Termite Inspections and Solutions Termite Solutions Termite damage costs home and business owners approximately 5 billion dollars annually. Their damage is more common than damage caused by storms, fires and earthquakes, and the costs of termite damage are rarely covered by homeowner’s insurance. In Tennessee, it's not a question of if termites will target a structure or not; it's a question of when. The foundation type doesn't provide protection. Termites will enter through hollow block walls in basements, within support piers in crawl spaces or through cracks or utility entry points in concrete slabs. Sherrill Pest Control has been providing termite solutions since 1975. We are committed to implementing research in our industry that provides for environmentally responsible and effective treatment methods. As a SPC client you have access to the revolutionary Sentricon® Termite Colony Elimination System. It is the only termite protection proven to eliminate the termite colony attacking your home and the only termite service to ever win the Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award.  The Sentricon® System is the best approach for protecting structures from subterranean termites. It eliminates the colony, while being non-disruptive to your home or business. There’s no termiticide odor, no drilling of tile or interior areas, no disruption of your home. This System uses a bait containing an IGR (insect growth regulator) for the termites. As the termites feed on the bait, it is spread throughout the colony. The active ingredient stops the molting process, so termites can’t grow. Eventually the whole colony dies. After the colony is eliminated a SPC professional continues to monitor, detecting the presence of any new termite colony that might try to invade your home. When choosing a company to protect your home or business from termites, make sure to choose a company you can trust will be there for you and treat you right.  Sherrill Pest Control has been providing guaranteed termite protection to thousands of customers for three generations. Sherrill Pest Control:   Employees average almost 9 years of service with our company, which means you will see a familiar face each service. Establishes in-house Quality Assurance procedures. Has been recognized for our “outstanding on-time performance” from Dow AgroSciences. The Sentricon® System is only as good as the company providing the service.     Termite Inspections Termite Inspections Think you’ve got termites or just want to prevent them? We’ll provide a thorough inspection of your property, looking for signs of activity, as well as identify any areas that may be conducive toward termite activity. Should we find activity, we’ll detail the visible evidence of activity and/or damage (if any), and then work with you to provide the best solution to eliminate the colonies and provide continuous protection for your property. To arrange for an inspection, click here. Our inspection and treatment program can help you understand the threat of termites, and take the necessary steps to protect your largest investment, your home. You can’t assume your home is termite-free just because you’ve never seen them – they usually swarm only once or twice a year and you might miss it! We thoroughly inspect your home or business, looking for the common signs of a termite infestation. Some of the things we look for are: Mud tubes built for traveling above ground Damaged or hollow-sounding wood Pinholes in drywall or wallpaper Small piles of sawdust Piles of small wings Other specific termite indicators Real Estate WDI Reports We provide pre-listing and WDI (Wood Destroying Insect) Reports (also known as termite letters) for real estate transactions or for refinancing your home. To arrange for a WDI Report, click here. Termite Facts Subterranean termites are extremely destructive. First they build tunnels to wooden structures, and then they burrow into those structures to obtain food. Any wood or cellulose-containing material constitutes termite food, and given time to do so, they’ll eat until nothing is left but a shell. Termites avoid light and air, so they build their colonies where you’re not likely to stumble upon them. Is it a termite or an ant? On the off chance you do see them, remember that it’s easy to confuse termites with ants. Fortunately, there are features that distinguish them. Ants narrow waists bent antennae two sets of wings (one wing is longer than the other) Termites thick waists straight antennae two sets of wings (same size) TERMITE VS. ANT COMPARISON MAKE SURE THE TERMITES AREN’T  WELCOME. No house is termite-proof unless it’s cellulose-free (which is nearly impossible). But there are things you can do to prevent easy access to food, moisture and shelter. There’s a great deal you can do to help reduce the risk of termites invading your home. For example: Tips for outside… Maintain shrubs, mulch and other landscaping at least 2 feet from the foundation. Minimize or eliminate the use of wood mulch. Keep wooden fences, planter boxes and other wood items at least 2 feet from the foundation. Stack firewood and scrap lumber well away from the building. Make sure soil is at least 6 inches away from the bottom of stucco or other siding and from wood steps, lattice work and door frames. Tips for inside… Keep crawl spaces and basements clear of wood debris, newspapers and excess moisture. Fix plumbing leaks anywhere in the house, as they can cause moisture to accumulate. Keep an eye open for mud tubes, discarded termite wings and other signs of termite activity. Tips for managing moisture… Place sprinkler heads more than 2 feet from the foundation and make sure they don’t wet the walls. Divert air-conditioner condensation, sump discharge and other water away from the foundation. Slope soil away from the house so surface water drains easily. Clean gutters and downspouts and keep splash blocks in place. Tips for remodeling… If you’re adding a room or deck to your home, make sure the lumber has been treated to discourage termites. Never bury wood scraps or forms in backfill. These are all good home maintenance tips. But they’re no guarantee termites won’t attack your biggest financial investment. If you want to feel confident, you need something more. Sherrill Pest Control has a deep level of termite knowledge and experience, plus the world’s greatest termite colony elimination tool. To arrange for an inspection, click here.