Don't panic. Most types of termites dotheir destructive work very slowly, so your house will not collapse overnight.If your house has never been treated for termites by an exterminator, contactseveral local pest control companies and get estimates for their termite controlservices. These same companies can inspect your to see exactly what type ofpests are attacking your home. If you are not sure you have a termiteinfestation, an inspection will reveal if a visible termite infestation is/isnot present. If you have termites swarming in your house, they can be combatedusing a variety of over-the-counter pesticides available to homeowners. Termitesgenerally swarm once a year for a period or about twenty-four (24) hours. Theswarmer is the reproductive form of the termite, and does not do damage to wood.It is helpful to save several of the swarmers in a plastic bag for theinspection by your local pest control operator before a termite treatment isperformed.

Currently, there are chemicals on themarket that are commonly used for termite control: Dursban T.C., Demon T.C.,Dragnet, Tribute, Tenure, Equity, Prelude, Prevail and Biflex. Of those, DursbanT.V. and Demon T.C. are the most widely used. All of the above chemicals havebeen registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and they areconsidered to be effective means of termite control. The label should bereviewed prior to a treatment along with the termite treatment disclosure. Ifyou have a health-related questions concerning the termite measures to be usedon your home, or that has already been applied to your home, you may obtain acopy of the chemical's package label from your pest control operator and take itto your family doctor for analysis. ALL PEST CONTROL OPERATORS ARE REQUIREDTO GIVE A COPY OF THE LABEL OF THE TERMITICIDE TO BE USED TO THE CONSUMER BEFORETHE TERMITE TREATMENT IS CONDUCTED. Any health related questions can also bedirected to the Epidemiology Department of the Texas Department of Health, (512)458-7269. Questions on treatment methods and procedures should be directed tothe Structural Pest Control Board (SPCB) at Fax Number (512) 451-9400.

Subterranean termites are treated usingthe methods and procedures listed on the product label. Drywood termites arecommonly treated using fumigation, wood removal or borate products for spotapplications. When fumigation is performed, the certified applicator for thepest company must be present at the time the gases are released into the houseand when the house is released for occupancy following the fumigation.Subterranean termite treatments may be performed by a technician with the adviceof a certified applicator.

Subterranean termites must return tothe soil to live and reproduce, and are found throughout Texas. Drywoodtermites, found more commonly in coastal areas such as Houston and CorpusChristi, do not need to return to the soil but can live inside walls or in woodshingles.

Consult the pest control company thatoriginally treated your home for termites and try to work out a solution to yourproblem. Remember, your home can only be re-treated if one of the followingconditions exist: (1) Active infestation of termites; (2) A break in thechemical barrier has been found; or (3) Some areas of the structure were notpreviously treated.

Keep in my mind that termite control isas much an art as it is a science. Many factors can affect the adequacy of atreatment, including the construction of the house, and re-treatments may benecessary. Also, remember that termites can still be in the walls of the housesix to eight weeks after the termite treatment was performed. If you have are-infestation and are under contract with a company, contact them so they mayidentify and address the problem. If the company's response is unsatisfactory,then contact the Structural Pest Control Board.

If you have spoken with your pestcontrol company, and you are still unable to resolve the problems you are havingconcerning a termite treatment, contact the SPCB at telephone number (512)451-7200 fax number (512) 451-9400 and request a complaint form. An SPCBinvestigator from your area will contact you after you have completed thecomplaint form and returned it to the SPCB at 1106 Clayton Lane, Suite 100LW,Austin, Texas 78723-1066. Typical response time to a complaint by aninvestigator is approximately three weeks. It is not advisable to repair anydamage or to have your home treated before the SPCB investigator has been ableto inspect the home. A more thorough investigation can be conducted if damage isstill visible. Remember, damage caused by termites occurs very slowly, so nosignificant, additional damage will occur in the few additional days required toproperly investigate your complaint.

At the time a bid is submitted andprior to treating, the pest control company proposing the treatment is requiredto give the prospective customer termite treatment disclosure documents. Thedocuments must include, but are not limited to, the following items: (1) A graphof the structure or structures to be treated; (2) A label for any pesticiderecommended or used, and the proposed percentage of application; (3) Thecomplete details of the warranty provided; (4) Definitions of the types oftreatment; and (5) The signature of approval of the certified applicator ortechnician licensed in the termite category employed by the company making theproposal.

Gdansk cheap hotelsIf the warranty does not include theentire structure treated, the areas included must be listed. The warrantyinformation must also include the time period of the warranty, the renewaloptions and cost, the obligations of the pest control operator to retreat fortermite infestations or repair termite damage caused by termite infestationduring the warranty period, and conditions that could develop as a result of theowner's action or inaction that could void the warranty.

The Structural Pest Control Board doesnot have the authority to compel a pest control company to pay damages.

We may, however, assist in negotiatingan agreement or settlement.

The first thing you need to know isthat any structure containing wood or cellulose material provides a natural foodsource for subterranean termites. Even structures that are mostly steel andconcrete are vulnerable to termite attack. The following list will provide somegeneral conditions conducive to termite infestation; (1) Earth-Wood contact; (2)Firewood stacked against foundation; (3) Wood debris in crawl space; (4) Woodmulch [within 3 ft. of foundation]; (5) Faulty grade; (6) Insufficientventilation; or (7) Moisture.

A licensed person will conduct acareful inspection to determine the presence or absence of visible evidence ofinfestation from wood destroying insects. The inspection will be made in thoseareas which are readily accessible and where infestation is most likely tooccur. No inspection is made in areas which require the breaking apart, ordismantling or removal of any objects. Therefore, it is not a warranty as to theabsence of wood destroying insects. It is not a structural damage report. A wooddestroying insect inspector is not ordinarily a construction or building tradeexpert, and therefore, is not expected to possess any special qualificationswhich enable him to detect the extent of structural damage. Evidence of wooddestroying insects is noted in the report.

Contact several companies in your areato get information on the types of services they offer and what they charge. Youmay find a great deal of variation on contract terms, prices, and treatmentoptions. Review the contract terms carefully and ask about anything you do notunderstand. Note whether the company offers coverage for damages caused bytermites, what the renewal options are, and what conditions could void thewarranty. Companies are required to be licensed with the Structural Pest ControlBoard in order to provide commercial pest control services. Ask the company toprovide verification of the licensure, or call the Structural Pest Control Boardto confirm their status. Ask the company to provide you information concerningtermite experience and training the inspector and/or applicator have received.Each person may have different levels of experience. A new company may havepersonnel who have years of experience in the industry. An existing company mayhave a high turnover rate resulting in inexperienced personnel. You may send aletter to the SPCB requesting information about past investigations the SPCB hasconducted concerning the company. In response, you will receive a list of theinvestigations and their results for the past five (5) years. This informationshould be provided to you within seven (7) to ten (10) working days. Your localBetter Business Bureau may provide information on past complaints they havereceived concerning the company.

If you have further questionsconcerning termite control or pest control in general, contact your local pestcontrol operator or call the Structural Pest Control Board at (512) 451-7200.

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