BiggerPockets

I'm trying to find a happy medium. This is for a rental house that doesn't have termites--yet. The termite bonds with annual fees seem like kind of a ripoff, and I don't know if the 50% rule accounts for them or not. Someone on another forum suggested to DIY with Termidor, but I've read that you can't even get termidor on your own, and then I wonder if there would be issues with doing it correctly, as well as liability.

What do people on here do, get a one time preventative treatment, or wait until there's visible evidence of termites before doing any treatments?

The houses in this area are mostly block construction with slab on grade foundation. It seems like I could do a visual inspection on my own without paying for one. I assume that all they do is look at the soil and structure around the perimeter of the house, at the trusses, soffits & fascia? It seems a waste to pay for annual inspections on a house where you can't get under the foundation anyway.

Thanks!

Originally posted by J Scott

Make sure the siding is at least 8 inches above grade, ensure that there is no untreated wood in contact with soil or foundation, check any exposed studs for damage, check any exterior trim/sills that come close to the ground, etc.

Also, certain areas of the country are more termite prone than others. Where I live, it's not a matter of if you'll get termites, it's just a matter of when.

Personally, I spend $400 a year on termite treatments for my personal residence, but on my investment properties I don't pay for prevention, only treatment.

My termite contractors generally charge about $700 to treat an infected house, so it's more cost effective to remediate a problem than try to prevent it, given the likelihood of a termite infestation in any given year.

Thanks J, that's just the type of information I was looking for. It seems cheaper to self-insure rather than pay for that bond every year.

Do you know if stucco comes in contact with the soil, is that a warning sign?

Originally posted by Bienes Raices

Do you know if stucco comes in contact with the soil, is that a warning sign?

Yup, that can be a problem. While termites won't eat through the stucco, they will eat through the polyurethane foam that often sits between the stucco and framing, especially on houses with synthetic stucco.

If the stucco terminates below grade, termites can trench below the ground and up behind the stucco.

If the stucco terminates above grade, there is generally a sealant used cover up the foundation from the bottom of the stucco to grade (mostly for aesthetic purposes). In these cases, you're pretty sure not to get termites, as they won't eat through the sealant.

Hope that helps...

J, Why would you treat it each year? the treatment is good for at least 5 years, and in case with Termidor - about 7 or 8. Did you rather mean termite protection plan from Terminix or such?

Originally posted by George P.

J, Why would you treat it each year? the treatment is good for at least 5 years, and in case with Termidor - about 7 or 8. Did you rather mean termite protection plan from Terminix or such?

Yes, I meant the yearly treatment/bond payment to the termite company to reinspect, retreat if necessary and repair if they missed something.

These days, I pay about $500-600 to treat a typical 1800 square foot house, and then have about $175 annual fee to renew the termite bond and ensure there is no additional infestation or damage.