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Ditto to John's comments. That way the inspection should be complete. Make sure to get a reputable company and not some fly-by-night outfit. For DIY, In some areas the pest control companies sell termite shields that prevent subterranean termites from climbing. Basically sheet metal shields that are fastened to walls and sealed. If you treat this yourself get a hammer drill and drill 1/2" holes every foot or 2 ft. along expansion joints, exterior walls and the foundation. Make sure you penetrate entire slab. Then using a pump up sprayer or some other metered output device you can treat the ground. Problem with most Southern soils is leaching (sand) and the residual effect is short term so application may have to be repeated. Lindane if still legal is an excellent product that STOPS all termites. Generally have to have a license to obtain and apply. Drywood termites (at least in the past) required fumigation or wet down method with Lindane. Formosan's (termites on steroids) are extremely agressive and to my knowledge resistant to the most common pesticides. General treatment requires specific pesticides and generally a growth regualtor (hexaflumuron) to alter the pests life cycle (super accelerate or stop). All that said, conventional pesticide treatments may keep termites out of buildings, but they don't control termite colonies in the ground. They are traditional barrier control methods. Consideration should be givent to the newer Sentricon systems that eliminate underground colonies, which is the key to controlling termites at their source. These systems are effective because termites themselves spread the pesticide bait. The key is to get the termites to come back for more until the entire colony gets a lethal dose of the bait. Also, with spring coming be sure to check window areas, wood piles etc. for potential swarm sites. You may want to go out to google and query for termite control for more information. Best of luck and let us know how you make out.
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