Hi fellow landlords!

I have a duplex that has been diagnosed with drywood termites.

Have you ever had to treat them in one of your properties?

Any intel on timing, which treatment option you picked, what you did with your tenants, pricing, repair, or any other advice?

Thank you!

Taylor in TX

Termites over time can cause a lot of damage. The earlier you treat them the better. I have the following equipment to locate and treat termites, as a landlord /contractor /owner:

a) termite sniffer

b) micro inspection camera (camera less than 4 mm)

c) sound listening device to hear the termites eating

d) non-invasive moisture meter

e) Thermo camera to detect a hive of termites

then I also have injection equipment,

special drills and plugs to treat termites.

Also I have different sprays, concentrates, gels and fillers -- that either kill on contact or the termites take it to the queen/hive and then kills over time.

With this equipment and supplies, one still need the skills to locate, find then treat the areas. It is not an easy process and requires many times more than one method -- treating the ground and termites in the walls together.

Each time you call out a termite treatment company it's $600 a pop. So buying books and some inexpensive tools is a wise choice for the professional...

Since I own buildings with many tenants, to tent a building isn't a choice. I treat them as I find them....

whats the foundation? what location have you found them?

Oh is this a state spicific question from TX? Just kidding.

We usually just clean up tunnels on sheet rock and use sheet rock mud. repaint.

whats the foundation? what location have you found them?

Oh is this a state spicific question from TX? Just kidding.

We usually just clean up tunnels on sheet rock and use sheet rock mud. repaint.

Robert J of CA, What would you estimate the total costs of the equipment that you have for termite locating and treating? Since you have purchased the equipment has the equipment improved over the years?

Taylor of TX, here in Florida for dry wood termites they tent the house/building. The sad fact is the tenants move they could take termites with them in furniture to the next Landlords property. Make certain the damaged area is not compromised with structural issues. Depending on the degree of damage.

The old treatment liquid was excellent for killing and keeping away the termites HOWEVER it was band and the newer treatment has been used for years now.

Taylor of TX act now get 3 estimates and take the one you think will do the best job for you. You may have to put your tenants in a hotel for several days. Lets hope they don't make an issue of getting sick from the termite treatment. Consider talking to your tenants let them know that you will be getting the unit treated for termites and if they don't feel comfortable staying in the unit after the treatment you will let them out of their lease. Unless they are on a month to month then give them notice to leave IF you want the unit vacant for repairs and treatment. The exterminator will tell the tenants how to prep for the day of treatment and how many days to stay away from the unit or units. And maybe Cash For Keys if you want them out sooner.

Around here the common treatment is termidor put in the ground. If it's a slab they will likely have to drill holes to pump it under the slab or dig a trench around the house, if it's pier and beam they simply pour it on the ground in the crawl space. Tenants only need to leave during treatment, afterwords it is perfectly safe.

Drywood termites are a very different beast from regular termites. Usually, you will see a hexagonal sawdust like substance kicked out (called frass) and there are no mud tunnels like subterranean termites make.

In Hawaii, lotsa houses have them. Most of the old 1930s era plantation houses have a fine rain of frass that comes down if you are, say, hammering nails.

Drywood termites are very slow in their destruction. You could have em for 10-15 years without appreciable structural damage. Question is, how valuable is that duplex? Tenting is about $3000.

Things are always getting better, like my moisture meter's. I can now detect through 4 inches of material to detect tiny amounts of water.