PROBLEMS & SOLUTIONS

LOG HOUSES
Q I have a client who wants to renovate his log cabin. The problem is that the cabin has termites in the floor and the area under the floor is inaccessible (the floor joist practically sits on the ground). He wants to take up the floor and redo it. Can I treat the soil under the floor when he does that? I have read the termiticide label and it is not clear to me.
 
A This is an interesting interpretation. Termiticide labels allow you to spray the surface of the soil in an “inaccessible” crawlspace but as I interpret the label you would basically need some sort of access in order to follow the directions using the equipment suggested and the low pressures cited on the labels.

The labels also have directions for drilling through the floor or drilling through the foundation. This is usually blind luck, as you cannot see where the termiticide is going. However, if the floor is removed the whole scenario changes because the soil is now accessible. In this case, though, I believe you will not be able to spray the surface of the soil when your customer takes up the floor.

However, there are alternatives. First, you will be able to treat along the interior foundation when he takes up the floor (trenching and rodding as directed on the label). You obviously can treat the exterior foundation too. I would suggest an evaluation of the floor joists once he removes the flooring. In addition, he should replace damaged wood with treated wood and then you can spray all the wood with a borate solution, including any sill plates or other wood exposed during the floor removal.

You did not mention what kind of foundation the house is sitting on. If it is field stone I would be careful about the warranty you offer because field stone can be difficult to treat and could be a problem down the road. You could also offer a bait system in addition to the liquid treatment.

The author is president of George Rambo Consulting Services, Central, S.C. Fax questions to him at 864/654-2447 or via e-mail at grambo@pctonline.com.