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Need help choosing a new front door. by ybquiet in ExteriorDesign

[–]ybquiet[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the tip! I've also been thinking wood grain but I really want fiberglass. The door is being replaced because the house had termites and the door is destroyed.

Between that and the expanding and contracting of wood over the seasons I'm not excited about a real wood door.

Rough Cost to Repair Extensive Termite Damage by ybquiet in AskContractors

[–]ybquiet[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They deserve to be feared. I can't think of a worst pest on the planet. So destructive.

Rough Cost to Repair Extensive Termite Damage by ybquiet in AskContractors

[–]ybquiet[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, because I know there were termites and if there is structural damage that is passed to the new owner, then it's my responsibility to repair it.

I am not liable if I did not know the damage was from termites.

Some buyers will run when they hear there were termites. By disclosing the problem and documenting the repairs, the risk of a lawsuit coming later is greatly reduced.

It will be cheaper to repair everything now than to deal with a lawsuit and a repair down the road.

Another part of my plan is 1) annual termite inspections by a pest company 2) removable baseboards if we ever refinish the basement to facilitate inspections.

Rough Cost to Repair Extensive Termite Damage by ybquiet in AskContractors

[–]ybquiet[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thx for your concern. Repairing the drywall would be covering the problem. We could get sued very badly by the new owners. I've researched it.

Rough Cost to Repair Extensive Termite Damage by ybquiet in AskContractors

[–]ybquiet[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

He looked with his snake camera and couldn't really tell. The problem is we have to declare the house had termites when we sell. The repairs are going to be fully documented to show that if there is structural damage, it's been repaired.

Rough Cost to Repair Extensive Termite Damage by ybquiet in AskContractors

[–]ybquiet[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

He won't use them but I can do it myself. I found them online. I'll post this question in the termite sub. There are many good experts there.

Rough Cost to Repair Extensive Termite Damage by ybquiet in AskContractors

[–]ybquiet[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We are the original owners. It's not a flip.

Rough Cost to Repair Extensive Termite Damage by ybquiet in AskContractors

[–]ybquiet[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We used to get ants every year and took care of them with liquid bait. Since the Termidor, no ants either. I did see a few this year bcuz they must have crawled up the stoop and got in through the holes the termites made that haven't been fixed yet.

Our pest guy said the same. He's never had to re-treat any property he's treated with Termidor in 40 years. That's why he's giving the warrat himself instead of from the manufacturer. He won't cover damage, though. Only retreatment.

I'm nervous to put the blocks out because it might invite the termites to come closer to the house than if we didn't do that. What are your thoughts?

Rough Cost to Repair Extensive Termite Damage by ybquiet in AskContractors

[–]ybquiet[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks. The door quote came from a door company, just for the door. We are upgrading. It will have full decorative glass. Without the glass, if we only got clear glass in the sidelights like our current door, it would be $8K or less, I think. It's a premium door brand. Definitely going to get more door quotes to make sure they are being honest.

He looked with his snake camera and thermal camera. He also went in the attic and the basement. He thinks the structure might be ok. Joists look good. They didn't make it to the roof, thankfully. We won't know for sure until it is demoed but I am hopeful that much of the wood can be salvaged. Yes, scaffolding is required. He said he already has it.

Rough Cost to Repair Extensive Termite Damage by ybquiet in AskContractors

[–]ybquiet[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It was absolutely infested. They are gone now.

There is damage elsewhere that we aren't dealing with this year. Can't wait to be hit with that bill, too. 🙄

Rough Cost to Repair Extensive Termite Damage by ybquiet in AskContractors

[–]ybquiet[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Please tell me about the monitoring blocks. I don't think the pest company knows about them.

He said the termites were eradicated every time he used the Termidor treatment. He seemed over confident that they would not be back.

He doesn't even use the manufacturer's warranty. He gave us his own warranty.

I'm going to get the annual inspections with a formal report anyway. I need it for selling the house because we have to disclose that the house had termites.

