WTF...didn't they think we'd notice...

[RE2Boys]

I was hoping the moderators would have addressed this, but I decided to be the one to speak up.

I find the title to this thread to be very offensive. I do realize that the term is becoming more commonly used, but I've enjoyed this forum for the courteous, and respectful way folks exchange their knowledge. I avoid folks, both in real life and on the internet, who must use expletives to express themselves.

TrvlBug is now on my ignore list within the board's software options.

 

[samclem]

This actually works out perfectly...he can make the corrections as project is now on hold until we determine the extent of dryw[ood] termite damage which was discovered yesterday when they ripped up the old hardwood .

Another thing: If you've got a wall/floor opened up and can see/access where termites have been before, I'd highly recommend that you ask your contractor/workers to apply BoraCare to any sheathing/framing that could be re-infested later (old wood and new replacement wood). The stuff doesn't cost very much (consider the alternative . . . ), it's quite safe for humans/mammals (the active ingredient is just a borax compound that kills termites/ants, etc). It's highly effective and lasts virtually forever if the wood doesn't get wet. There are other treatments that contain borax, but BoraCare has penetrants/surfactants that let the borax get all the way through 1.5" of wood if just treated on one side (twice). It's good, cheap insurance against future termite/carpenter ant problems, and it's only practical to do it when you can access the wood. If you buy a gallon, you'll probably have plenty left over for treating other accessible areas of your home (esp rim joists and mud sills, maybe some outbuildings, etc).

This is a "backup" to whatever whole-house treatment/monitoring/contract the pest control company will surely want to sell you.

 

[REWahoo]

I was hoping the moderators would have addressed this, but I decided to be the one to speak up.

If you have a problem with a thread or post, why not report it and let the mods address the issue? That's the reason for that little red and white triangle in the lower left corner of every post. Click on it and lodge your complaint.

 

[RE2Boys]

If you have a problem with a thread or post, why not report it and let the mods address the issue? That's the reason for that little red and white triangle in the lower left corner of every post. Click on it and lodge your complaint.

Because I wasn't aware of the little triangle

 

[pb4uski]

I was hoping the moderators would have addressed this, but I decided to be the one to speak up.

I find the title to this thread to be very offensive. I do realize that the term is becoming more commonly used, but I've enjoyed this forum for the courteous, and respectful way folks exchange their knowledge. I avoid folks, both in real life and on the internet, who must use expletives to express themselves.

TrvlBug is now on my ignore list within the board's software options.

Jeesh.... a little overly sensitive, eh? I suppose you'll probably put me on your ignore list too. I'm not ignoring anyone yet, though it has been tempting at some times in the past.

 

[Sarah in SC]

philliefan, thanks very much for the paint chemistry lesson! I never understood about low VOC paint and what that meant, exactly, so I'm grateful.

I do my own painting, but learned the hard way that YOU MUST USE PRIMER. That's the extent of my expertise, and I like Kilz.

 

[pb4uski]

I was touring a house that a friend was considering buying that was in the final states of completion when we toured it and there was a crew painting the kitchen. There was a guy there trimming around a light switch plate rather than taking the cover off, painting and then putting the plate back on

I told my friend that if that was indicative of the quality of the work then he should pass on the house. Luckily, he didn't like the house anyway.

 

[RE2Boys]

Jeesh.... a little overly sensitive, eh? I suppose you'll probably put me on your ignore list too. I'm not ignoring anyone yet, though it has been tempting at some times in the past.

The level of civility and useful information from you and vast majority of posters is what makes this forum so valuable. Which is what makes the use of an expletive so rare and unnecessary that it really stands out. Been on this forum for 14 years and may be the first time someone has used an expletive that I recall.

Probably get pillared for expressing my disappointment and "intolerance", but sure learned a lot about painting issues!

End of rant.

 

[ivinsfan]

Maybe it's just me, but at once in 14 years, I'd just let it pass instead of calling someone out and scolding them in public ..we do have "private messages" too. I think that would be the civil way to do it. This really didn't reach the level of moderator intervention IMO.

 

[MichaelB]

Forum SW automatically filters certain obscenities, but some milder ones are commonly used here. A forum search of WTF brings up over 500 hits, so it is not uncommon. As an expression, however, it is neither obscene nor vulgar, but does point toward other words that may be.

 

[W2R]

The level of civility and useful information from you and vast majority of posters is what makes this forum so valuable. Which is what makes the use of an expletive so rare and unnecessary that it really stands out. Been on this forum for 14 years and may be the first time someone has used an expletive that I recall.

