Termite Tenting Reprieve Buuut...

My cousin, Arnold offered to have us stay at his house whenever we'd have to get our house tented for lurking termites who could be munching away at the house. And my blogger buddy, Honolulu Aunty also offered us a place to stay. 

For people on the mainland or anywhere else you are blessed with not having termites, let me explain. Whenever a home is thought to be infested with termites, a company can come and put a colorful tent over and around your entire house. A poisonous gas called Vikane is pumped into the tent to kill all the termites and some other bug that is within that tent. All food items will need to be bagged, including what you have in your fridge. And of course, you need to find somewhere else to stay while this is being done.

However, just as I was resigned to this eventuality, our friend, Terry told me about the termite inspector she uses from Aloha Termite and Pest Control. She said whenever they suspect a termite lurking, they call Stacy Hirota. I liked her even more when she told me she was once a teacher too.

When Art returned with my brother from the Aloha Termite fumigation vault with our cabinet we saw a lot of teeny tiny termites that had been trying to escape the gas in the wood. I sort of, almost felt sorry for them.

I texted Stacy and she came a couple of days later.

Stacy inspected the cabinet we'd already taken to the fumigation vault and the support beams of the house next to the cabinet where I thought there were more termites. She said we were safe. She really didn't feel there were termites there and said tenting was unnecessary. She also advised us to bang on the fumigated cabinet a few times to dislodge any more poop that might be there so that we don't get spooked if more droppings are seen. (As you can see, the kitchen, dining room and living room was in complete disorder.)

However...

Of course there's a however. She said we should try to paint whatever naked wood we see at the back of the cabinet (including the cabinet right behind the infested one) and caulk the cracks and holes where termites can crawl in. Those termites are very teeny. It only takes two to start a colony according to Stacy. I even had to caulk the extra shelving holes.

Well gosh darn! There's a LOT of holes and cracks. And then there's the sides, backs and underneath the shelves and drawers. Arrghh!

Stacy also confirmed that it was drywood termites that were feasting on our cabinets. Drywood termites eat rather slowly. The real danger, she said, are ground termites because they eat a LOT and quickly. Ground termites search for water and wood. Drywood termites don't need water to survive. Therefore, it's not good to plant a lot of things close to your house where you would be watering it. Termites will sniff that out and then eat your house for dessert. I have since heard lots of horror stories from friends and relatives. 

Stacy recommended we have the perimeter of our house treated with Termidor to kill ground termites that come into contact with it. You could tell Stacy was once a teacher. She had a folder full of information to teach us all we needed to know about termites.

So yes...

I caulked all the holes we could see in the cabinet and Art painted the naked unfinished wood. 

It took us several days and it was a misery having dishes, cups, mugs, bowls, blenders, coffee makers, rice cookers, etc. all around the rest of the house while hoping I would remember where I put them. 

But then there's the rest of the cabinets in the kitchen where Stacy said it would be a good idea to caulk the holes we won't be using.

Sigh...

And it took a whole day to get the cabinet back in place with the help of our neighbor. Now there's just the mouldings to reinstall and we'll be done.

This has been our lives this month. My friend, Cloudia recently said, "There is more drama here than in many Korean soaps!"  😂

I'm afraid so.