Atlanta, GA on Sep 21, 2011

Hello!

New homeowner here, with a question regarding pest control. I have a well-known company suggesting I have termite traps installed in my driveway. They actually want to use a diamond bit to drill a 3in diameter circle into the driveway, near the garage and install termite traps - three in all? I'm VERY skeptical about drilling three large holes in a newly paved driveway. Is this normal? Anyone else done it?

12 Comments

HandyANDY Home Renovation... Marietta, GA

That's a new one for me....is this an older home or fairly new? I would consult some other pest control firms and see what they tell you. Ace Exterminating in Lilburn has been around forever and is a local, family owner group we have known for years.

on Sep 21, 2011 · Like 0
Wally Daly ,,Mastercarpen... Marietta, GA

check with other ,,pest control...holes have tendencies to produce cracks..that spread,,not all though,,,good luck keepus posted

on Sep 21, 2011 · Like 0
Woodbridge Environmental ... Colonia, NJ

They are installing a bait system. I use them a lot as a preventive measure.
I would suggest against them unless your home has a well near by. Because of sub surface treatments using chemicals we are limited using them when a well is used in a home. Simply for fear of contaminating the well water.
These bait systems must be maintained. They contain chemicals that attract the termites to ...»
them and these chemicals once chewed up and then brought back to the nest render the nest sterile and they die off. Once the wood is no longer being eaten they replace with normal pine sticks and then check them on occasion for activity. If the eating resumes the bait again. In any case you are married to this system and the re-occurring service bills. This system has several names but they all work the same. In fact they now sell these systems at the big box stores. The chemicals are a bit less strong, but they are the same in any case.
I would check into smaller treatment companies. They charge a whole lot less for treatments and all provide and use the same chemicals.
If you do not have a well, then I would suggest a sub-grade chemical treatment. This will require 1/2" holes drilled around the posts in the garage and corners, but its much better then a large 3" one.
Also check to see if the contractor practices Integrated pest management. This is a method of treating the environment in which the insects live in such a manner that it makes it less inviting for them to stay. With ants for instance removing moisture, and nesting environment keeps them away all without using any chemicals. With termites, you need to keep the soil dry, well drained and any wood piles near by should be at least 20 feet away and not placed on ground.
Also remember, if the house was treated prior many states do not allow for complete re-treatment unless there are no records indicating what treatment was done, and what chemicals were used.

on Sep 21, 2011 · Like 1
Paul M Fairburn, GA

If your concrete is new I don't care what they would tell me I wouldn't let them do that. They would just have to find another "ideal" location for their bait system.

on Sep 21, 2011 · Like 0
Hewitt Remodeling Service... Virginia Beach, VA

Jerrold,
I'm no pest expert, but being from the Hampton Roads area I am familiar with the bait systems. I have never heard of installing them in a driveway which I would consider to be an extremely low risk area. I suggest getting some more opinions...and as far as those well-known companies..they are well known because of their huge marketing budgets which you will help pay for. There are usually a ...»
number of hometown companies that can provide the same service less expensively than those "big boys".

on Sep 21, 2011 · Like 1
Jerrold M Atlanta, GA

Wow. Thanks everyone for the awesome advice. I will be passing on the driveway baits.
Andy - I will check into Ace, and it's an older home: renovated 50's brick ranch
Wally - that was my main concern, particularly since we are directing some gutter run-off away from the home directly across where they want to drill.
Woodbridge - AWESOME post, full of great advice. Thank you! ...»

Paul - LOL Amen
Hewitt - that seems to be the concensus: go small and local. Guess I'll be researching a little longer. :)

on Sep 21, 2011 · Like 0
HandyANDY Home Renovation... Marietta, GA

Sounds like none of us have ever heard of drilling a driveway like that. It's very common to treat the slab of the garage as woodbridge mentions above. I know Ace works in Atlanta and you may want to ask your new neighbors who is treating their houses. Welcome to homeownership!

on Sep 22, 2011 · Like 1
Amazing Improvements and ... Marietta, GA

For those who know me, this may a bit of a shock, but I am also a licenced, registered pest control operator here in Georgia. Of all the comments in this thread ,Woodbridge got it mostly right. (Great post!) The house was most likely treated at some point if this is a resale. If the treatment was not done before the slab was poured, look around the perimeter of the garage for a series of holes spaced 12 inches apart. (Usually plugged with a filler). My other business specializes in ...»
integrated pest control. It lowers your toxic footprint and focuses more on keeping pests out than indiscriminate spraying all over your homes interior. Its highly effective. Sorry, we only serve NW Cobb county. Good luck !

on Sep 26, 2011 · Like 0
Keller Pest Control - Tom... Harrisonville, MO

if you have active termites you should spot treat and if you are using a bait system i would recommend advance / sentricon is also effective just more expensive. there is no need to core drill just spot treat door jambs with Termidor. You might be better off doing conventional liquid treatment with Termidor

on Nov 21, 2011 · Like 0
Keller Pest Control - Tom... Harrisonville, MO

I am sorry to say that Woodbridge is misinformed about how baits work they do not sterilize they are a chitin inhibitor which in laymans terms they affect the way termites grow. Termites grow by shedding their exoskeleton this is called molting. What makes their skin release is called a chitin and since the bait inhibits that they implode. They are not attracted by the (chemicals in the stations because here are none. Termites are blind and they are constantly foraging below ground for ...»
food. What attracts them is the temperature differential that is created by the structure/house anything that shades the ground or the stations that are placed. They find a food source ( Cellulose) they eat it and then they leave a pheremone to find their way back. Then they transport it and transfer it to the colony below. They replenish moisture and do it again 24 hours a day year round.

on Nov 21, 2011 · Like 1
Woodbridge Environmental ... Colonia, NJ

That is not what I was told by the supply company where I purchase my chemicals from. Interesting. I am going to do a bit more research on this to find out why they told me this assuming you are correct. Unless I was thinking of ant bait?

on Nov 21, 2011 · Like 0
New Era Pest Control Miami, FL

Keller is correct! For those of us who have been doing this for many years, knowing the insect, it's Biology, eating habits, and breeding habits, can help dramatically, in determining alternative methods for control. Remember insects primary functions are to Eat & Breed and take care of its offspring. Thats it! They dont have hopes of owning a home, or 2 cars. I feel sorry for them actually! Using that knowledge allows us to pinpoint treatment methods far easier with greater results.

on Jan 20, 2013 · Like 0

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