Craftsman bungalow, Oak Street sideAll clear
Termites in a 1924 bungalow’s sill
A spring swarm by the front window led us to a soft length of sill. The barrier went in, the sill was replaced, and the crawlspace was dried out for good.
- What we found
- Subterranean termites in the front sill, a damp crawlspace
- What we did
- A liquid barrier, a new length of sill, a vapour barrier
- Visits
- 4 visits over 10 weeks
- Cost
- $2,480
The visit log
Day 1Activity 4 of 5
Inspection after a spring swarm by the front window. Activity in about two metres of the front sill; a damp crawlspace with no vapour barrier.
Day 3Activity 3 of 5
A liquid barrier round the whole foundation and the piers. The soft length of sill marked for the carpenter.
Week 4Activity 1 of 5
The sill replaced with treated timber, a vapour barrier laid and the vents opened. No live activity in the old wood.
Week 10All clear
Follow-up: dry, no activity anywhere. Warranty started, stations to be checked each season.
The owners called after a swarm of winged insects by the front window one warm April morning, a common sight here in spring and usually the first sign. Under the house we found activity in a soft length of the front sill and a crawlspace that stayed damp all year.
We treated the soil round the foundation and every pier, then worked with the owners’ carpenter, who replaced the damaged wood. A vapour barrier and opened vents dried the crawlspace out. By the tenth week there was nothing left to find, and the house went onto our home & termite plan.
