Q: Regarding liquid soil treatment vs. a monitoring system for termites, I prefer using as few chemicals as possible, yet want my house to stay in one, uneaten piece. What is your opinion of the two options?

A: Both baiting and soil drench treatments work well. Ask the companies you contact to give you a ten-year total cost estimate. That will include the regular inspections the bait systems require and the 5 year re-treatment that soil drenches require. Make sure any contract you consider includes a guarantee to REPAIR OR REPLACE any damage caused by termites.

That should give you a feel for the total costs involved with each system.