We consider maintaining civility on the forum to be a reasonable objective. This particular expletive has been allowed several times in the past as MichaelB has pointed out, and it would seem arbitrary to for us to change that for this thread. However, this is a good time to ask our membership to try to keep the expletives toned down if at all possible.

http://www.early-retirement.org/for...to-be-ticketed-my-camry-solara-wtf-52626.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f27/new-camera-pdf-only-manual-wtf-52885.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f27/wtf-does-this-mean-44256.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f44/bac-wtf-41843.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f30/annual-review-and-raise-wtf-20731.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f27/wtf-22705.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f44/wtf-with-my-etf-39700.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/for...one-is-named-jennifer-just-liek-me-19866.html

 

[Sarah in SC]

Awww, W2R, you included a Jennifer thread! Good times, certainly. Can forget sometimes how really acrimonious things could get back in the old days. Much more peaceful and civilized now, by comparison. But that was funny as all get out!

 

[REWahoo]

Can forget sometimes how really acrimonious things could get back in the old days. Much more peaceful and civilized now, by comparison.

Yes it's funny to see some members complain about how the forum "isn't what it used to be." Careful what you wish for...

 

[pb4uski]

Awww, W2R, you included a Jennifer thread! Good times, certainly. Can forget sometimes how really acrimonious things could get back in the old days. Much more peaceful and civilized now, by comparison. But that was funny as all get out!

Now that thread was truly bizarre.... I'm glad it pre-dates me.... I might not have returned.

 

[travelover]

World Taekwondo Federation
****** WTF What If
****** WTF Work Time Fun (PSP game)
***** WTF Whiskey Tango Foxtrot
***** WTF When They Fall (band)
***** WTF Worse Than Failure
**** WTF Williamstown Theatre Festival
**** WTF What the Frak? (Battlestar Galactica)
**** WTF Way To Fail
**** WTF Will to Fight
**** WTF Wasn't That Funny
**** WTF Why the Face?
**** WTF Way to Fly
**** WTF Why the Failure
**** WTF Welcome to Facebook (satire)
**** WTF What The Freak (polite form)
**** WTF Werewolf: the Forsaken (gaming)
**** WTF Worst to First (Connecticut maternity compaign)
**** WTF Write to File
**** WTF Waking the Fallen (Avenged Sevenfold album)
*** WTF Wow, That's Fantastic (chat slang)
*** WTF What To Fix
*** WTF What's This For?
*** WTF Welcome to Finland
*** WTF Where's the Food?
*** WTF Who the Freak? (polite form)
*** WTF What the French Toast?
*** WTF Words That Follow (online game)
*** WTF Waste Treatment Facility
*** WTF Why The Freak (polite form)
*** WTF Where the Freak (polite form)
*** WTF When The Freak (polite form)
*** WTF Weekly Top Five
*** WTF What the FAQ?
*** WTF Water Task Force
*** WTF Why the Frown?
*** WTF World Trade Federation
*** WTF Where's the Fridge?
*** WTF Where's The Fish?
*** WTF Where's the File (software)
*** WTF Wireless Telecommunications Facility
** WTF What the February
** WTF Witendofi (website)
** WTF Weapons Tactics Force (gaming)
** WTF Wow, That's Fun! (chat slang)
** WTF World Tennis Federation
** WTF Wrestling Takedown Federation (TV episode title; South Park)
** WTF Warcraft Text File (World of Warcraft)
** WTF We the Fools (radio show)
** WTF Weapons Task Force (gaming)
** WTF Wisconsin Test Facility
** WTF Warsaw Transatlantic Forum (Warsaw, Poland)
** WTF Washington Tennis Foundation
** WTF What the Fruitcake
** WTF Watergate Task Force
** WTF Well and Truly Freaked (polite form)
** WTF What's This Foolishness
* WTF Woodson Track and Field (Virginia)
* WTF Windowed Time Facility (Apple)
* WTF Women's Track and Field
* WTF Wild Turkey Federation
* WTF Where's the Fire?
* WTF Went to France
* WTF Wednesday Thursday Friday
* WTF Walk to Freedom (US Army)

 

[MichaelB]

Got some free time on your hands, eh?

 

[REWahoo]

Got some free time on your hands, eh?

Yep, When Time Flies...

 

[TrvlBug]

Another thing: If you've got a wall/floor opened up and can see/access where termites have been before, I'd highly recommend that you ask your contractor/workers to apply BoraCare to any sheathing/framing that could be re-infested later (old wood and new replacement wood). The stuff doesn't cost very much (consider the alternative . . . ), it's quite safe for humans/mammals (the active ingredient is just a borax compound that kills termites/ants, etc). It's highly effective and lasts virtually forever if the wood doesn't get wet. There are other treatments that contain borax, but BoraCare has penetrants/surfactants that let the borax get all the way through 1.5" of wood if just treated on one side (twice). It's good, cheap insurance against future termite/carpenter ant problems, and it's only practical to do it when you can access the wood. If you buy a gallon, you'll probably have plenty left over for treating other accessible areas of your home (esp rim joists and mud sills, maybe some outbuildings, etc).

