Hey everyone!
When I bought my 1920s Craftsman home, I didn’t realize the subterranean termites had already claimed the basement beams. After spotting mud tubes, I panicked and tried boric acid treatments, but the damage worsened. A pro inspection revealed $15K in repairs! Now I’m obsessed with prevention. What’s YOUR go-to strategy for termites in older homes?
Questions for Discussion:
- What preventative measures do you swear by (e.g., soil treatments, moisture control)?
- Have you tried DIY termite bait stations? Success or disaster?
- How often should older homes get professional inspections?
- What’s the most cost-effective repair for minor termite damage?
- Red flags that scream “termites are here” besides mud tubes?
Installed stainless steel mesh barriers around my foundation. Termites can’t chew through! Pricey upfront but saved $$$ long-term.
Cardboard traps soaked in water + borax. Termites ate the cardboard and carried poison back to the nest. Cheap and effective!
@SafePawsOnly Borax is toxic to pets—did you seal the traps safely?
Most clients skip crawl space vapor barriers. Moisture = termite buffet. Fix leaks FIRST before spraying chemicals.
Nematodes! Released beneficial worms into soil—they eat termite larvae. Took 3 months but no chemicals!
Replaced damaged studs with termite-resistant cedar. Added metal flashing where wood meets soil.
Tried orange oil treatments for drywood termites. They laughed and ate my porch. $8K later… hire a pro.
@LindaWild Same! Orange oil only works for tiny, localized spots.
Diatomaceous earth around the foundation + dehumidifier in the basement. Dry termites are dead termites!
@BugByte Is DE safe for my cats? They roam the basement…