Termites question

[kenimpzoom]

Guys I found a beam in my attic that has been totally ravaged by termites.<br /><br />My question is, if I poke around the wood and see no termites does that mean they are gone?<br /><br />I saw this same beam about 2 years ago and meant to come back to it but never found it again. I finally found it, it was under all the junk up there. It doesnt look like the termites have done any more damage during the 2 years I couldnt find it.<br /><br />I plan to screw another 2x6 right into it where the good wood still exsits. It looks like about 6 ft of a 12 ft beam was eaten.<br /><br />Ken

 

[cart7]

Re: Termites question

I'd be more concerned about the wood they ate on the way up to the attic.

 

[Dave Abrahamson]

Re: Termites question

Where's jasonJ when ya need him? <br />Try a search on Jasons posts Ken, he had a lot of answers for this type of thing if I recall. I know I got some advice on carpenter ants from him.<br />Good luck.<br /><br />Dave

 

[lakelivin]

Re: Termites question

http://www.doyourownpestcontrol.com/termite.htm <br /><br />check out the site above. good info, and the guy was very helpfull when I called him about something else a while back. My guess is that if you've really got termite damage in the attic, you're well past the do-it-yourself stage...

 

[kenimpzoom]

Re: Termites question

its kinda weird, there is 6 ft eaten in the middle of the 2x6 but no other surrounding wood is effected.<br /><br />I cant explain how they got there.<br /><br />However, the house is 50 years old, and the previous owners had it inspected yearly. Ive only owned it for 3 years.<br /><br />That damage could be 50 yrs old for all I know.<br /><br />Ken

 

[kenimpzoom]

Re: Termites question

Maybe its carpenter ants, I dont know the diff.<br /><br />Ken

 

[snapperbait]

Re: Termites question

KIZ.. Have you seen any termites swarming around lights in the house at night?... Found any wings?.. Any termite dirt (poop)?...

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Termites question

Any of your local pest control places offer free inspections? If they do, you might want to go that route, but just make sure they don't try any doomsday crap like "Your house will cave in the day after tomorrow". Some unscrupulous companies/individuals try that. The main way to tell the difference between termites and carpenter ants is sawdust. Termites consume the wood, and produce fecal "pellets". Carpenter ants do not consume the wood, they destroy it to make room for their colony, so you end up seeing sawdust under the suspect site. If you open it up and there is no activity, then the site has been abandoned. Of course, that does not mean they are not in the house, just not in that location. Good luck though....

 

[deputydawg]

Re: Termites question

Is the wood damp? Termites especially like damp wood. Check all around the house, sill plate, door frames, basement window frames etc. <br />Termites will start at ground level and work their way up with the grain of the wood. <br /><br />Where they have eaten check to see if the wood is dry and brittle. If it is they are gone from there. <br /><br />You can't just look at the wood. Get a screwdriver and a drill. Poke the screwdriver into the wood everywhere. Look under the trim around exterior doors. Those little critters can get inside of the wood and under trim peices and work from there. On the outside you will see no damage.<br /><br />If you replace this beam, you would be better to cut out the damaged peice. If the bugs come back the splice between the two will make a good home for new termite colonies.

 

[Ron G]

Re: Termites question

lots of good advice,is any of the other rafters klike that in the middle we have problems here in some house i call it dry rot?it looks like tournmite damage but it isnt its from not enough ventilation over the wood,termites are a bad nightmare i have very old damage in my house each rome i start to remold theres more and it can be a were to stop prosess,good luck.

 

[jstillw]

Re: Termites question

I would have a good bug company come out and look over the house. Need to check all along the interior walls with a moisture meter. Looking for active tunnels. Chances are you are looking at old damage, however you do need to maintain a solid treatment. I would have the company use Termador. I do not believe in the bonds (big problems to get them to pay). Should cost around $500-600 to treat the entire outside the first time. Make a deal where they come out every year for around $150-180 and retreat with Termador.<br /><br />Just replace the old damage, but remember there could be alot hidden behind your walls where they made their journey to the attic.

 

[Copespitter]

Re: Termites question

I treated a house that had termites a few years ago.<br />The house was on a concrete slab and it was fairly easy to treat.<br />The termites made mud tunnels from the dirt up about 5" until they hit wood. <br />I broke open one of the tunnels and there was a termite in it. It looked just like the big termite on the Orken trucks.<br /><br />I made a trench around the house and dumped double dursban around the house.<br />I even cut some 1" pvc pipe about 18" long and drilled a bunch of holes in them. I pre drilled the soil and drove them into the ground. I then filled the pipe with cut up sponges. I filled the pipe with the double dursban.<br />I put end caps on the pipes and maintained them once a month.<br />I don't know how well it worked but I got the idea from pest control guys that have a similair set up called the "cintricon system". The 2K quote was for the cintricon system.<br /><br />Never did see another termite after the treatment.

 

[kenimpzoom]

Re: Termites question

Thanks guys, I just screwed a new beam right into the old beam where the wood was still good. It was definately old damage. I cant believe that it hadn't been replaced before, it wasnt that hard of a job.<br /><br />I will have a termite inspection soon, as I will be selling the house.<br /><br />Hopefully he wont find anything.<br /><br />The house had been treated yearly, up until 3 years ago.<br /><br />Ken