Mar 05 2024 17 mins
Welcome to another episode of Peskies Pest Control podcast here in Birmingham Alabama with Michael and Travis. We do this podcast as a community service for Birmingham, Hoover, Vestavia Hills, Mountain Brook, Helena, Alabaster, Pelham and all other surrounding areas!
Michael Wienecke
Hey, so today on the pesky pest control podcast, I’d like to focus on termites. Termites are something we do a lot of we see a lot of termites, small jobs, big jobs. And today I’ve got my friend Jay Campbell with me. Jay, it was funny, because whenever to Jay’s house and talked him into let me do a termite inspection, got up under there and found the, probably the worst one of the worst termite claim damages I’ve ever seen. So Jay, tell your story, man.
Jay Campbell
It was bad.
It was bad.
Well, I’ve got a crawlspace. I’ve got a crawlspace house and I never go down there. That’s the problem. And so, you know, when I was young, I bought the house and everything and I let my termite bond lapse and, you know, didn’t have termite. What would you call it like a termite bond
Michael Wienecke
where the termite protection?
Jay Campbell
Yeah, it didn’t have the Sentricon and all that kind of good stuff. You know, so younger dogs, just let it go. You started your business and everything. And I was like, Hey, man, come on out. Check it out. And everything. And you know, I had to get under there to where do you kind of crawl? Yeah, that was fun. Yeah.
Michael Wienecke
It’s always good. It’s always good when a homeowner comes under there with us, because I’m like, Man, you can experience this. Yeah. Great.
Jay Campbell
So got up under there. And I’d had some water damage. I think there’s
Michael Wienecke
water down. Yeah, we started noticing a lot of mold. And yeah.
Jay Campbell
So it was a lot of moisture and everything, you know, know what I know now that drops in the termites. And yeah, it was bad. It was really bad. When you’re doing your tap test, or whatever, you could take a screwdriver, just drive it to the side of the, you know, through the side of the home, you know, two by sixes or two by eights or whatever they were, yeah, in the floor joists and everything. So yeah, it was bad. And then we ended up you know, having to tackle the situation, you know, so it was bad. Yeah. But we got it though.
Michael Wienecke
I remember we were sitting there when you when we found out you know, you were telling me about the boat you’re about to buy? I mean, you might you probably gonna have to hold off on the boat. Yeah, I had a lot of plans. there with that. But yes, yes. But it
Jay Campbell
was it was, you know, it is what it is. And you know, that’s what learned a lot. I’ll say that learned a lot. So yeah, it’s crazy. Well,
Michael Wienecke
so as far as having a termite bond, I mean, do you think you would ever not have a termite bond termite coverage on another house? I’ll
Jay Campbell
never do that again. Yeah, I mean, honestly, you know, tell me that, because if you did have if, you know, correct me if I’m wrong, if you have the termite bond, and that happens, the company covers it. I think
Michael Wienecke
maybe it depends on the type of coverage you have exactly. A repair bond if you have a retreat only retreatment only bond. Yeah.
Jay Campbell
So, yeah. So yeah, word of advice. Get your bond.
Michael Wienecke
Well, so, um, walk me through the process of repairing it. I think it’s amazing that you repaired your own house. I mean, you know, you literally took the initiative to tear your floors up, and I mean, just walk me through that.
Jay Campbell
Well, I had a guy come out, there’s actually a buddy of ours. He’s actually a friend of mine. Now here originally your friend. Yeah, buddy of mine. Yeah, Greg Kane, good guy. He come out and looked at it and everything and, um, you know, gave me a quote and everything and I was like, a little bit steeper than I wanted to go you know, and you know, that you know, this obviously, but you know, I work on cars for a living and I talked to my wife and everything and I was like, you don’t really want to spend that money or should I just try it myself, you know, if I can rebuild a total in the backyard in the shop at home, surely I can do something with the house and everything and I got a lot of friends and construction and all that kind of stuff. And, you know, people that I can bounce ideas off of, you know, like, I have a concept of how to do it. Yeah, it’s like a hey, what would code code thing to do here so that way whenever that date does come sell the house and you know, am I in the right in my going down the right path of fixing it and everything so
Michael Wienecke
I’m good Josh. Yeah,
Jay Campbell
Josh you know at the end there’s a lot of people I’ve talked to a lot of people with my bad my bad he knows a lot actually learned a lot that he that he knows a lot about that type stuff and I didn’t realize that Yeah. So yeah, got with dad. He’s got a bunch of friends I’ve talked to my good buddy Josh. I’ve talked to people at work but no friends and you know, they got people and also it was kind of like a and YouTube you know, we were talking about YouTube. Yeah, definitely YouTube a bunch of stuff and yeah, just got in there and just did it just started small and worked my way into it and obviously pulled the floors up and everything and I don’t think I sent you pictures but so the biggest reason I had to jump on it pretty quick was you know Benji was being born. Yeah, he found out we were pregnant. Everything is like, let’s talk I want to get on it now. Right? Right. Um, I don’t think I ever showed you pictures but in his room which you know where it’s at, yeah. The termites that ate into the sub floor itself. It was within a foot of the actual main beam of the house like the main I guess you I call it beam but but main
Michael Wienecke
structure? Here’s some structural damage.
