Camping at Home

[Frederick L. Simson]

Sometimes having a travel trailer can save you significant money. Here in Southern California we are experiencing a termite population explosion. I finally had to have the house tented and fumigated. I learned that the process takes as much paperwork and signatures as refinancing!

Security Concerns and Housing Expense (with pets) were easily handled by moving into the Fiber Stream in the back yard for the two days we were kept out of the house.

[Dan Meyer]

Holy moly! Two days of fumigating your house to get rid of termintes? Yikes! Is there any odor associated with this, either while the fumigation is underway or after it is complete? How do they get the pesticide into the walls and foundation areas?

Good luck!

-- Dan Meyer

[Cyndi B.]

Looks like Barnum and Bailey.

[Mike Magee]

Looks like the fumigators are putting on a really big show under the Big Top. Wow, I never knew it could come to that.

[Frederick L. Simson]

Originally Posted by Dan Meyer

Is there any odor associated with this, either while the fumigation is underway or after it is complete?

How do they get the pesticide into the walls and foundation areas?

This video made by the company I used will answer your questions. Fumigation Video on Demand

The odorless fumigant infuses into the wood when the tented volume is saturated with the gas. They add a separate irritant (like a tear-gas) to keep people out during the process. The tent itself is a sealed barrier; there is no odor at all outside the tent. We were out of the house for 2 days. The 1st day is when the fumigant is pumped in and circulated. The 2nd day is when the tent is vented to clear any unabsorbed gas. Only when the interior of the tent measures clear of ambient fumigant in the air after venting is the tent removed and the house is cleared for re-entry. The local utility company has to come and inspect all of your gas appliances and connections and THEY turn the gas back on when they deem it safe.

I did not have the "subterranean" type of termite, which has a different method of treatment. Subterranean Video on Demand

[Frederick L. Simson]

Originally Posted by Cyndi B.

Looks like Barnum and Bailey.

I showed the pictures to my office manager Connie and she started laughing. "I've got to tell you about Olivia." (Her Granddaughter, age 2-1/2)

There's a house up Connie's street that has a Blue and Yellow Termite Tent on it.
Connie tells me that Olivia comes running up to her and says, "Nana, let's GO!"
"Go where, Sweetie?"
"To the PARTY! Somebody has a REALLY BIG bounce house!!!"

[Frederick L. Simson]

Originally Posted by Mike Magee

Wow, I never knew it could come to that.

This is a common sight in Southern California. One condition of closing escrow when a house is sold is a clean termite inspection report. The initial reports are never clean. Around here, if you have the exterior painted or the termites fumigated, people assume that you have sold the house and are moving...

[Carol H]

Oh the joys of owning a home!

[Donna D.]

Frankly, I'm glad my Scamp doesn't have a wood frame for more than one reason! Although a full-size tent might look cool over it...

Keep the termites in California please, we have enough problems with Carpenter Ants in wetOREGON.

[Lizbeth]

You can tell us alllllll about it when we see you. We are going to have to do that as soon as we get the kitchen done... probably after the first of the year. I like Corky's videos!

[Ed Harris]

Down in South Florida they tent and fumigate for all sorts of things.

I have been working down in Palm Beach on the island where the ultra-rich live and there are always tented houses and business down there.

Last trip I saw an entire Ritz-Carlton and a Country Club under the tent and neither were for Termites?

One house I worked in there had power out for months after a Hurricane and when they re entered the house it looked like it had mice from the droppings on the floor. It turned out to be roaches! Big ones.
They have a breed of roach down there that carries some kind of solvent on their bodies that will eat through concrete and thats how they get in through cinderblock......yuck!

Living in Paradise!

[Gchilds17]

How long is that fumigation guaranteed? We get pest control here in Texas too. In the spring we get a doodle-bug convention seemingly nightly. Come in in the morning to dead roly-polies.

[Frederick L. Simson]

Originally Posted by Childs in Texas

How long is that fumigation guaranteed?

4 years.

[Frederick L. Simson]

Originally Posted by Ed Harris

One house I worked in there had power out for months after a Hurricane and when they re entered the house it looked like it had mice from the droppings on the floor. It turned out to be roaches! Big ones.

Over 6" long? That's how big the ones I saw in Olongapo City, Republic of the Philippines were when I was in the Navy. I woke up in a hotel and thought I saw a rat on the Beam above my bed, but it turned out to be a cockroach.

Thanks for the memories...

[RRIZZO]

Anyone with a home or wooden structure in Calif has termites. We have HUGH German Brown Cockroaches. They only live in the sewer system and come in the pipes. Was taking a shower and had about a 5 incher walk across my feet. Saw the city sewer workers lift a manhole cover and it must have had a million on the lid and down the hole. Couldnt pay me enough. They do make good cat toys.

[RRIZZO]

We had an exterminator come out after the 94 earthquake and he recommended that if you see termite damage to spray with Clorox bleach. WE had to use termite spray in our Cardinal Trailer.

[GeorgeR]

It is time in termite states to build Prefab Fiberglass House - Jorge Fontan

I remember selling a house in California when termite inspectors (the Left Company's hand) followed the termite elimination (the Right Company's hand), a very frustrating conflict of interest?

George.

[Byron Kinnaman]

Originally Posted by RRIZZO

We had an exterminator come out after the 94 earthquake and he recommended that if you see termite damage to spray with Clorox bleach. WE had to use termite spray in our Cardinal Trailer.

I wonder if that would still work. Clorox has changed the formulation, as have all bleach manufactures. I tried to get so chlorine bleach none to be found.

[freddo411]

Living in LA, I'm sure you've seen this story:

Tomlee explosion rocks Torrance - History

Obviously not very likely, but just in case maybe you want to park your egg a bit further away .... ;-)

[RRIZZO]

I was once told by an exterminator, that a quik exterior fix for a small area is to spray full solution of bleach on the wood. Recently had our apt bldg painted and it seems to have brought out the "Mites". I have done several spray jobs on the wood braces of my patio.
Our bldg is 50 yrs old and really needs to be tented but I am Not suggesting that to the owner.