What Is The Most Effective Type Of Termite Treatment?

You probably already know this, but termites can be a significant headache for homeowners. They are responsible for trillions of dollars worth of damage each year. You have arrived at the right location if you are looking for the most efficient method of treating termites in your home. In today's article, we'll go over the available treatments for termites, and then we'll help you choose the one that's going to work best for your house. Continue reading to find out more information!

Preparing for termites to invade your home is the first step in protecting it from them. Learning the telltale signs of termites so that you can identify them in their early stages is one of the most important things you can do. There is a good chance that termites will remain hidden for extended periods, during which they will damage the structure in question before their presence is discovered. The subterranean termite, the dry wood termite, and the Formosan termite are the three most common kinds of termites. The species of termite and the location of the infestation play a role in deciding which type of termite treatment is the most effective. Here are the four termite treatments that are most frequently used by professionals who specialise in termite control:

Pretreatments

The building phase of a new construction project is the time for applying pretreatments, also known as termite treatments. It is recommended to use pretreatments whenever possible to do so when constructing additions to an already existing house. When pretreatments are applied before the physical infrastructure of a home or addition is laid, they are more effective and cost-effective. 

Barrier Treatments

To prevent termites from entering your home, barrier treatments create a physical barrier in the soil. You will dig a trench outside your house and heavily treat the ground with a termiticide after removal. Following this step, the channel is backfilled with the treated soil. In certain instances, a physical wall composed of rock, sand, mesh, and plastic is built inside the outer wall of the trench. This wall is sometimes called the "internal wall." It provides an additional defence against termites that could invade your home.

When dealing with a termite infestation, the most common methods are soil and barrier treatments.

The chemical barrier treatment known as soil treatment can also take the form of treating the soil itself.

The interior of your home can also be protected from termites by barrier treatments, which can involve various chemical or physical termite barriers.

Injecting foam termiticides into the walls and floors of a building is one example. Shaving cream comes to mind when thinking about the consistency of the foaming agents. As soon as they are injected, they immediately begin to spread throughout the interior, covering any uncovered areas by travelling through wall voids and openings.

It is common practice to employ this technique in conjunction with soil treatment to eradicate any termites already inhabiting your building.

Termite shields are another type of physical barrier. They are comprised of thin pieces of sheet metal installed around the wooden structural elements inside your building. On the other hand, termite shields are rarely installed after the initial construction of a building and are not appropriate for use in the treatment of an existing infestation.

In most cases, soil and barrier treatments utilise termiticides that have a lifespan of up to five years. When compared to the use of termite bait systems, their cost-effectiveness can vary depending on the specifics of the situation.

Applying a chemical to the soil around your home to create a barrier that termites are unable to cross is what is meant by "soil treatments."

This kind of treatment is typically required not only when you first build your home but also periodically after that for a few years.

The primary goal of soil treatments, which are also considered a chemical barrier, is to prevent termites from excavating tunnels through the treated soil.

On the other hand, barrier treatments involve the construction of a chemical and physical barrier (typically a sheet of metal or plastic) that termites cannot break through.

It is important to remember that soil and barrier treatments will not eliminate any termites already present in your home. However, they are both effective at preventing termites from causing damage to your property.

If you suspect that you may already have termites in your house, you should contact an exterminator as soon as possible for further assistance.

Liquid Treatments

Treatments applied in liquid form are by far the most common type of termite treatment. Infestations of termites on the interior of your home can be effectively treated using these methods. As part of these treatments, holes are drilled in a strategic pattern in the foundation and the wood. The holes are then injected with termiticide, which compels the termites to emerge from their hiding places. After that, the termites are eradicated using spot treatments that contain termiticides.

Bait Stations

Termites have the potential to rapidly spread out of control and are notoriously challenging to eradicate. If you have reason to believe that you may have a termite infestation, you should contact a local pest control company to arrange a termite inspection. It will allow the company to determine the species of termite present and advise you on the most effective treatment method.

Setting up termite bait stations in critical positions around an active termite colony is the approach this kind of treatment takes. There are primarily two categories of bait stations, which are referred to as above-ground stations and in-ground stations.

As their name suggests, in-ground baiting stations have to be planted in the ground to function correctly. They are significantly more widespread and efficient than above-ground stations, despite the latter being better suited to some circumstances.

Termite bait stations use termite bait that has been treated with low doses of slow-acting termiticides that do not repel termites. The termites take the poisoned bait back to the termite colony once they find the termite bait station. Once there, the entire termite colony consumes the bait.

As a consequence, termite bait stations can potentially eradicate an entire termite colony, thereby resolving the issue where it originated.