Jay Campbell
Oh yeah, it could have it could have went about another foot, it would have been really, really, really bad.
Michael Wienecke
Well, that’s why I wanted to bring you on here. Because I mean, this is that house is the worst case I’ve ever seen. And I don’t I don’t mean to be mean. I get it. It’s like one of those things. And the cool thing about it was, and I was thinking about this, and I was like, you know, I really started my company. And it was like, what, two years three? I think it was like, after two years, we started doing termites. And your house was like the fourth or fifth house that I kind of inspected. You know, did all that training all that book, we’re looking at all these pictures, and I’m secretly screaming like, yes, you’re excited.
Jay Campbell
I can see it all over your face. You’re excited. Which I mean, it was cool, though. You know, it was Yeah. So the whole time being like,
Hey, man, I gotta get I gotta get pictures. Don’t Don’t Don’t judge me. All right. Yeah, it was. So it was the fourth or fifth house.
Michael Wienecke
It was somewhere around there. I mean, you know, I was I was extremely green. And like I said, Do it try to do everything I could do to learn without actually getting in the field and getting out there and finding something like that?
Jay Campbell
Well, that was probably what once in a lifetime, maybe not once in a lifetime,
Michael Wienecke
but it’s a that’s a rare. It’s hard to find a termite, you know, infestation that completely tears down, you know, almost, really the front side. I mean, and we’re talking the room size was like 203 100 square foot
Jay Campbell
room. Yeah, things like a 10 by 12. And it was
Michael Wienecke
on their wall side of the window. You
Jay Campbell
had or had his room. But then if you it was like his room, but then it was like, in the living room as well. So it was he was there the whole front side of the house. Yeah. So it was bad. Yeah. But then to come to find out there was another water leak, too, that I saw that brought him in, right on the front side from the porch, you know, you know, I’m talking about what the porch came up. So I think that’s what brought them in, originally. Yeah, well, it’s funny. It was it was one man tear of it. She when she you know, obviously, we’re serious and our relationship, so she kind of started staying more at the house and everything. And at that time, it was my daughter for him. Yeah, yeah. Jay, what are these bugs? Oh, no, baby. I think that’s just please dance.
Michael Wienecke
You remember? Yes. I do remember that.
Jay Campbell
I was like, oh, no, it’s all good. Well, then the next year, they came back. And I was at work or something. And she looked it up. That’s when I sent you a picture. So what are these? Like? Do those are? What are you calling warmer? Warmer? Yeah. Oh, Lord, then I think that’s when you came out shortly after that. Yeah. If it was in the sheet rock in the in the two by fours and the walls and the floor joists in which you got the pictures, everything. It’s in the, like, the big window frame and the header in the header? Yeah, almost to the to the roof and everything it was? Yeah.
Michael Wienecke
Well, that’s why I’ve been so excited to bring you on here because it’s, it’s awesome. Getting your perspective because like you own a home, you pay for that home, you worked hard for that home. And to understand, you know, I would never not have a termite bond on my house. Obviously, I know a guy so yeah, but it’s just it’s that important, because that process you went through if you don’t mind? How much were the quotes that you were getting to repair your home house.
Jay Campbell
I’ve had a couple people come out in the highest now. I think the highest now there was some damage in the back as well. And I think all together. Like 50,000 That’s the quote you were getting. Yeah, I got a $50,000 quote. And then I had a guy just for the front side was like 30,000 I think it was Oh, wow. Yeah. So it was pretty expensive. Right
Michael Wienecke
was the highest though.
Jay Campbell
Yeah, I don’t want to throw him under the bus. But Now granted, that was for everything. Right? Right. And I just I didn’t want to swing that. You know, couldn’t swing it. You know, you know I think I’ve got with me doing the work. This is front and back. I’m maybe have eight grand in it.
Michael Wienecke
That’s That’s incredible. What’s that a
Jay Campbell
fifth of what it was a call? Steena? Yeah,
Michael Wienecke
that’s Wow. Yeah, it
Jay Campbell
was maybe eight. Now granted, I had about some tools and stuff to in that. So materials. Probably like six.
Michael Wienecke
Well, it’s also I mean, it’s like I said manage Just you went out and you did something that you didn’t know how to do at all. You’re just like, hey, I’m gonna, I’m gonna just I’m gonna go through this and I’m gonna fix this myself. Dude. I think that’s awesome. Yeah, appreciate it, man. I can’t like when you told me you were doing I was like, I can’t wait to see these pictures, videos. All this so there’s a lot of late nights. Oh, dude. Yes. A lot of late night. I know. I know. I I can’t wait to get on YouTube. Like I said, where we can talk show the pictures and all that because really? I think talking about it doesn’t do it justice unless you can see it. Oh, yeah.
