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CAI GreAter Los AnGeLes ChApter • www.cai-glac.orgTermiTes and Taxesby Isaac CamachoIn Southern California termites are like taxes; we all get themand, though they come in relatively small amounts at a time,they build up and consume our hard-earned money. Just liketax evasion can get you into a whole lot of trouble, so can termiteevasion. Approaching the unwanted critters with knowledgeand expertise is key to resolving the problem correctly, effectivelyand with minimal adverse effect to your pocketbook.Here are some quick facts about termite control that can helpyou make the smart decisions.Most termite control that is done in multi-family structurestoday is a form of localized treatments for termite eradication.When performed accurately and regularly, localized treatmentscan be an effective method of termite control for multi-familystructures. Most of the work and cost associated with localizedtreatments is in the inspection itself. Once termite infestationsare found, treatments are as simple as drilling into the infectedwood member, injecting termiticide and filling the drill hole.The majority of time and labor is spent in finding the problems.Hence, when acquiring a regular termite control contract, avoidincluding that any one building be inspected in its entirety morethan once a year. Even after swarming, new termite infestationsrarely become a major issue within the first year of a new colony.After the entire building has been inspected once, spot inspectionsand treatments as needed for one year is sufficient to getgood control of the termite situation in the community.Make wood repairs part of your termite control program toreduce the likelihood of having major damage in the future.Performing regular wood repairs and treating under damagedwood is also a great method of keeping termites under control.Termites like their food (wood) as soft and moist as they canfind it. By repairing and replacing old and damaged wood,you reduce the likelihood that a new swarm will choose yourcommunity as a new home. When planning wood repairs, askcontinued on page 1514 •July/August 2011
CAI GreAter Los AnGeLes ChApter • www.cai-glac.orgTermiTes anD Taxescontinued from page 14your termite company to treat under the damaged wood; thismakes it very likely that you can treat right at the source of theproblem. In short, plan to build in some additional money tohandle wood repairs after termite inspections and treatmentsare done. Never acquire a contract for wood repair unless thecontractor has already provided you the specs of work for eachbuilding. Allowing a contractor to extrapolate a wood repairsbid from only one inspection, or just a few inspections, can bedangerous and costly. Termite inspection reports contain a lotuseful information—use them throughout the entire project.In a termite control program, the reports can be just as valuableas the service itself. Inspection reports will help you seewhere your largest problem areas are, how large the problemsactually are, and how much damage is present on the property.Acquiring a termite control program is a great opportunity toreceive a full-scale view of damage throughout the communityall at once. Being able to “see” all wood repairs needed in theentire community at one time will give you the ability to planand wisely allocate resources to areas where they are needed themost first. Acquiring the right contracts at the right time willreduce future costs in repairs and sometimes treatment. Savingscan be directed to termite prevention to secure and protect agood standing in termite control for a long period of time.Termites swarm high and look for cool dark places to start theirnew colonies. This is why most major termite infestations arecommonly found in eaves and attics. There are products andtreatment methods available (which actually do work) and preventtermite infestations from recurring. The products work best onunpainted exposed wood, such as the wood in your attics. Treatingyour attics for termite prevention is the treatment of most valuewhen it comes to termite control. Do remember, however, thatbefore termites can be prevented, they have to be treated—always start at step one.In short, termite activity is always changing and so are your community’sneeds. What you may have been doing in the past isnot always the best option today. Take the time to consider yourtrusted termite professional’s recommendations and options;get informed, and make the decision of best overall value.Isaac Camacho is the Director of Sales and Marketing at AccurateTermite & Pest Control in Inglewood. He can be reached atIsaac@accuratetermitecontrol.com.July/August 2011 • 15
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