Modesto is a few hours away even when traffic is good, and in any event I had already arranged for an inspection by an Oakland firm, which took place today. The good news:

1. These are “subterranean” and not “drywood” termites, the former being much easier to isolate and destroy.

2. Structural damage thus far is negligible. Older homes (this one built of redwood 111 years ago) are harder targets than your average McMansion, stapled together with fir + walls of a sawdust/woodchip/glue composite.

3. The inspection team made no effort to “upsell” me to costly tenting: lethal solution injected along the perimeter should do the trick. We’ll see what the estimate turns out to be.

cordially,