Termite protection

[arthurjf]

I am a new owner in the villages with a stucco house. A services contractor is suggesting that I need to have termite protection applied. Is this necessary?
What is the typical cost to have this protection applied?

[retiredguy123]

If you have a new house, you should have received a 5-year renewable termite contract from either Massey or Dean's. The contract is good for 5 years as long as you pay the annual renewal and inspection fee. If you don't have a new house, I would call both Massey and Dean's and get a quote from each of them. I recommend Massey because they will treat your entire house by injecting chemicals in the soil around the perimeter. This will cost about $500 and they will provide a 10-year contract that is renewed every year for about $125. The last time I checked with Dean's, they would only provide a year by year contract, with no guaranteed annual price. These companies may also offer a bait system, which I don't like as well as the chemical soil system. I would be very careful about dealing with other smaller companies. Good luck.

[Bay Kid]

I used Massey for their 10 year plan. You can negotiate their price. I didn't go with the bait system.

[Michael G.]

Dean's for annual terminate treatment only with a terminate insurance policy.
They treat the soil around the foundation of our house.
Just paid them for $159.00 for two treatments a year.

[n8xwb]

I am NOT an expert. I have a Stucco over poured cement villa. It seems to me that the only termite worry would be a swarm of termites getting in through the roof. Not sure how treating the earth helps with this threat.

[Toymeister]

The treatment 'Bond' is only as good as the coverage it provides. I have done extensive research on this, the next person who posts a story that they have damage and they are happy, no satisfied, with the coverage/repairs will be the first one.

True story, I owned a 1929 farm home, at sale it had termite/wood boring insect inspection. It failed, the solution was to have the infected area treated at a cost of $110.00 in inflation adjusted dollars.

I don't have a bond, I treat my home for termites myself.

[retiredguy123]

I am NOT an expert. I have a Stucco over poured cement villa. It seems to me that the only termite worry would be a swarm of termites getting in through the roof. Not sure how treating the earth helps with this threat.
It doesn't. Treating the earth only protects your house from subterranean termites, not the type that can get into your attic. But, if you get subterranean termites living under your house, they will never go away, and you may not know they are there for years. The type of house you have really doesn't matter. They will eat a lot of things in your house, such as, door frames, molding, window sills, and drywall. Apparently, The Villages does not have as much of an issue with termites as other areas of the country, so some people don't spend the money for the treatment, but it can provide some peace of mind. The builder treats all new houses by poisoning the soil under the house before construction. That treatment should last about 5 years. After that, you need another treatment to extend your contract.

Note that Massey will sell you additional treatment for the type of termites that can get into your attic, but personally, I don't think it is needed.

[PugMom]

I am NOT an expert. I have a Stucco over poured cement villa. It seems to me that the only termite worry would be a swarm of termites getting in through the roof. Not sure how treating the earth helps with this threat.

sometimes the walls have plywood in them, & i'd be concerned they could get @ that. imo, it a justified cost for the peace of mind. a friend of mine near jacksonville has it for their stucco house, he's warned me to always get the treatment no matter what

[arthurjf]

thanks much for all the advice

[Babubhat]

Ditched Massey. Dean’s was more reasonable

[retiredguy123]

Ditched Massey. Dean’s was more reasonable
I recently renewed my termite contract and discussed the options in great detail with both Dean's and Massey. The problem with Dean's was that they would not provide a multi-year contract. So, you pay for one year, and then they can either drop you at the end of the year, or raise their renewal price as much as they want. But, Massey provided a 10-year guaranteed renewable contract. So, I think that Massey is a much better option.

[Blueblaze]

If it's a new house, it was pre-treated before the slab was poured, and that treatment is good for 10 years. Keep in mind that the land your house was built on was practically sterile from the massive site preparation the developer does when building out the neighborhood. Any existing colony would have been destroyed and any surviving queen would have to survive for months without food or water before poison was poured on her, when they built your concrete house with steel studs.

If your house is pre-owned, it is surrounded by thousands of similar homes containing wealthy retired people who dutifully pay Massey or Deans thousands of dollars to guarantee their service. A living queen from outside the community would probably need to fly miles to get to your unprotected house.

So there is a reason the only people who seem to know anyone who has ever seen a termite in the Villages are the same people who want you to spend thousands of dollars to defend your home from them.

Back in the real world, I once had a minor infestation in my Houston brick home, where pre-treating for termites is not even required by code. The house was 20 years old when I bought it. It was inspected and free of termites when I bought it, and yet, I could turn over a shovel anywhere in my yard and find termites. The reason I got termites was that I replaced a garage door on an outbuilding with hardiplank when I converted it to an office, and I stupidly allowed it to touch the ground, thinking that termites won't eat concrete board. Turns out they will, if it gets wet. They did about $200 worth of damage before I discovered them. It cost $150 to have both that building and the house treated, and the guarantee was good for ten years. I was NOT required to pay them another $150 every year for the guarantee, like Massey and Deans do.

Personally, the treatment on my current concrete and steel home is expired, but so far I have been unable to find a vendor who will just do the job for a reasonable price, without the $150 yearly ransom. So I've decided to just take my chances.

