Termites made entry through several places.

[Swimmer]

After I took down the two walls in my shop and cleaned and vacumned up all the crap I closed the door and shuit the lights out. Went back in the next morning and there is several trails all of which emanate from where the old foundation abuts the new foundation. There is always seperation there. So I walk in the room and see several mud trails where the termites are trying to make headway again. As I write this the Terminex guy is killing them outside. But the crazy thing is that the cement nails that I pounded into the cellar floor when I secured the 2 x 4 walls in place cause a crack that I can't see, but is big enough around three of the cement nail holes to allow that freikin termites to come up through the floor.

Anyway Terminex guy is here doiing his job. He say I can put walls back up tomorrow if I want. I think I want to see how well the poison works before I close off my view of the problem.

[nightfighter]

Frank,
If you removed the bottom plate you nailed into the floor, use hydraulic cement to fill the holes/cracks. When you rebuild your framing for the wall, don't nail the bottom plate, use contractor's adhesive to hold in place, and be sure you shim the top plate before nailing to make it real tight.

[Swimmer]

Originally Posted by nightfighter

Frank,
If you removed the bottom plate you nailed into the floor, use hydraulic cement to fill the holes/cracks. When you rebuild your framing for the wall, don't nail the bottom plate, use contractor's adhesive to hold in place, and be sure you shim the top plate before nailing to make it real tight.

Thanks for the heads up Ross. I will smooth out the marks the nails make with hyd. cement. And the adhesive sounds like a great idea. I remember pounding those nails with that 28 oz. framing hammer hard enough to do what has actually happened.

The termite guy was just drilling through the steps to inject the stuff they use on the termites and the drill is a 8 inches short of being able to go through the pad. I mention it to him once and he doesn't seem to bothered by it. I was getting pissed, so I went and got a DD and came back and calmed down and spoke with him again. He put me on the two-way with his supervisor and I tell him. He says he'll come back in two days with a longer drill. The kid thats here couldn't understand his drill just wasn't long enough until I picked up the drill and held it length-wise against the side of the steps.

[nightfighter]

Originally Posted by Swimmer

Thanks for the heads up Ross. I will smooth out the marks the nails make with hyd. cement. And the adhesive sounds like a great idea. I remember pounding those nails with that 28 oz. framing hammer hard enough to do what has actually happened. .

Next time you need to hammer spikes/nails into cement or block, use a powder actuated gun or Ramset. Uses a .22 charge to drive it in. Less fracturing of the concrete. One shot! Done.

[Joe]

My front steps are pretty tall and wide - I know it's hollow. I also know this is where the termites get into my house from. What's the best way to zap them under the steps? Drill a hole on the side and gas them with a bug bomb?