Termites in furniture – need a pro

[jrbeccles]

I have an antique piece of furniture that 3’ by 3’ by 4’. Unfortunately it has termites. I’ve tried three time to get rid of them by myself, with no luck. Now I’d like to let a professional have a go. Can anyone recommend a person or company who could successfully tackle fumigating this?

[Mortal1]

Termites in your chair???? Photo please as I honestly do not think that's the case. I'd bet your life that if you google that issue there'd be a simple solution. Photo please.

[vintageogauge]

Termites in your chair???? Photo please as I honestly do not think that's the case. I'd bet your life that if you google that issue there'd be a simple solution. Photo please.

I didn't see a mention of it being a chair. it could be a piece that was out in a barn for decades and picked up the termites. Who knows.

[jrbeccles]

old German music box circa 1890. T89375ermite dust and poop are evident. I am 1000% sure its termites. They have eaten off back leg and working their way up.

[DAVES]

I have an antique piece of furniture that 3’ by 3’ by 4’. Unfortunately it has termites. I’ve tried three time to get rid of them by myself, with no luck. Now I’d like to let a professional have a go. Can anyone recommend a person or company who could successfully tackle fumigating this?

A lot of missing information. You may have brought termites into your home. The termites may have seriously damaged the strength of the piece as well as value.

You must kill not only the insects but the eggs as well. If, they are termites the queen, the reproductive insect only goes out to start a new colony so it is hard to kill. You want to bag it. You can make a bag from plastic sheets- tarps? That will keep them from spreading to your home. Using insecticide, you will create a gas chamber. If, it is now in your garage, the heat will make it more effective.

There are two types of termites around here. What we used to call subterranean termites, the ones that feed on wood but need to have soil contact. There is another one that does not need soil contact. Termite warranties usually do not cover the second type. You would not be the first to buy an antique and later discover you brought termites into your home.

[DAVES]

old German music box circa 1890. T89375ermite dust and poop are evident. I am 1000% sure its termites. They have eaten off back leg and working their way up.

The plot thickens. You need a place that can not only get rid of the insects but restore
the damaged weakened parts. Quality work, will not be inexpensive.

[missypie]

My friend in NC ordered a stunning dining room wooden table online from Texas. It was quite expensive and was shipped to NC. She found dust coming from the table and discovered it was termites. The termites infiltrated their home as well. There was no recourse with the company in Texas as it was an antique and the 6 month time limit for returns. It was a nightmare for them.

[Jima64]

The furniture will have to be wrapped just like a building and fumigated. Southern pest control and Rivers pest control in north florida do it still.

[DAVES]

My friend in NC ordered a stunning dining room wooden table online from Texas. It was quite expensive and was shipped to NC. She found dust coming from the table and discovered it was termites. The termites infiltrated their home as well. There was no recourse with the company in Texas as it was an antique and the 6 month time limit for returns. It was a nightmare for them.

We have all made mistakes. Buying an antique table mail order. I would not do it. Six month right to return? The cost to return it would be out of sight. I recall a place in New York City that used to sell assemblages. Many were very attractive. A piece of this added to a piece of that. Antique value, little or none.

Wood is always absorbing and loosing moisture. People here move wooden objects from dry places like Arizona to moist places like Florida and do not understand when the glue fails and they warp. It is all interesting. This site as well as many others.
It is far less costly to learn form the mistakes of others than to need to make them all ourselves.

[DAVES]

I have an antique piece of furniture that 3’ by 3’ by 4’. Unfortunately it has termites. I’ve tried three time to get rid of them by myself, with no luck. Now I’d like to let a professional have a go. Can anyone recommend a person or company who could successfully tackle fumigating this?

I'm not looking at it. From your photo, it does not appear to have been in a barn or a run down house. It does look to have been an expensive piece at one time. Possibly restored as the gold leaf on the glass seems to have no wear,least none that I see in the photo.
I had a friend that taught himself to repair this kind of thing, clocks etc and they all worked. His home was an adventure. Every hour and every 1/4 hour some clock was going off.
In any case, you, since it is in your home need to be cautious. That music box which seems to be walnut did you bring in termites or do the termites that were in your home prefer walnut to pine.
OUCH

[Ssault]

My husband has 40 years experience making new music boxes, selling, and repairing antique music boxes. He thinks it could be wood worms. He has seen a lot of wood worms in antique music boxes.

