COMPANY BLOG

Mild Winter Equals “Buggy” Spring North Carolina has once again seen a mild winter.  In past years this has been a sign of a really pesty spring, summer, and even fall. We’re not completely sure why the mild winter leads to a heavy pest season but judging by the number of bugs on my windshield …

Q: Within What Time Frame Must a Pre-Construction Treatment Be Completed? A: All steps of the treatment must be completed within 60 days following the completion of the structure, which is defined as the time when the outside final grade has been reached.

Q: When Drilling a Dirt Filled Porch What Spacing Should Be Used? A: When treating a dirt filled porch you should drill vertically through the slab no more than 6 inches from the foundation wall at 12-inch intervals. You should treat the soil beneath the slab from the bottom of the slab to the top …

Q: When Treating an Exterior Slab, What is the Maximum Spacing of Rod Holes? A: When Treating an exterior slab the maximum spacing of the rod holes is 12 inches. The amount of termiticide to be applied will be dictated by the label.

Q: How Deep Must a Trench and Rod Soil Treatment Extend? A: Termiticide labels require the treatment to extend to either the top of the footer or to a depthh of 4 feet (whichever is less). The soil must be trenched to a minimum depth of 6 inches or to the top of the footer …

Q: What is Trenching? A: Trenching is digging a trench approximately 6 inches wide by 6 inches deep (or to the footer) around a structure where chemicals will be placed to for a barrier to prevent entry of subterranean termites.

Q: What is a Horizontal Barrier? A: A horizontal barrier is an application of termiticide to the soil surface of an inaccessible area or an area that will be covered by a concrete slab, such as a basement or a garage floor. The area for a horizontal barrier is calculated in square feet.

Q: What is Cellulose Debris? A: Cellulose debris is wood and wood byproducts. Including material large enough to be removed with the tines of an ordinary garden rake. This debris must be removed as part of a subterranean termite treatment.

Q: What is a Floating Slab? A: A floating slab is a concrete slab that is poured directly on fill material or native soil beneath.

Q: What is a Supported Slab? A: A supported slab is a concrete slab that is supported either partially or fully on the foundation wall.

Q: What is a monolithic slab? A: A monolithic slab is a single unit of concrete forming the floor and foundation.

Q: What is a subfloor? A: A subfloor is typically a layer of plywood that is attached to the floor joists over which other flooring is attached.

Q: What is a Joist? A: A joist is a wooden 2 x 8s, 2 2 x10s, or 2 x 12s that run parallel to one another to support a floor or ceiling and are supported in turn by larger beams, girders, or bearing walls.

Q: What is a Header? A: There are three types of headers. A) A beam placed perpendicular to joists and to which joists are nailed in framing for a chimney, stairway, or other opening. B) A wooden lintel. C) The horizontal structural member over an opening such as a door or window.  

Q: What is a footing? A: A footing is a concrete base on which the foundation wall is built (also called a “footer”).

Q: What is an Expansion Joint? A: An expansion joint is a gap filled with fibrous material installed between sections of a concrete slab or between a slab and foundation wall to permit it to expand seasonally.

Q: What does Drywood Termite control often include? A: The control of drywood termites often includes the fumigation of an infested piece of furniture or an entire structure.

Q: What is the Most Common Sign of Drywood Termites? A: The most common sign of Drywood Termites is small fecal pellets that are small (about 1/25 inch), hard, and elongated with six sides.

Q: What is the Most Common Source of Drywood Termites in North Carolina? A: The most common source of Drywood Termites in North Carolina is infested furniture brought here from other states such as Florida, California, New Mexico, Hawaii, and Texas.

Q: Which Type of Termite Forms a “Carton” Nest? A: Formosan Termites form a carton nest.