Historic California Mission Treated for Two Types of Termites

Teams from Western Exterminator Company work to tent the challenging San Juan Capistrano Mission. Because of the fragile clay-barrel roof tiles and other structural challenges, preparation and planning were key in executing the successful fumigation.

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif. – The Mission San Juan Capistrano is a 229-year old monument to California’s multi-cultural history, embracing its Native American, Spanish, Mexican and European heritage. The mission is best known for the Return of the Swallows celebration each spring, a welcoming tradition to mark the bird’s unique annual return migration to Capistrano from Argentina.

Unfortunately, two types of unwelcome guests were recently calling Mission San Juan Capistrano home – subterranean and drywood termites. Evidence of the termite invasion included visible kickout holes in doorjambs and beams. The termite problem was severe enough for mission officials to call for a whole-structure fumigation to solve the drywood termite problem, in addition to the installation of a proven baiting system that eliminates subterranean termite colonies.

“We chose the treatments because we wanted to stop the damage, eliminate the termites, and preserve the structure for years to come,” said Mechelle Lawrence, executive director for the mission. “Initially, we wanted to reinforce wood beams and other wood structures in the chapel, but then we realized how severe the damage was.”

Both subterranean and drywood termites caused visible damage to many areas of the Mission, as seen in the blistered wood framing this window.

In early November, Western Exterminator Company installed the Sentricon® Termite Colony Elimination System around the mission’s structures in order to eliminate the subterranean termites attacking them. And in late December, Western Exterminator Company and Doctor Fume Inc., a Commitment to Excellence company, used whole-structure fumigation with Vikane® gas fumigant to eliminate the drywood termites. Both companies donated portions of their work and Dow AgroSciences, the manufacturer of Vikane® gas fumigant and the Sentricon® Termite Colony Elimination System, provided the product to reduce the mission’s cost.

“Working on a historic structure took months of meetings and preparation,” said Chuck Moore, manager at Western Exterminator Company. “The building could not be treated as simply just another commercial building, because it had unique challenges that included removing fragile clay-barrel roof tiles to clear a path for workers to walk on. Our planning and preparation really paid off – the fumigation was a success.”

Local newspaper, television and radio media outlets covered this successful fumigation in several news stories, and resulted in more than 2.8 million people learning about whole-structure fumigation with Vikane gas fumigant and the expertise of Western Exterminator Company.

For more information about whole-structure fumigation with Vikane® gas fumigant, visit www.TermiteTenting.com. For more information about the Sentricon® Termite Colony Elimination System, visit www.sentricon.com.