Is XXX treatment really better than fumigation?
OK, I've crossed out the product name. I don't like going to court. "Fumigation" is when they wrap your house and gas it. In general, the answer is a simple, no. Fumigation means lightweight poison gas that seeps right through your home and into everything, even right into the wood, is generally thought to be bad for the atmosphere and uses a lot of toxin. It does have the benefit of wiping out every last termite that's exposed. It is the best treatment for drywood termites. It is usually useless against subterraneans as these can retreat to ground (but good if they can't get away, such as in a boat). Whole-of-house heating comes close and is perhaps more environmentally responsible (if your house can take the heat). Spot treatments can work really well, the problem is the applicator has to locate and poison every colony in every bit of timber and there may be hundreds of little colonies. Borates and other preservatives do have something over fumigation in that they keep working after the tarps come off (you wouldn't want a gas that hung around) and so provide some ongoing protection. Bottom line is that it depends on the extent and nature of the infestation and that means that you'll probably need to rely on a skilled pest inspector to help you decide.