This method is safer for the environment than the chemical treatments discussed earlier. It offers termite control that is more preventative and effective over the long term.

Treating termite infestations with termite baiting stations is an efficient method that is also kind to the environment.

The termites will be drawn to the bait, and once they have consumed it, they will bring it back to the colony to share with their fellow termites. It will eventually lead to the colony's destruction, which will prevent further termite damage to your property.

These baiting stations are typically positioned 10 to 15 feet around the perimeter of a property, and they should be inspected once every few months to ensure that they are still performing their intended function.

Fumigation

The most effective method for removing severe termite infestations from your home is to use fumigation. The procedure consists of enclosing the area infested with termites and exposing all of the termites found within it to sulfuryl fluoride gas (Vikane). The process of fumigation usually takes about three days to complete.

Before the treatment gas is released, a tent will be set up around your house, and you will seal off the tent completely. It will ensure that the fumigation is effective. The pest control specialist will then allow an exposure time of approximately twenty-four hours. Still, this time frame will vary depending on the size of your home and the severity of the termite infestation. 

The elimination of any existing colonies is a benefit that results from fumigation; however, this does not ensure that your home will not become reinfested in the future.

The intrusive method of termite control known as fumigation involves injecting a poisonous gas into the soil around and under a structure to kill termites in their nests. Fumigation can be used to control termites.

Even though fumigation is widely regarded as one of the most effective strategies for achieving total termite control, it has a few drawbacks.

The fact that it is a highly laborious process that calls for a great deal of preparation on the part of homeowners is among the most significant of these drawbacks.

Most of the time, homeowners are required to vacate their properties for the duration of the treatment, which can cause schedule disruptions at both the workplace and at home with families.

In addition, the cost of fumigation can be high because it is typically billed on a per-square-foot basis. Furthermore, even though it will eradicate any existing colonies, fumigation does not ensure that your home will not be subject to additional infestations in the future.

Signs You May Have Termites

When determining whether or not you have a problem with termites, it is not as simple as spotting a few insects crawling around your space. Termites themselves are notoriously difficult to locate. On the other hand, there are a few common signs that could suggest you have termites in your home. If you find any of these, you must conduct additional research or contact a reputable pest control company.

Mud tubes are typically found along the walls of your home. They are small tunnels made of wood and soil and have a width comparable to that of a pencil.

Wings that have been discarded Termites, when they swarm, cast off their wings and leave large quantities of them behind.

Frass: If you find what appear to be small pellets near your woodwork, this could be the excrement of termites, which is also known as frass, and it is a sign that a colony of termites is nearby.

Paint peeling may result from termites, which allow moisture to enter the space between the paint and the wall, resulting in bubbles.

Older Cheaper Treatments

In the past, exterminators could control termites for a lower cost by employing a method known as "repellents." Pesticides known as repellents are effective in warding off termites, but they cannot eradicate the insects themselves or their colonies. To put it another way, we do not consider them to be an efficient form of treatment. Because termites will avoid the treated areas, your home will continue to be infested even though you have taken preventative measures.

Installing a physical barrier made of plastic or steel in front of the brickwork is yet another low-cost solution to the problem. It is believed that carrying out this procedure will prevent termite invasion by sealing any gaps or openings that lead toward the foundation. However, these physical barriers are ineffective because, as foundations age and wear down, cracks can form that allow termites to gain access to the structure. It further proves that the outdated and less expensive treatment methods for termites are no longer the best option for you.

Trench And Treat

This chemical barrier system can provide termite control for your structure for up to eight years and can be refilled when necessary. When it comes to installing a termite barrier, the method that involves excavating a trench, treating the exposed canal, backfilling the track, and treating the backfill is the one that is recommended. The width of the channel must be at least 150 millimetres (mm), and it must extend down at least 50 millimetres (mm) below the top of the footing. Assuming that the width of the trench is 150 millimetres and the distance to the top of the foot is 300 millimetres, this would equate to a channel that is 150 millimetres wide and 350 millimetres deep, and 5.25 litres of prepared spray would be applied to each lineal metre of the track. Any change in the dimensions needs to be recalculated based on the assumption that one hundred litres of prepared spray will be applied to one cubic metre of soil.

Drill And Inject

The non-repellent termiticide solution does not immediately kill the termite that has been exposed to the treatment. Instead, it allows the termite to survive and return to the nest, where it can infect the other termites and eradicate the entire colony.

