Patented Process - ETT444®

5 Star’s owner and President, Shelby Hawkins, developed the patented process herself.  She began experimenting with above ground application of pesticides over fifteen years ago.  This was due to two major factors: her experience with the failures of traditional soil applications to control termite infestations and a concern for our environment after the horrible effects of harsh chemicals like DDT and Chlordane were fully realized.  This led to years of research and refinement of the process.  Then, in July, 2001 she was awarded a US patent for the unique process.  Shelby named it ETT444^®.

The ETT444^® process is a complete package encompassing the termites, chemistry, and construction of your home.

The Termites

Subterranean Termites invade your home to eat.  They enter your home, from the soil, through the exterior walls, cracks, plumbing areas, and too many other places to mention here.  We apply our ETT444^® foam treatment to perimeter walls and interior entry points.  These areas become inedible and impassable to subterranean termites.  If they try to penetrate the areas of the home where we have applied the foam, they will die.  Any active termites within the home after ETT444^® treatment will either be killed by attempting to move through the foam and return to their colony or by dehydration as a result of being cut off from the soil.  ETT444^® treats the food of termites, sending them elsewhere.

Drywood termites enter into wood members of a structure and begin a colony.  They do live in the wood and do not have any connection to the soil.  Because of this, 5 Star must apply ETT444^®to the infested wood members.  This is accomplished in two ways. First, topically applying ETT444^® allows the termiticides to penetrate the infested wood from the inside out.  Secondly, 5 Star drills into the infested wood to access the channels and galleries where the termites live and eat.  This contaminates the wood from the inside out. 

The Chemistry

ETT444^®always consists of a combination of chemicals to protect the home.  They range from well trusted and time tested sodium borates to botanically derived, lab synthesized organics that have little reactivity with mammals.  However, these chemicals will biodegrade in the soil as organic matter does in a compost bin.  Sunlight, heat, aerobic or aerated soil, moisture, pH levels, and micro organisms all go to work on ALL chemicals ALL pest control companies are permitted to use by the EPA.  This problem is solved by sheltering ETT444^® within the wall voids of the home, allowing it to stay effective for extraordinarily longer periods of time.  We also only use purified, reverse osmosis water when making the foam concentrate.  The chemicals used to treat our water (giving it that chlorine odor) are removed so they will not affect ETT444^®, further bolstering its longevity.  Finally, we use a surface activating ingredient, or surfactant, to help absorb and adhere ETT444^® to building materials and expand it into foam.

The Construction

Foaming an open plumbing trap

Every structure we use the ETT444^® treatment process on has its own unique construction considerations.  Time and attention to detail is taken to fully understand the structure’s construction and treat appropriately to prevent termite infestation.  Therefore, we create a comprehensive treatment plan tailored to each building.

5 Star Termite and Pest Control’s US patented ETT444^® process is the premier termite treatment available today.