Active termites removed in Fords, NJ

Challenge

Recently, I performed a residential termite treatment in Ocean Township. Termites are subterranean insects that consume wood. They are capable of causing significant property damage, and homeowners have to be vigilant about them because the signs of termite activity, like mud tubes built on concrete foundations, are often subtle. The last sign — destroyed wood — is often not noticed till the wood starts to disintegrate since termites eat wood from the inside out and the wood may superficially look fine even though it is hollowed out. Homeowners should strongly consider periodic termite inspections and not wait until they are ready to sell their home. Termite damage can go on for years unnoticed, causing thousands of dollars in unnecessary damages. 

There were two separate parts of this termite job. First, I needed to get rid of the active termite colony using a liquid termiticide that I must inject into the soil. The foraging termites bring the non-repellent application to the nest, soon killing the entire colony. Second, these homeowner did not want to revisit their termite problem. They decided to install a protective Sentricon installation that provides a protective barrier against termites around the home, and give them peace of mind that their home would remain termite-free. 

Solution

I started with liquid application to the problem area of the home — the garage which was built on a concrete slab — where there was termite activity. When treating termites, it is necessary to directly access the soil housing the termite colony. Here, I drilled through the garage’s concrete slab to reach the soil. I observed termite damage to the middle garage door jamb (the vertical portion of the door frame). I treated that door jamb as well as the other two garage door jambs (see photo of treatment to the door jambs). In this case, it was important to treat all of the door jambs because there was direct wood-soil contact, which is a red flag trouble spot for termite activity. Direct wood-soil contact is something that should be avoided whenever possible. It is asking for termite trouble. 

I also treated this home’s front stoop area because there was wood debris buried under the stoop by contractors, which could easily cause a future termite condition (see photos of the front stoop area to be drilled and treated, drilling through the stoop, and treating under the stoop with a powerful termiticide). Of course, this excess wood should have been hauled off the property instead of being used as termite food. Unfortunately, we see these building construction short-cuts taken all too often to the detriment of the homeowner. 

After completing the termite treatment, I began installation of the Sentricon baiting system. It’s purpose is simple: to protect a home or other structure from foraging termites that potentially could find their way in their search for food (the cellulose in wood and other products used in construction materials). With Sentricon, the termites feed off these bait stations and never reach their destination. 

These bait stations are augered into the ground every ten feet around the perimeter of the house. Each individual station has a bait matrix that the termites feed on and then unknowingly transport the product back to the colony. This process eventually destroys the hidden colony that termites have built deep underground.

This double treatment method is a highly effective “one-two” punch to resolve a termite infestation. We not only get rid of the termite infestation before these insects can cause even more damage, but, with the Sentricon installation, we give homeowners peace of mind by protecting the house from future termite infestations.