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Termite Repair: Cutting Corners and Recycling Materials Isn’t Always Wise

Termite repair generally must follow all effective exterminations. The repairs don’t have to be costly. Unfortunately, some people try to save money by reusing materials and cutting corners. Depending on which materials are repurposed, it could end up costing beleaguered property owners more in the long run. Here’s why: It is not unusual for termite damaged materials to contain viable eggs. Thus, reusing the materials would be akin to leaving time bombs inside the home or business. In other words,…

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Termites Flying in Your House? Here’s What’s Happening

Are termites flying around in your house? Flying termites can present a serious problem. It’s not the winged termites themselves that do the damage; it’s what they indicate and produce. They may indicate the need for termite treatment. Only some termites fly. It happens once a year, usually in early spring, though the actual season varies for each species. The sexually advanced male and female termites leave the colony in search for more space. Flying termites are a sign of…

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Termite Treatment: Outsmarting a Smart Creature

The average person does not like to think about termites, and when they must, the thoughts are certainly not positive. Since termites have a longstanding reputation for being destructive creatures, we often think of them as being an enemy to be obliterated, and rightly so. However, researchers and scientists have, over the years, noted the extreme intelligence of these hungry creatures. For example, termites, in their quest to find sustenance, have been observed devouring the corks of wine bottles. This…

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Termite Inspections: A Historical Perspective

It is no secret that termites are born to destroy. The havoc an active colony can wreak on a wooden structure often goes undetected until significant damage has been done. The French military leader, Napoléon Bonaparte learned this the hard way when one of the ships built under his command became so thoroughly infested that it compromised the integrity of the wooden vessel. In the early 1800’s, the great warship le Génois had to be taken out of service and destroyed because…

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Dry Wood Termites” Signs Your Need to Schedule An Inspection

When you think about termites, the first kind that comes to mind is probably subterranean termites, which live below ground and tunnel their way towards your home. However, there is another type of termite that’s quite common along the west coast: drywood termites. Here are three early signs these pests may be damaging your home. Swarmers Drywood termites go through a life stage during which they develop wings. During this time, they tend to appear in large swarms as they…

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Will You Get a “Clean Bill of Health” With Your Termite Inspection

Have you ever wondered what information you actually receive when you have a termite inspection done? While you’ve probably been told you’ll receive a WDI report (a.k.a. NPMA-33), what is this? So many questions you need answers for so you know what you’re being told. A WDI (Wood Destroying Insect/Infestation Report) never gives a home a clean bill of health. Instead, when inspectors fill this form out correctly you’ll discover there’s no box on the form that says a structure…

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Termite Treatment Expert Debunks Four Common Myths about Termites

There’s a lot of misinformation about termite behavior floating around the Internet. Acting on these myths renders your efforts of protecting your home against termites ineffective and may even make the problem worse. Here are four myths we would like to dispel: My Brick Home’s Exterior Will Protect It from Termites Termites can penetrate concrete and brick through small cracks that can lead them to the wood structure of your house. These external cracks are often difficult to see. However,…

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Californians Better Put Termite Repair on Their Post-Storm Cleanup Lists

No doubt that the last few, AccuWeather forecasts have had Californians on their toes. We’ve all seen what Hurricane Matthew did to the east and similar could happen here if we continue to get hammered with typhoon related damage. And the storms aren’t all residents will likely have to contend with. There is also the increased potential for post-storm damage, namely termites. Termites May Take Higher Ground Unfortunately, history has shown us that termites have no problem surviving typhoons and…

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Yard Care Tips to Prevent Further Termite Infestation after Termite Treatment

Effective termite treatment of your home eliminates the pests and allows you to start over again with a clean slate. However, termites still live elsewhere in the environment outside your home. If you wish to keep your home free of termites over the long-term, these three yard care tips will help: Keep Your Foundation and the Ground next to It Dry Subterranean termites require a moist environment to survive. If your foundation and the surrounding soil are wet, it provides…

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Why You Should Have a Termite Inspection Before Buying a Home

Termite Inspections There are so many things to be done before purchasing a home, and one of the things that you might not have thought about is hiring a professional for a termite inspection. In fact, you might think that this type of thing will be handled during the regular home inspection, so you might not think that it’s necessary. Although a home inspector may look for some signs of termite damage, it’s best to hire a pro who specializes in…

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Times Up Termite, Inc. provides termite inspection, treatment and repair service to all of Alameda and Contra Costa County cities including Alameda, Alamo, Albany, Antioch, Ashland, Berkeley, Brentwood, Castro Valley, Cherryland, Clayton, Concord, Danville, Dublin, El Sobrante, El Cerrito, Emeryville, Fremont, Hercules, Lafayette, Livermore, Martinez, Moraga, Newark, Oakland, Oakley, Orinda, Piedmont, Pinole, Pittsburg, Pleasant Hill, Pleasanton, Richmond, San Leandro, San Lorenzo, San Pablo, Sunol, Union City and Walnut Creek.