Tur-tur-tur ... tur-mites

[Texpat]

When my house was built three years ago, in Nong Khai, my builder asked me if I was interested in foundation termite protection. Seeing how many termite mounds were around, I was. So I had the foundation of the house piped with flexible (pierced) tubing including several exterior pump points. I don't recall how much it was, but it included a three-year contract with annual underground fumigation and 3-month exterior sprays. The company is from Udon. All was well until they didn't show up during more than one three-month contracted spray periods. They claim they tried to call, but we weren't home -- so, in essence -- F you. We missed that service.

Last week the guy shows up claiming our three-year contract is expiring in days and would we like to renew. I told my wife to politely instruct him to go fook himself. She was considerably more diplomatic than that. So he went away. I asked her to do some research, find other companies, ask around, inquire with the neighbors... and she did.

Seems four or five companies (all based in Udon) are willing to provide the service. Most base their fee on square meters of the floor ground. Some wanted 70 baht per sq m and others wanted 200 baht. They all provided deep discounts for a three-year, rather than one-year or one-time application. Some said they couldn't be responsible for bursting the piping under out foundation as they aren' the one who installed it. The cheapest she found was a three-year package with annual underground fumigation and three additional visits for exterior spray at 11,000 baht. Quite unfortunately, it's with the same company that irritated me beyond belief the first time around. To my thinking, 11K seems *a lot of money* for 4 visits from the bug man. Maybe I'm wrong.

My question is this -- anyone have experience in bug (not just termite but ant, milipedes and any number of unwelcome intruders)? Anyone have a contract for maintenance?

Interestingly, our neighbor (500m east) had a very bad termite problem and claimed termites infested his concrete pillars. Seems the top-notch construction workers building the concrete frame couldn't be assed with tearing the concrete powder out of the paper bags and threw the lot into the mixer. Clumps of paper within the dried concrete attracted termites, seriously compromising more than one upright column of his house. My home is 2-stories and likely built by the same *professionals.*

All comments are welcome.

[arjay]

On two different properties that I have been involved with, I have found that 6000 baht for a 1 year and 12000 baht for a 2 year contract to be about par for the course. One company made monthly visits and the other bi-monthly visits. Both missed the odd visit, but responded Ok if chased or any problems encountered.

Without mentioning any names, the Udon company was the same company as the coffee and steak place. They would often turn up without having made a prior telephone appointment.

There are a number of existing threads on this subject, most in the House & Land Forum, where I will move this topic.

See here for one of them:

http://www.udonmap.com/udonthaniforum/h ... 15708.html

[Texpat]

cheers, arjay

[Galee]

Is there a product that you can use to get rid of termites yourself?.

[arjay]

There are spray cans you can buy which you can use, but you really need to use a professional company who will saturate spray the underneath of the house where the nests normally are and from where they start out.

If, for example, you spray an affected door frame, all that will do is drive them elsewhere or cause them to take a different route. One has to tackle the source location - i.e. the nests (usually under the house). The company I used when I had a problem before, then squirted a powder into an affected door frame.

[Galee]

Sorry, i should have given more details. I have a 3-4 foot tall termite mound I want eradicated. I could attack it with a spade, but that doesn't get rid of them. Was wondering if there was something I could put in the soil around the mound that would get rid of them?

[arjay]

Not sure on that one Galee, though I would think you could get a gallon tin/can of the concentrate insecticide, dilute that accordingly, then water it on/saturate the mound a few times, a day or two apart, before digging it out a few days later.

I have vague recollections of seeing large gallon "can" versions of the small termite spray cans, presumably for larger scale use as above. I would try somewhere like Home Pro.

[Aardvark]

If you want a cheap way out just buy a Gallon of Petrol and pour it in and around the mound, but don't let anyone smoke for a while

[parrot]

My neighbor had a mound....got some chickens.....he kept breaking open the mound the chickens kept pecking at the termites and their eggs. Soon enough, the mound was gone.

[LoongLee]

Texpat,,,,, not sure what products are available there in Udon but a web search should give you some ideas what to look for locally. The important thing is to get a product the termites eat and take back to the colony to spread internally to the young and destroy it from the inside. goodluck,,LL

[LoongLee]

Texpat,,,,, I found this to be an excellent site for info and homeowner action.
http://www.ca.uky.edu/ENTOMOLOGY/entfacts/ef639.asp