Termite Control

Sentry Pest Control & Termite Services has been committed to providing  professional and quality extermination services to San Antonio residential homes and commercial businesses since 2006.

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What are Termites?

Subterranean Termites

Termites are white bodied, wood eating insects that work around the clock damaging wood in and around homes and structures. Termites cause $5 billion worth of property damage to homeowners each year according to the National Pest Management Association.

Termites Destroying Homes & Property

Homeowners face two major problematic termites in Texas: non-subterranean termites and subterranean termites.

Non-subterranean Termite

Drywood Termite (Non-Subterranean)

Non-subterranean termites similar to “drywood” termites are often confined to a single structural member of a building or an individual piece of furniture and are generally located in mainly in the coastal regions.

Subterranean Termites

Subterranean termites live in the soil and are found throughout the state of Texas. San Antonio is very susceptible to subterranean termites and a particular Chinese imported subterranean species named the Formosan termite.

Formosan Termite

Formosan termites are considered the most aggressive and damaging wood pest throughout the United States. Formosan termites hide by building massive underground

colonies and create elaborate mud nests inside the walls of building structures.

Flying Ants vs Termites

Based upon your geographical location, termite swarms are usually visible in early spring. Termite swarms are sometimes confused with flying ants.

Termite Identification

Flying Ant vs Termite Comparison

1.    One straight body abdomen and a head segment

2.    Four wings of equal size

3.    Antennae of termites are straight

Flying Ant Identification

1.    Ants have three distinct body segments
2.    Ants  have four wings of different sizes (wings in the front are longer)
3.    Antennae of flying ants are bent in 90 degree angle

Distinguishing signs of termite infestation include:

Termite Tube on Concrete Slab

• Temporary swarm of winged insects inside your home

• Swarm of winged insects from the soil surrounding your house

• Termite tubes in the cracks of your foundation, on exterior walls, and on wooden beams

• Discarded wings from swarmers in the cracks of our foundation or the window seals

• Bubbling or blistering paint

• Sawdust like powder near doors, windows, or garage

• Wood sounds hollow when tapped

Termites normally penetrate a home our building through foundation of the structure. The most susceptible foundations to termites in San Antonio, Texas are concrete slabs. When termites get into a house they will reproduce rapidly, producing a strong army of harmful termites prepared to feast on the wood of a home.

Termites additionally leave behind a trail of chemicals as they eat; consequently as they devour the wood on a home, additional termites follow the scent and destroy it as well.

If you notice termites in your home or business contact a professional termite exterminator who specializes in termite control.

Can homeowners treat termites?

There are multiple over the counter treatments claiming to treat termite infestation; however, none seem to be very successful because termites tend to re-infest after these control methods fail.

Termites are very destructive insects and will cause considerable damage to a home or structure if not treated correctly.

The good news is that a licensed exterminator who is certified and experienced in termite control can provide a solution to your termite problem.

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Termite Treatments

Termite Prevention

If you are building a new home or office and want to protect your investment from the potential threat a termite infestation, a termite pre-treatment (liquid barrier or wood treatment) is worth considering.

Liquid Barriers

Liquid barrier treatments entail applying a liquid termiticide such as Termidor® around and below the new house or building. The termiticide produces a chemical barrier which aids in preventing termites from entering the structure or kills the termites encountering the treated area.

Borate Termite Wood Treatment

Wood Treatment

A nontoxic borate-based termiticide (BORA-CARE®) is applied during construction both on the actual structure and on the wood, which would come into contact with subterranean termites. The termiticide soaks deep into the wooden structural framework providing a barrier to future termites.

Termite Control (Soil Barriers)

Sub-slab method
In the sub-slab method, holes are first drilled into a concrete foundation and termiticide is injected through a tube into the soil beneath the slab. When used indoors, this treatment is used inside generally where pipes protrude as a result of the slab, as in kitchens and bathrooms. Injections also might be required along each side of interior supporting walls, one side of interior partitions, and along expansion joints.

For exterior treatments, the termiticide is injected through the exterior foundation partitions just beneath the slab.

Rodding
Rodding makes use of a lengthy rod with a special tip to penetrate the soil and deliver the termiticide. The rod is commonly inserted about every 12 inches. The termiticide creates a continuous barrier; however, using rodding alone is not recommended due to the fact it leaves gaps within the treatment zone. Rodding combined with trenching is highly recommended.

Trenching
Trenching involves excavating up a 6-8 inch wide, 10-inch deep strip of soil alongside the outside foundation wall on slab properties. The procedure must clear away all the soil from against the foundation.

Homes on pier-and-beam foundations are trenched by excavating soil in an area 6-8 inches wide around all piers and pipes and along inside and outside the foundation walls. All soil is then returned to the trench after being treated with termiticide.

Trenching usually takes longer, but offers a greater and more consistent barrier compared to rodding alone. Depending on the situation, combinations of the above treatments are recommended to solve your termite problem.

Foam Treatment
Foam treatment is a relatively new technology used to combat pesty termites. Foam is used to apply termiticide to numerous construction features of a home.

This termite treatment is usually preferred to treat difficult spots such as chimney bases, dirt-filled porches, and specific sub-slab locations. It’s not suitable or recommended for successfully treating soil on it own.

If you notice termites in your home or business contact a professional termite extermination company who specializes in termite control.

==>Call Sentry Pest Control Today! (210) 441-6060<==