Replies

1. 
   chris_barr | Aug 26, 2000 03:30am | #1

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   I have active subterranean termites and damage to the T & G subflooring, rim joists, girders, wall plates and the bottom end areas of wall studding. The oak strip flooring also has some infestation. I'd like to
   treat this myself with a Borate product after removing severly damaged framing members. My question is should I remove the exterior stucco & gypboard back which is unfortunately run to grade. How much framing should be removed and what about the oak flooring? How can I be sure the termites are limited to subterranean type?

2. 
   Guest_ | Aug 26, 2000 03:30am | #2

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   b TVMDC

   1. Subs build mud tubes to the wood members in order to keep from dehydrating. Drywoods don't build mud tubes but leave tiny camel-colored fecal pellets about the size of a 0.5mm mechanical pencil point. Poke around the damaged canals in the wood: If there are pellets, they are drywood. If not, they are subs.
   2. If they are subs, you have to break-away all the mud tubes you can find and treat the ground in addition to the wood.
   3. As for removing the stucco and the damaged plates/studs, that's a tough call. You might be better off treating the infected wood and sistering new blocks on either side of the existing studs. Removal of the studs would mean removal of the stucco as well.
   4. As for borate treatment, check out < Obsolete Link > thread 1 and < Obsolete Link > thread 2.
   5. As for the sub flooring, if the infestation is not extensive nor structural, simply treat it. As for the oak, ditto (Can you see any damage on the top of the oak?

   You may want to have an engineer or contractor give an opinion of what to remove and what to sister.