Bottom line -- you are extremely unlikely to have termites in The Villages (or anywhere else), regardless of what you do. But if you need to give Massey $500 plus ten years of $150 annual payments to sleep at night, then do it.

[Tvflguy]

I may be naive but we also have a block/stucco home on a poured concrete slab. Nylon and metal windows and frames. Metal garage door and other outside doors. The only wood in our home (besides indoor furniture etc) would be some wall studs but majority are metal. Of course there is wood rafters roof and such.

All this said we have never had termite treatment since the house was built in 2014. I simply do not feel the need for this ongoing annual “treatment”. $$$$$

[Kenswing]

Not only is our house built with block on slab, every piece of wood in the house was treated for termites during construction. They sprayed all wood from the slab to at least three feet up. I have Dean’s doing pest control. I augment with Ortho Home Defense. If I by chance see a termite I’ll call someone then.

[BernieJr]

I am a new owner in the villages with a stucco house. A services contractor is suggesting that I need to have termite protection applied. Is this necessary?
What is the typical cost to have this protection applied?
Superior Services
1-800-PestControl
Ask for Mitch

[banjobob]

In my opinion you do not need it. We also believed the sales rep. about termites, cost was over $100.00 . Paid that for 5 years before realizing termites are not a problem.

[skippy05]

Termites are a large problem in FL. They also eat your drywall. They also can tunnel along the inside block wall to your roof. Yes, you must get treatment and a plan unless you plan on living less than 10 years and are not concerned to leave your family any home that is worth reselling. If not, don't worry, be happy.

[tammy5912554@gmail.com]

I have lived in Florida my entire life and owned multiple homes….save your money…..the termite bond thingy is a rip off, not worth it.

[RICH1]

The ground in The villages should be Saturated from these companies soaking new owners on apply termite protection…mentioned earlier , only a swarm that would “fly in” should be of any concern… the Lightning Rod Man should also be calling around now! Old People are easy targets

[Haggar]

I have lived in Florida my entire life and owned multiple homes….save your money…..the termite bond thingy is a rip off, not worth it.

No true - we had termites in a South Florida home - needed to have the house tented.
W did not have a warranty protection plan. Wish we had.

[Annie66]

Superior Services
1-800-PestControl
Ask for Mitch

I agree with Bernie ...... Superior Services for Central Florida. Have had them for the past 4 years (they also provide my inside/outside pest control, lawn fertilizing and weed control). They have a one-time $500 charge for termite protection, and it remains in effect as long as you maintain one of the other treatment plans. This gets you a complete injection of Termidor around the house at 6 inch intervals, plus free annual inspections and a guaranteed reinjection of Termidor every 5 years.

[Tvflguy]

Perhaps some entrepreneur should begin some Marketing for new pest protection against space aliens. Protect your home and family!!!

Call Men In Black and associates now!! Only $360 per year. Save your family and protect your home and belongings. Homeowners insurance does not cover or protect against Space Alien invaders.

Call now. 888 GET SAFE

[jump4]

Fertigator $100/year

[Skip]

I may be naive but we also have a block/stucco home on a poured concrete slab. Nylon and metal windows and frames. Metal garage door and other outside doors. The only wood in our home (besides indoor furniture etc) would be some wall studs but majority are metal. Of course there is wood rafters roof and such.

All this said we have never had termite treatment since the house was built in 2014. I simply do not feel the need for this ongoing annual “treatment”. $$$$$

Agree! Bought a CBS Designer in 2003. Had a thorough inspection before closing the deal. I followed the inspector around. I asked about termite damage and treatment in Florida. The original owner had no termite service. We had no termite infection on this 1999-built house. He said for CBS houses with concrete, metal studs and screens on roof vents, it's a waste of money. Termites won't crawl up into your wood rafters from the ground. Swarming termite damage to rafters is rare, he said. I look around up there 3+ times a year from our ladder in the garage. No bees, wasps or flying termites anywhere. Don't put harsh chemicals in your soil (and drinking water). Save money and be friendly to our fragile environment.

Skip

[Marathon Man]

We chose not to have termite inspection. Still waiting for someone to report termites in The Villages.

[Larchap49]

I am a new owner in the villages with a stucco house. A services contractor is suggesting that I need to have termite protection applied. Is this necessary?
What is the typical cost to have this protection applied?

Yes for treatment. House was pretreated. When you have house treated make sure Thermidor is the treatment chemical. They will say it is a 10 year treatment, but the original test houses in Europe were still termite free after 25 years.

[Larchap49]

I am NOT an expert. I have a Stucco over poured cement villa. It seems to me that the only termite worry would be a swarm of termites getting in through the roof. Not sure how treating the earth helps with this threat.

Subterranean termites from underground up through pipe openings or up foundation undersiding or dry wood termites through the air. Do some research.

[Babubhat]

Old thread . You don’t need it until you do like most insurance. Part of a risk management analysis

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/contractors-services-91/termites-270061/

[BunnyA]

No true - we had termites in a South Florida home - needed to have the house tented.
W did not have a warranty protection plan. Wish we had.
If you had your house tented, then you had dry wood termites. Local companies usually don’t cover them, only the subterranean ones that tunnel from the ground.