Jay Campbell
I was I was thinking about too. I got some more pictures I’ve tried to send to you too, before you put them up there. But
Michael Wienecke
so let’s talk about the the flying ants. So when when they when they flew out? Did you just spray him with something or how did you treat it? Willy?
Jay Campbell
They I don’t know exactly how termite works and everything. But they were did for some reason. Yeah. Okay. So it was like, assuming they made it and they died after they laid their eggs. I’m assuming not real sure. I’m talking kind of just
Michael Wienecke
so kind of guessing here. Most time they’re flying out. Their wings are gonna break off. You probably saw a ton of wings sheds all around like the windowsill on the floor. I mean, tons tons. It’s amazing. How many of you see, and then they’ll just die. Yeah, they’re just they won’t make it. Yeah,
Jay Campbell
I mean, they didn’t get far. I guess they kind of just hung it. There was so much right there. I guess I just hung out right there. Because it was almost like you have like ladybugs in the house. Yeah, it was just like that. But quote, unquote, flying ants, right? Being swarming termites. So
Michael Wienecke
well. And I mean, do we get so many phones, we get so many phone calls in the summertime when they start swarming? And it’s always, hey, I’ve got an ant problem. There’s an ant problem, or, Hey, it’s a termite problem. It’s an ant problem, because they both can fly the summertime. So yeah, I always call it professional and you know, just get an opinion.
Jay Campbell
Yeah, cuz Honestly, I thought there and yeah, that’s kind of odd to have. You know, was it the queen that has wings and everything? Reproductive care? Okay. I was like, see that many? In the house? I was like, but, of course, the wife she Googled, I was like, Oh, well. All right.
Michael Wienecke
Well, and like I said, it’s just one of those things where you don’t, you don’t pay attention to it. And then, of course, a lot of people don’t get in their crawlspace.
Jay Campbell
Well, that’s the biggest thing is who really wants to get the crawl space? Well, I
Michael Wienecke
don’t have to know. I hate it. Yeah.
Jay Campbell
So it was once I got down there with you. Yeah. And I saw what was going on. I was like, you know, I need to make it more of an effort to get under there. I was I needed to do now speaking of that, just to get into there and check everything out. Yeah, um, yeah. Word of advice to people. If you have a crawlspace get in there and just check everything. And if you don’t feel comfortable, call some
Michael Wienecke
of it. Go check it. Yeah, I agree. Like somebody you trust? Yeah. Yeah. So
Jay Campbell
for us, it’s not going to, you know, try to pull one over on you. Yeah. You know, um, I’ll never forget that. You laughing? I’ll never forget that. Like pictures. I got, I
Michael Wienecke
know. So excited from from a very small YouTube channel. But what was it going with that? Oh, yeah. So like, you know, not know what’s on your crawlspace. I mean, we’ve gone on jobs before where crawling the crawlspace looking at termite damage, and all their pecs lines are just leaking. It’s just a water hose under there. And there’s a swimming pool, and I have no idea. So I would say, you know, just with as our termite inspection, we’re also looking for mold growth. I mean, we’re gonna let you know, things that you can do to fix problems like that, because we’re not a Water Restoration. Come on. Now. Of course. I mean, we have people that we can send that way. Yeah. But I think it’s very important as doing an inspection, you might as well just do everything, you know, make sure that there’s no major leaks you’re seeing, I mean, I’ve seen air ducts, you know, people cooling and heating the crawlspace instead of their house, because the air duct came on, it fell down. So yeah, I would agree with you on the problem, the crawlspace. And it’s, yep,
Jay Campbell
it’s worth it. And if you’re older, if you’re, you know, whatever, not able to at least get somebody you trust to get up under there and just look.
Michael Wienecke
Oh, yeah, I agree with that. So
Jay Campbell
yeah, it’s still a lot to do, but it’s a work in process a work in progress, that’s for sure. Yeah. Yeah. Like the like the room and everything like everything’s done. It’s just you know, honestly kind of straighten it up out there now because it was in such a hurry just kind of cleaning up the debris and stuff like that.
Michael Wienecke
Well in the amount of damage that they did and the amount you had to replace. I mean, that’s a lot of work like cutting the wood out. Like I said, we keep you know, kind of emphasizing on the on the amount of damage and it’s really the time that it took I mean, this took like, nights and weekends. Yeah, I mean a lot of time.
Jay Campbell
Well then also the damage that that the termites did. That wasn’t just a one year deal. Oh, that was uh that was years worth of you know? Yep because what I bought the house 21 Something like that. Yeah, so I was early 30s When I saw that oh man so yeah younger younger No Yeah,
Michael Wienecke
well you live and you learn man that’s it. Well Jay I appreciate you coming on the podcast might have been like through sickness and kids and all that kind of stuff it’s
Jay Campbell
glad to get together on it
Michael Wienecke
yeah Glad we could talk about your your you know I think just victory from from having your issue to fix it that’s all that and like I said can’t wait to get those pictures out there. So again, thanks. No,
Jay Campbell
of course man course. Appreciate it.
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