If your property was already infested with termites before the barrier system installation, the affected areas of your parcel will first have a termite treatment applied to them. First drilling tiny holes accomplish this into the cavity walls and window frames that are infested and then using a termiticide that does not repel termites. It is because chemicals not repel termites do not kill them immediately upon contact. Instead, it can take eight to twenty-one days for the termites to return to their nest and infect the rest of the colony, thereby destroying it. It is anticipated that termite barrier systems will facilitate termite control on your property for 5 and 8 years, provided they are periodically replenished. It is highly recommended that an annual termite inspection be performed to ensure that the barrier is functioning as effectively as it should and that any failures are immediately addressed and remedied.

In-Ground Baiting Systems

Controlling a significant termite infestation also makes excellent use of in-ground baiting systems, which are very effective. The baiting system is established by installing twenty-four small plastic bait stations around the property's perimeter in such a way as to maximise their effectiveness. These are relatively small bait stations, but they contain cellulose in wood, paper, or cardboard that will act as food for the termites.

When the termites find the food sources, a chemical that inhibits chitin synthesis is applied. This chemical causes the termites to die because they cannot grow and form a new exoskeleton, which slows their growth rate and prevents them from moulting their exoskeletons, which is an external covering that provides support and protection. As soon as one of the termites that acts as a carrier brings the insect growth regulator into the nest, the entire colony will perish quickly.

For the most effective termite control and elimination, we strongly suggest going with a programme that lasts for an entire year and has a regular servicing interval of between four and eight weeks. Following this, we will perform an annual service on the bait system.

Construction Type

The construction method of a house will determine the type of termite treatment that will be most effective. Slab homes should have a chemical barrier installed, in our opinion. The use of bait will produce the best results when dealing with homes with more than one level. If the building's construction is flawed, neither of the two termite control systems will be able to control the infestation on their own. Instead, the most effective solution will be combining chemical barriers and the baiting system.

Construction Flaws

Numerous homes on the market suffer from construction defects that render certain regions of the building vulnerable to invasion by termites. Even if you have a comprehensive treatment around your house, termites can still find their way through these construction flaws. Applying a baiting system in conjunction with soil treatment is the most effective method for resolving this issue and should be used. To properly treat the soil underneath any concrete or pavers surrounding your property, you must cut them up and lift them carefully.

Soil Type

In addition, the type of soil will determine whether you should utilise a chemical barrier or an in-ground bait system. It is best to use a chemical barrier system if the ground is free of rocks and, ideally, is of the sandy loam type. The liquid soil termiticide will be easier to distribute and more even.

Slope Of Block

The slope of the block is another consideration that can play a role in determining the treatment that you go with. It is difficult to apply liquid soil termiticide to sloped blocks, such as steeply sloping. Rain will likely wash away the treatment, rendering the chemical treatment ineffective. This risk makes it highly likely that rain will occur. If your property has a steep slope, it is recommended to use the termite baiting system rather than spraying it.

Conclusion

The question is, which method of termite treatment is the most successful? We hope that this article has provided you with some food for thought as you consider the various treatment options available to you and has helped you understand the different available treatment options. The answer to that question may vary depending on the specifics of your situation. Please do not hesitate to contact us for assistance if you have any concerns or questions or need help locating an experienced pest control professional in your area. Our team is here to assist because one of our goals is to ensure that every homeowner has access to the information they require to protect their home from these destructive pests.

Content Summary

• If you're seeking for a reliable strategy to eliminate termites from your house, you've come to the right place.
• Barrier treatments, which might include chemical or physical termite barriers, can help safeguard your home's interior from pests.
• Soil and barrier treatments won't get rid of termites already in your house.
• It's important to get in touch with a pest control service right away if you suspect you have a termite problem.
• Using termite baiting stations to eliminate infestations is an effective and eco-friendly solution.
• Fumigation
• Fumigation is the best option for getting rid of a serious termite infestation in your property.
• Termites can be kept at bay with the help of a fumigation.
• However, you should be aware of a few telltale indications that may indicate termites are present in your house.
• This chemical barrier system can protect your home from termites for as long as eight years before needing to be renewed.
• To begin with, we will apply a termite treatment to the infested sections of your property if they exist before installing the barrier system.
• A termite barrier system, if maintained and reapplied at regular intervals, can help you keep termites off your property for up to eight years.
• Additionally, in-ground baiting systems are highly efficient and useful for controlling a substantial termite infestation.
• The best way to fix this problem is to employ a baiting system in addition to treating the soil.
• Soil composition is also important when deciding between a chemical barrier and an underground bait system.
• Another factor that may play a role in the treatment you choose is the block's slope.
• Termite baiting is preferable to spraying if your property has a steep slope.
• Although it's tempting to try your hand at termite management, it's best to leave that task to the professionals.
• For the most part, fumigation is an effective means of keeping termites from invading a home.