Tag: termites

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A Growing Problem

Good afternoon and welcome back to the Sanborn County Rag! Well, what’s left of it, anyway!

Since our last update on the termite issue, things have taken a bit of a turn for the worse. We seem to have a bit of a plague on our hands, and the situation is looking a little grim!

Since the old courthouse collapsed, the termite infestations have spread in a concentric circle pattern radiating outward from the ruins. Terrified citizens have been forced to flee as their homes and businesses get gobbled up before their very eyes.

Our very own temporary office in the local YMCA was also unfortunately destroyed. Your humble narrator was barely able to come out with my laptop and some documents before the building was cordoned off by police.

Upon reaching the refugee camp near Lake Sanborn, I took it upon myself to find Groundskeeper Jenkins, whose cryptic warnings in the wake of the courthouse collapse seems all the more prescient now. I managed to find him cooling his heels near the hot dog cart, happily munching away on a corndog.

His healthy pallor returning and the faraway glint in his eyes now gone, it appears whatever hold the courthouse had on him is fading away. When asked about what he meant by his warnings from a few weeks ago, he merely shrugged and said, “I told you so.” He then invited me to sit with him and share in his meal.

To combat this newest disaster impacting Sanborn, the mayor is bringing out the big guns: he has invited one of southern California’s premier exterminators, Grand Oaks Termite Control, to join the fray. The Grand Oaks-based company has been operating for eight years, and in that time has created a loyal customer base and destroyed hundreds of infestations. Here’s just a few testimonials from their client base:

Read John B.‘s review of Grand Oaks Termite Control on Yelp Read Linda W.‘s review of Grand Oaks Termite Control on Yelp Read Kristin M.‘s review of Grand Oaks Termite Control on Yelp

If the company accepts the mayor’s invitation, they will certainly have the job of their life ahead of them. If you believe your home is experiencing its own plague or infestation, give Grand Oaks a call – they’ve got the tools and the experience needed to eradicate your pest problem and prevent future ones from popping up.

Grand Oaks Termite Control

+16265384156

110 S Worthy Dr, Glendora, CA 91741

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Exterminator

Unscheduled Collapse Of Sanborn’s Oldest Building Heralds New Era

Good morning, Sanbornians! And what an eventful morning it’s been!

In the wee hours of the morning, the old Sanborn historical courthouse suddenly collapsed in on itself in a spectacular crash, leaving much of the neighborhoods surrounding it choking in a cloud of asbestos and leaded paint particles. We have not gotten a full count of the casualties of the event, but we’re happy to report that only a single tour group was scheduled to be allowed in during the time to experience one of Sanborn’s most exciting haunted house tours.

The old courthouse, a fixture of the Sanborn landscape for nearly 200 years, had seen a number of uses over the years. First built by the Spanish as a slave auctioneering house, the building has been home to a number of (in)famous local notables. This list includes the administrative center for Sanborn Chemical Manufacturers, who were the party deemed primarily responsible for the Sanborn Creek fire incident of 1913, where the creek was accidentally set on fire by sparks let off by stones some local boys were throwing, leading to the deaths of some 24 people.

In recent years, the old courthouse was used primarily as a museum to Old Sanborn, detailing the long and sordid history of our fair county. It had exhibits dedicated to describing many of the costly and destructive battles and massacres perpetrated here by the native Americans against each other, the Spanish against the natives, and finally the American government against the natives and the Spanish. It even had a whole wing dedicated to the disappearances of the hikers in the woods and hills around Sanborn in recent years, though those were being contested in court by the families.

Upon initial inspection, it was initially thought that there was some sort of arson or purposeful human destruction of the building suspected, as a group of unidentified bodies wearing strange robes was found in a circle in the basement of the building. However, in an interview conducted this morning, Caretaker Jenkins, the crotchety groundskeeper of the courthouse, alleges that he has been warning the local government of a massive termite infestation for years now.

Jenkins, swaying warily in his seat across from me and staring with sunken, unblinking eyes that seemed to glint with the light a faraway candle at all times, appeared convinced that the local government thought he was crazy and was unwilling to undergo even a cursory inspection of the grounds, which he asserts is coated with dead termites and every other kind of pest imaginable. Though he ended the interview with a minutes-long string of uninterrupted laughter and repeated warnings that we have no idea what we’ve unleashed by letting the building go to ruin, I was able to glean that he was recently in contact with a local business that had moved in to the area to get the building checked out: Natural Science Exterminating.

