I think I see live termite activity in my basement.

It is easy to differentiate between active termites and inactive infestation.  Active tubes are moist and are dark in color. Inactive tubes are dry and crumbly, and light in color, and they can remain in place for 10 years or more.  The 2nd inspector understands that pumping the ground full of poison without evidence of active termites is a waste of effort and money, and is environmentally irresponsible.  The poisons do not act as a defensive barrier against future termites – the poison is washed down into the water table and eventually into our ocean.  If you have active termites, and you are looking for them, you will find them.

eme1million

in Exterminator 12 years and 9 months ago

8

Please log in, in order to post replies!

8 replies

Newest Oldest

concernedcitizenofgowanus | 12 years and 9 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4945 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4933 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "178918"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(25) "concernedcitizenofgowanus"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$BHjp/L9bJf57j4ouBO4Y/wdSytXVku/"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(25) "concernedcitizenofgowanus"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(20) "gowanusmay@yahoo.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(40) "/forums/users/concernedcitizenofgowanus/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:37:06"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(25) "concernedcitizenofgowanus"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(178918)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

First time homeowner here. Bought my two family, wooden frame townhouse last summer in the Gowanus. Never noticed any termite activity until this month. Who do you recommend I contact to come and take a look? What should something like this run me?  Thanks.  PS – should I be majorly concerned? is this a treatable issue?

dnk | 12 years and 9 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4944 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4943 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(5) "46107"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(3) "dnk"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$Bc/fuQ6M6AurKgSr2TPjNRasEkYaWi1"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(3) "dnk"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(28) "dkeegan@laskerfoundation.org"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(18) "/forums/users/dnk/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 13:36:02"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(3) "dnk"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(46107)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

Don’t know if you saw this post on the Brownstoner forum from a couple of days ago, but it had some helpful information:   http://forum.brownstoner.com/question/*5TfMRCl0Gk=/found-signs-of-termites-on-1-of-our-beams–recommendations   If the link doesn’t work for you, just look at older posts in the forum — you don’t have to go far back; this one is from July 9   Good luck with your problem.

concernedcitizenofgowanus | 12 years and 9 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4940 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#5113 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "178918"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(25) "concernedcitizenofgowanus"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$BHjp/L9bJf57j4ouBO4Y/wdSytXVku/"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(25) "concernedcitizenofgowanus"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(20) "gowanusmay@yahoo.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(40) "/forums/users/concernedcitizenofgowanus/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:37:06"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(25) "concernedcitizenofgowanus"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(178918)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

that did not link me to anything except the home page for the Forum.

Bklnite | 12 years and 9 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4945 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#5114 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(4) "7850"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(7) "Bklnite"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(7) "bklnite"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(26) "walter.wallace@verizon.net"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(49) "http://bstoner.wpengine.com/forums/users/bklnite/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:14:37"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(20) "1V5ZMAVHXeMndDuQZnyh"
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(7) "Bklnite"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(7850)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

forum.brownstoner.com/question/*5TfMRCl0Gk=/found-signs-of-termites-on-1-of-our-beams–recommendations

dnk | 12 years and 9 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#5113 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4944 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(5) "46107"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(3) "dnk"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$Bc/fuQ6M6AurKgSr2TPjNRasEkYaWi1"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(3) "dnk"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(28) "dkeegan@laskerfoundation.org"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(18) "/forums/users/dnk/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 13:36:02"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(3) "dnk"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(46107)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

Brownstoner site sucks for pasting URLs..   Original poster:  just scroll back through the forum posts.  The one I’m referring to is from July 9 — two days ago — and it’s got some good info.

concernedcitizenofgowanus | 12 years and 9 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4940 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#5116 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "178918"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(25) "concernedcitizenofgowanus"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$BHjp/L9bJf57j4ouBO4Y/wdSytXVku/"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(25) "concernedcitizenofgowanus"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(20) "gowanusmay@yahoo.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(40) "/forums/users/concernedcitizenofgowanus/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:37:06"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(25) "concernedcitizenofgowanus"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(178918)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

UPDATE: I just had two, separate companies come in to give me an estimate:  The first guy was super nice and talked about a sub-terranean treatment, where they inject poison into the ground, kill off all the termites and apply a treatment to the current exposed wooden beams in the basement. $1500.  The second guy was also super nice BUT he said that the termite damage is old and he thinks we just noticed it (which is a hard pill for me to swallow). He cleaned off the soil tunnels hanging off of the wooden beams and said that it prob wont come back to prove his point. He offered an internal treatment to be safe and said he would apply tx to the wooden beams in the entire basement. This runs $850.  I’m confused. One guy offered up an arsenal that included drilling holes everywhere and injecting posion into the ground and the other guy said not to bother with that and just apply treatment to the beams. Very unsure here.

rh | 12 years and 9 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4944 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4945 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(4) "3878"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(2) "rh"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$BL48JCuNvr9CIMtn9XLzqcR6qYGkGS1"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(2) "rh"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(22) "info@reclaimedhome.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(27) "https:www.reclaimedhome.com"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:12:47"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(2) "rh"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(3878)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

You just bought the house last summer. Did you not order a termite inspection? What did the inspector say about the beams? I’d go back and look at that report. Perhaps he/she did say it was old damage. But for next time…..go for the termite inspection! Why is it a hard pill for you to swallow if it’s old damage? That’s good news!!

rh | 12 years and 9 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#5116 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#5113 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(4) "3878"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(2) "rh"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$BL48JCuNvr9CIMtn9XLzqcR6qYGkGS1"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(2) "rh"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(22) "info@reclaimedhome.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(27) "https:www.reclaimedhome.com"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:12:47"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(2) "rh"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(3878)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

Well, personally, I would keep an eye on the area the second exterminator brushed off. That’s 2 professionals (him and the inspector) that said it’s old damage. Keep in mind that the guy who offered you an arsenal wants to earn a living.