This is a "backup" to whatever whole-house treatment/monitoring/contract the pest control company will surely want to sell you.

Thank you. I checked the reviews and questions and it appears this product is great. From my research, it appears fumigation is the only way to ensure eradication. After that's done, I will have the contractor use the BoraCare in the crawlspace or do you think that's overkill? I don't plan on any ongoing termite monitoring services. To me, this is a one shot deal 'til the next time!

 

[samclem]

From my research, it appears fumigation is the only way to ensure eradication. After that's done, I will have the contractor use the BoraCare in the crawlspace or do you think that's overkill? I don't plan on any ongoing termite monitoring services. To me, this is a one shot deal 'til the next time!

As you know, the fumigation just kills the termites that are there right now, it leaves nothing behind to kill them tomorrow. So, a re-infestation is likely without further steps.

I definitely would do the BoraCare, and if my contractor can get access to the entire crawlspace I would apply it to the entire rim joist, to the mud sill, to the outside foot of each floor joist (along with the outer foot of the subfloor) and to any piers that may be supporting my home inside the foundation. That should do a darn good job of providing a barrier to the little beggars coming up from the ground. The termites hate the stuff so much that they won't even build "tubes" over cinderblock/cement/treated wood if it has the BoraCare applied to it (see photo and info here).

If you are doing the whole crawlspace/rim, you may need more than one gallon of the the concentrate (at about $80/gal).

Note: I am not a certified pest control specialist and the above is not an offer of professional advice. Follow all label directions on the Boracare.

BTW, if you are inclined to do the job yourself, there's no prohibition against a homeowner from buying and applying the product himself/herself, at least in most locations. I did it--I just followed the directions. Crawlspaces aren't usually very nice places, but at least you'll know no corners were cut.

Good luck!

 

[Whisper66]

A friend just had a very nasty termite infestation. Had discussions with three different companies on what to do. Around here they don't fumigate anymore. Instead they use a chemical Termidor. It gets on the termite as they touch it and they spread it among each other. Kills them in 30 days. Was very effective for my friends situation.


Sent from my iPhone using Early Retirement Forum

 

[TrvlBug]

As you know, the fumigation just kills the termites that are there right now, it leaves nothing behind to kill them tomorrow. So, a re-infestation is likely without further steps.

I definitely would do the BoraCare, and if my contractor can get access to the entire crawlspace I would apply it to the entire rim joist, to the mud sill, to the outside foot of each floor joist (along with the outer foot of the subfloor) and to any piers that may be supporting my home inside the foundation. That should do a darn good job of providing a barrier to the little beggars coming up from the ground. The termites hate the stuff so much that they won't even build "tubes" over cinderblock/cement/treated wood if it has the BoraCare applied to it (see photo and info here).

If you are doing the whole crawlspace/rim, you may need more than one gallon of the the concentrate (at about $80/gal).

Note: I am not a certified pest control specialist and the above is not an offer of professional advice. Follow all label directions on the Boracare.

BTW, if you are inclined to do the job yourself, there's no prohibition against a homeowner from buying and applying the product himself/herself, at least in most locations. I did it--I just followed the directions. Crawlspaces aren't usually very nice places, but at least you'll know no corners were cut.

Good luck!

Thank you again for all this great info. I'm certain the pest control companies won't suggest this treatment, instead wanting big $$$ for ongoing monitoring! GC was out today ripping out some subfloor (termite damage as well as a spot kitty used for a urinal for a while! We now have 5 access points to our crawl space, making this application much easier.

One more question...in the event we can't get fumigation to happen soon (one of the companies says it can take months to get on their schedule , can this product be applied prior to the fumigation? Then we could do the necessary repairs and continue with the remodel instead of pushing it out even further.

 

[samclem]

One more question...in the event we can't get fumigation to happen soon (one of the companies says it can take months to get on their schedule , can this product be applied prior to the fumigation? Then we could do the necessary repairs and continue with the remodel instead of pushing it out even further.

Yes, I wouldn't think there'd be any problem with applying the BoraCare before fumigation--it won't make the problem worse. Take a look at the information here, your may even decide that fumigation is unnecessary after all (if you can access all the areas they have gotten to, and can spray a bit beyond the present infestation as a barrier).

Fumigation will only kill the termites presently in your house, but it will probably get them all. If they are fairly localized and you can kill them instead with BoraCare or something else, you can spare yourself the inconvenience and cost of fumigation.