Natural Science Exterminators is a Garden Grove-based company that’s recently taken the opportunity to expand out into our neck of the woods, undoubtedly after hearing about our record-breaking pest populations recently reported in our humble gazette. Family owned and operated for more than 25 years, the pest control company combines modern science with age-old pest prevention techniques that can both destroy current infestations and stop new ones from setting up shop.

Customers of the company note the professionalism and thoroughness of their technicians in many of the glowing online testimonials:

Read Erik W.‘s review of Natural Science Exterminating on Yelp

If you believe your house might be on the precipice of collapse like the old Sanborn courthouse, or even if you’re just worried there might be a bug or two crawling around your walls, give Natural Science a call. It’ll give you peace of mind, and your neighbors will thank you for not coating their lungs with insulation material after the crash.

Natural Science Exterminating

+18002467378

11642 Knott Ave, Garden Grove, CA 92841

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Exterminator

Protecting The Foundation Of Your Home

Termites may be less common than the average insect, but they can cause a great deal of damage compared to other pests. The kind of damage termites cause can severely threaten a home’s structural integrity. These insects are so subtle they may not even be noticed until they have gone far in chewing through wood, flooring, and walls. Often, homeowners will deal with three main types of termites, which are the subterranean, drywood, and dampwood termites. Let’s take a closer look at each of these types and the challenges they present.

Types of Termites

Subterranean Termites

These are the most common type of household termites which form large underground colonies and obtain moisture by building mud tubes while they move back and forth between a food source and the colony. They can spread in an underground tunnel, feeding on wood materials in the environment.

Drywood Termites

Unlike subterranean, Drywood termites are not that easy to detect. Their biological makeup enables them to infest homes without even touching the soil. These termites infest wood used in building homes as well as infesting wood furniture.

Dampwood Termites

Dampwood termites thrive in wood that contains high moisture. Most damp wood termites don’t need to come in contact with the soil. These termites are rarely found in the home or other man-made structure, since woods use in constructing these structures are often not high in moisture.

Four Brown Wooden Chairs

Termite Treatments

Termites can cause extensive home damage if left untreated. These pests bore into wood and can thrive deep in a home’s foundation slowing eating away at its core. The best bet against them is with extermination treatment, which we will look at next.

Monitoring and Bait Station

To get started, the extent of termite activity is determined by setting up monitoring stations at key points around a property. These bait stations will attract termites as the bait station contains chemicals that termites will ingest, then carry back to the colony and spread to other times. This addresses the termite problem from the source and is often the most ideal extermination treatment option when dealing with large populations.

Gas Fumigation

Another great treatment option is by gas fumigation which controls termite infestation as the treatment eliminates them in the home right back to their living area. Once inhaled, fumigants destroy a termite’s metabolism causing it to die. Grand Oaks Termite Control is a highly reputable extermination service that offers termite tenting in Arcadia, CA.

Termiticide Application

Termiticide usage may be necessary for termite infestation as it can help to eliminate the current population preventing future infestation. Termiticides are applied on the surface or injected into compromised wood or added directly into the soil around the home, which makes the environment uncomfortable for termites to thrive.

Moisture Removal

As we have learned already, termites love a high moisture environment. A simple option of exterminating termites is to ensure all plumbing leaks are fixed quickly and ensure proper drainage around the home. Wood touching the ground is at high risk, so ensure woods don’t touch the ground and use pre-treated wood which prevents termite infestation as this wood hardly decays or rot.

If you have termites and need an exterminator, give Grand Oaks Termite Control a call today.

Grand Oaks Termite Control
110 S Worthy Dr, Glendora, CA 91741

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Exterminator

EMERGENCY ALERT FOR SANBORNE COUNTY

This is not a drill, people. Sanborne County is facing the greatest crisis in our community’s history. I write to you now from a bunker I built in 1987 when I was convinced that the collapse of the Soviet Union was an elaborate ruse and the day of great nuclear hell fire cleansing would soon be upon us. Here I sit in the dark, my cat Whiskers my only companion as I ride out the current storm afflicting our nation. If you are still above ground, I recommend you take similar steps and flee, flee before the invaders come into your house and make it their own.

What is the emergency, you ask? Sanborne is being invaded by a swarm of perfidious and wrathful termites, hell-bent on taking our structures down, one at a time. I’m sitting in my bunker because my house is currently tented and my parents didn’t want me moving back in with them. They thought it would give me ideas and started complaining about kids today, despite the fact that I’m well past 50.