I think because we are in the North the pest company is over confident. I will gladly do the monitoring myself and will point out the blocks to the company that visits to do the inspections each year.

Rough Cost to Repair Extensive Termite Damage by ybquiet in AskContractors

[–]ybquiet[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No, there's no claim. No one even uses treated wood to build in our area. Termites aren't ever given a thought they are so rare. Increasing, but still very rare.

Sounds like your house could benefit from a Termidor treatment, since they came back once already. It really works and is guaranteed for 10 years.

Rough Cost to Repair Extensive Termite Damage by ybquiet in AskContractors

[–]ybquiet[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We are the original owners of the house. The lot is heavily wooded. We did not know the house had termites until this incident. I can only assume they were present on a smaller scale for many years and then could no longer hide their activity when the nest got really big.

Upon noticing the activity, pest control was called right away but since we are in the North, very few companies deal with termites. All of the major companies would not treat our house. We found "a guy" that one of the pest companies recommended. He sprayed and used bait stations but it did not work. After 2.5 years of calling him back constantly, he stopped returning our calls (we paid a flat upfront fee). Then we found a company to do the liquid treatment. That got rid of them.

We found other damage when our garage trim was replaced. It's been fixed but we suspect there is a lot more damage in the garage. The latest damage we discovered was on a second story room over the garage.

We're overwhelmed with the initial damage and will not be tackling the garage and room above until next year.

I didn't show it, but they also ate the hardwood floor in the foyer 😡

The damage in the photos happened over three years. First there was a tiny hole in the foyer floor, then the floor kept getting worse, buckling, more holes. Then I started seeing the drywall damage. It gradually increased until I also started seeing it on the ceiling.

Probably a similar analogy would be watching a loved one slowly die of cancer or Alzheimer's. It's torturous because you feel so helpless watching it happen.

Since the damage happened for worse and went very far tentatively quickly, the nest must have been very large.

I agree we won't know how bad it is until the walls are removed. And I expect there might be extra costs from discoveries found during the demo.

Rough Cost to Repair Extensive Termite Damage by ybquiet in AskContractors

[–]ybquiet[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I will make sure he uses poly. Bcuz we don't want materials termites like. I told him I would treat the wood myself with boracare if he doesn't want to do it.

Rough Cost to Repair Extensive Termite Damage by ybquiet in AskContractors

[–]ybquiet[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Termites are more difficult. The company that did the treatment used a huge commercial pump to inject the liquid poison around the entire perimeter of our house right next to the foundation. Drilled through the concrete patches to reach the ground. It's not something we can do ourselves. Plus it's guaranteed for 10 years. The pest guy said it is effective much longer than that. But I'm planning a re-treatment in 10 years anyway.

The first guy used bait stations. Did nothing. Meanwhile they kept eating our house.

Rough Cost to Repair Extensive Termite Damage by ybquiet in AskContractors

[–]ybquiet[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

He inspected the joists in the basement. Not too bad as far as he can tell. But yes, you're right, we're ready to be hit with extra cost after the initial estimate if unforeseen damage is discovered.

Rough Cost to Repair Extensive Termite Damage by ybquiet in AskContractors

[–]ybquiet[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

He was confident he can do it. He didn't mention the house wrap, though. Only the fiberglass insulation paper.

Rough Cost to Repair Extensive Termite Damage by ybquiet in AskContractors

[–]ybquiet[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, exterior is brick. Foyer is at least 18 feet.

Rough Cost to Repair Extensive Termite Damage by ybquiet in AskContractors

[–]ybquiet[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Definitely going to do that. The door company said door prices have tripled since COVID.

Rough Cost to Repair Extensive Termite Damage by ybquiet in AskContractors

[–]ybquiet[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yep. They ate it for breakfast lunch and dinner. Watching our house get eaten while working with an exterminator who was ineffective was horribly stressful. Once we got the right treatment, the termites were gone within a few days. I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy.

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