[RICH1]

You have Worms! ....

[thevillages2013]

old German music box circa 1890. T89375ermite dust and poop are evident. I am 1000% sure its termites. They have eaten off back leg and working their way up.
Straight to the landfill

[Dave&JeanneBankard]

I have an antique piece of furniture that 3’ by 3’ by 4’. Unfortunately it has termites. I’ve tried three time to get rid of them by myself, with no luck. Now I’d like to let a professional have a go. Can anyone recommend a person or company who could successfully tackle fumigating this?
Above and Beyond Pest Control are the only ones in the area that do this kind of work. I just had a very large piece done.

[rmd2]

I would be WAY more concerned that I brought termites into my home! It has termites and it is still in your home??

[ron32162]

Wood Worms

[forebubba]

I have an antique piece of furniture that 3’ by 3’ by 4’. Unfortunately it has termites. I’ve tried three time to get rid of them by myself, with no luck. Now I’d like to let a professional have a go. Can anyone recommend a person or company who could successfully tackle fumigating this?

Was told by Masey this how termites get into your home. I would never buy any antique furniture in the south, actually anywhere

[Larchap49]

I have an antique piece of furniture that 3’ by 3’ by 4’. Unfortunately it has termites. I’ve tried three time to get rid of them by myself, with no luck. Now I’d like to let a professional have a go. Can anyone recommend a person or company who could successfully tackle fumigating this?

If you have termites in a chair they are drywood termites. If they are in a chair then they are also in your home. Only way to treat them is to have your home tented by a professional. Do not delay as they do serious damage in a short amount of time. I have seen this before in a friends home where his home was tented three times in a five year period. One year after getting a new pool table and new kitchen cabinets both had termite holes in them. Call a professional asap

[Hancie2]

I had dry wood termites in an old piece of furniture. I think it was Massey that picked it up, took it to their building and treated it (very hot container of some sort). Never had another problem.

[Travelhunter123]

I have an antique piece of furniture that 3’ by 3’ by 4’. Unfortunately it has termites. I’ve tried three time to get rid of them by myself, with no luck. Now I’d like to let a professional have a go. Can anyone recommend a person or company who could successfully tackle fumigating this?

These are most likely dry wood termites
They do not spread very quickly, rather they stay localized
Google dry wood termites for treatments and remedies

[MandoMan]

I have an antique piece of furniture that 3’ by 3’ by 4’. Unfortunately it has termites. I’ve tried three time to get rid of them by myself, with no luck. Now I’d like to let a professional have a go. Can anyone recommend a person or company who could successfully tackle fumigating this?

Termites in a piece of wooden furniture is unusual, though not impossible. What is perhaps more likely is powder post beetle, which is often in the wood at the time it is built, especially if the furniture is made from wood that died standing. I believe that they don’t generally move from piece to piece but stay in the piece of wood that had them when it was built. I’ve seen them turn a section of a piece of molding into dust. Literally. It can be treated by a pro. If it is beetle, it may or may not have done enough damage to need repair. Often it hasn’t. Sometimes the wood can be repaired after the beetles are killed by dripping wood hardener into the holes and painting it over The wood if it is bare.

[camaguey48]

I have an antique piece of furniture that 3’ by 3’ by 4’. Unfortunately it has termites. I’ve tried three time to get rid of them by myself, with no luck. Now I’d like to let a professional have a go. Can anyone recommend a person or company who could successfully tackle fumigating this?
Go to domyownpestcontrol.com and check out termidor. That's what the professional exterminators use. Follow the mixing instructions and you are good to go. It works. I used it on my rental home and no more evidence of termites.
Check it out before paying for it. You can do it yourself. What have you got to lose?