You may think I’m being hyperbolic, and if you do you should come say it to my face so that I may strike you. This publication does not condemn violence, whether it be to hordes of property destroying insects or doubters. Termites represent a very real threat not only to our property values but to our very lives, as they can easily reduce the strength of the load bearing support structures in your house, causing the whole thing to come crashing down on you.

Regardless, my house is the third one on this block that’s been infested, and the invasion shows no sign of slowing down. One by one, our homes are getting chewed up and spit out (or swallowed, I don’t really know how termites work) as the creatures multiply and spread. There won’t be a house left standing in the entire county within a couple of years if the invasion isn’t stopped.

Thankfully, it appears some help is on the way! A new business has appeared on the registrar in the past couple of weeks, and they could not have come at a better time. This company is, of course, Grand Oaks Termite Control, Pasadena’s finest exterminator.

Established in 2013 by a guy who had been working in the industry for 20 years and got fed up working for a bunch of crooks and thieves, Grand Oaks Termite Control prides itself on a level of thoroughness and customer service atypical of businesses in the industry. The company provides termite treatment in Pasadena, as well as a number of other extermination and pest prevention services to Glendora, San Dimas and all over the inland Los Angeles area. Luckily for us, they have also expanded their operations into the Sanborne County area.

If you find yourself in a situation like myself, where an overzealous cat knocks a small hole in your wall and suddenly the corpses of 100 termites pour out, take advantage of our county’s newest and brightest business. Have Justin and Gary give your house a visit and provide a free inspection.

Grand Oaks Termite Control

(626) 538-4156

110 S Worthy Dr, Glendora, CA 91741

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Exterminator

Beware of These Tiny Villains

Termites are incredibly fascinating creatures. They are a critical part of our ecology, breaking down materials into nutrients for our soil. However, these critters, despite their tiny size, can cause enormous damage to your home. These pests can crawl through all different types of materials, undetected. They can silently chew through walls, flooring, and wood. Not only can they eat surfaces and exteriors of your home, they can also destroy the structure of your home, putting your safety and hygiene at risk. The severe damage caused by their invasion can result in the need to pay for costly repairs.

Selective Focus Photography of Brown Surface

There are different types of termites, each with different patterns and habitats.

Drywood termites form colonies through wood and small holes. Infestation can be prevented by storing firewood and scraps outside and away from the home.

Subterranean termites build “mud tubes” to crawl through. Infestation can be prevented by regularly clearing out water so that it does not gather at the foundation of the house. Be sure to manage humidity levels with properly ventilated attics and basements.

Dampwood termites tend to inhabit stumps, old trees, and fences. To avoid infestation, avoid moisture accumulation. Repair faucets, water pipes, and air conditioning units as soon as you notice any leakage.

You can follow the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) for its bi-annual Bug Barometer®, a seasonal forecast of the pest pressure and activity. They analyze weather and behavioural patterns to determine long-term predictions for each region of the United States. In spring 2019, NPMA found there to be excessive moisture across the country, warning homeowners to expect early pest activity.

Termites can become every homeowner’s greatest nightmare, wet or dry. You can never exclude any environment from the possibility of a home invasion.

Termites cause more than $5 billion annually in property damage. These costs aren’t covered by insurance for homeowners. You can try to look out for termite infestation by keeping an eye out for what appears to be water damage or maze-like patterns. The smell will be similar to mold or mildew. However, without regular inspection, termites are usually not noticeable until the infestation has gotten severe. Termite inspections can proactively save you thousands of dollars in repairing damage.

If you suspect your home has been infested, it is highly recommended that you contact a termite exterminator immediately. A professional exterminator will first conduct an inspection to see how much of your home has been affected.

We discovered Natural Science Exterminating, a termite extermination company based in Anaheim, servicing Orange County, Los Angeles, and Riverside for over 25 years. They offer a 4 step process for termite control, including inspection, treatment, repair, and prevention.

The company will leave tent fumigation as the last resort for severe infestations. They specialize in organic termite control. If your property has been damaged with dry rot, the company can also provide in-house carpentry repair. They are licensed and bonded, and guarantee all of the work they perform.

Natural Science Exterminating specializes in environmentally conscious termite extermination. You can give them a call to receive a free consultation.

Natural Science Exterminating
11642 Knott Ave, Garden Grove, CA 92841, United States