The damage inflicted to wood is not usually noticeable on the surface since termites avoid exposure to the open air. Consequently, damage can only be seen by stripping away the exterior surface of the wood. Unlike other wood-boring insects such as carpenter ants and powder post beetles, termites do not reduce wood to a powdery mass, or push wood particles to the outside.

Chemical Treatment of Infested Buildings:
This conventional treatment requires the experience and expertise of a ministry-licensed technician. The treatment takes approximately one full day and involves treatment of both the interior and exterior. On the exterior, termiticide is injected into the soil along exterior walls to a depth of 4 feet. In addition, the wall voids are treated by injecting termiticide into the centre of the foundation walls. On the interior, termiticide is injected through the basement floor, beside all walls. Following chemical application, all holes are sealed with latex cement, thus limiting exposure to the termiticide.

Preventing Infestations Before they Occur - New Building Construction:
Pretreatment during construction of new houses is mandatory in former City of Toronto, East York and the City of York.

This treatment is usually done in three distinct phases:

1.. Application of termiticide to the footings area before the concrete is poured
2.. Treatment of the basement floors before the concrete slab is poured
3.. Once the backfill is in place, but before any landscape tiling or brickwork is laid, termiticide is
     injected into the backfill, penetrating deep into the footings level

-page 2   Click for Page 1