to bypass this treatment and assault nearby untreated wood such as baseboard molding, trim, etc.. Chemicals that are suitable for wood treatments are recorded in the current edition of the North Carolina Agricultural Chemicals Manual. .

FumigationIn North Carolina, structural fumigation (occasionally called"tenting") is rarely used for our common subterranean termites. Most residential fumigations are performed for drywood termites, that are relatively uncommon in North Carolina, or for wood-boring beetles particularly in log houses.

In most cases, the termite treatment on your house includes a one-year termite protection warranty from the pest control company. After one year, you have to decide if you want to continue your contract. The expense of a renewal for a home that was treated with a liquid termiticide is normally between $85-$200, depending on the size and construction type of the home and possibly the kind of guarantee (explained below).

Recall: termites are constantly around us and always looking to get"meals" (wood). That fact alone does not mean that they are constantly attacking your residence. It only means that there is always some chance that termites might find their way unseen into your house. .

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The US Environmental Protection Agency requires that termiticide manufacturers prove that their chemicals can remain effective in the soil for a minimum of five decades. In most situations, these substances usually survive longer when applied correctly. However, this 5-year requirement is not a guarantee that termites cannot (or will not) invade your house within a five year interval.

These kinds of situations can provide termites with opportunities to invade the home. .

Annual termite contracts are somewhat like health insurance policies. You're paying to guard your house against the possibility of termite attack. An annual contract can be an effective way of preventing termites from causing significant damage over the years. Likewise, this 5-year requirement from the EPA does not mean that the compound is completely ineffective after 5 decades.

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It is important to understand that an annual contract does not mean that the pest control company re-treats your home each year. Unless there's any evidence of termite activity in the home, annual treatments are actually prohibited under most termiticide labels (and therefore illegal under the state and federal law).

When they find evidence of termite activity or if you find evidence of termite activity, then the company requires some appropriate measures, usually a neighborhood or'area' treatment of the infested area. You should not have to cover any additional treatment to fix a termite problem; this cost is covered by your annual charge.

For instance, routine house maintenance aids prevents moisture issues or other conditions that are conducive to termite activity in the region, i.e., if termites find such place, they're more likely to remain active or expand their activity in that area. Be sure the termite inspector explains any problem areas that he/she finds during the inspections so you can fix these issues as soon as possible.

If you are not home when the house is inspected, the inspector must leave some type of notice or report about his/her findings. If you're not clear on the results, call the company's office and ask them to explain if anything important was found. .

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Does my contract policy termite damageAn important point on your contract concerns damage. Many men and women assume that their contract automatically covers damage repairs, but that is not always the case. Many termite protection contracts offer"retreatment only", i.e., the pest control company will escape areas as necessary in order to fix the issue, however the retreatment is check all they are obligated to do under the terms of the kind of contract.