Termite jobs: Follow these guidelines for success

Andy Linares, President, Bug Off Pest Control Center

The key to success in any termite job is to follow these principles:

• Choose appropriate products and follow label directions to the letter.
• Keep up-to-date with your state regulations.
• Follow personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements.
• Carry a spill kit, and have a first-aid kit on hand.
• Use the right equipment, and always invest in the highest quality tools you can afford.
• Don’t forget your tool-repair kits, extension cords, cleanup materials and a drill interrupter.
• Maintain the correct pressure when performing subsoil applications.
• Calibrate your equipment so you maintain the proper flow rate.
• Treat all access points, and space your drill holes properly so you ensure an uninterrupted barrier.
• Incorporate foaming in your program.
• Use as many treatment options as practical, such as subsoil, direct wood and gallery treatments, void applications, and baiting systems, among others.

Finally, I can’t stress enough how important it is to graph out the property. The graph is useful for developing a treatment strategy, calculating how much material you need, plotting out treatment options, noting conducive conditions and signaling corrective actions to be taken. Along with photographic/video archives, it should become part of the permanent record, as it helps to identify changes to the property in the future and also helps limit liability.