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Mud tubesUnlike ants, termites do not ramble around on the soil surface or outside in the open. They will either tunnel through the soil or into wood (or other stuff ) or else travel inside pencil-size (or bigger )"mud tubes" they build from dirt, wood contaminants and other materials. You'll find these tubes on foundation walls, floor joists or other parts of the home.

Split open the tubes to see if termites continue to be active. An empty tube doesn't necessarily mean that termites are gonethey may have just abandoned this specific tunnel. Termites often rebuild damaged tubes, and it is another indication of current action. 'Old' tubes are sterile and crumble easily, leaving behind"etching" on the surface that could be visible for decades (an indication that a house had termite activity at some time).

Tubes that are found on ceilings or on top levels of a building may indicate that you have an aboveground ("airborne") infestation, i.e., the termite colony actually resides in the building and the termites are traveling from the ground. Mud tubes built through an aboveground colony normally contain substances other than dirt, e.g., wood and sheet rock or whatever the termites are feeding on.

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In such situations, a thorough inspection may necessitate removal of siding or interior wallboards, etc.. More importantly for you, these aboveground infestations cannot be controlled using the usual soil treatment (see below) and are generally excluded by a termite contract warranty. In these situations, finding and correcting the moisture problem is the very first step to eliminating the termites. .

We tend to think of termites as feeding/injuring timber only. Termites actually feed on virtually anything that contains cellulose, the main component of wood, including wood paneling, paper products, cardboard boxes, art canvases, the newspaper covering of sheet rock, carpeting, etc.. While foraging and feeding, they could tunnel through non-cellulosic materials, such as plastic and foamboard.

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In fact, the amount of damage that termites cause depends on many factors. In regions with cold winter temperatures, termite activity (and feeding) often declines, but does not necessarily stop. When the termites are well-protected from colder temperatures (e.g., underneath a slab), then activity might continue year-round. From a practical standpoint, serious termite damage generally takes about 3-8 decades. .

There's absolutely no accurate method for determining the era of recently found damage. You need some reference point, i.e., some point in time when it was known that there was no harm to this particular wood. That is click here to read one reason why annual inspections (and keeping your records of these inspections) are important. .

NOTE: All these inspections are not a guarantee that you do not have termites or damage in areas which are not covered or not readily seen, such as inside walls. On the other hand, the inspections can reveal conditions that might suggest that harm does exist and additional investigation is needed.

If you have a termite protection contract, contact the pest control company quickly and arrange for them to take a look at the issue. If you do not have a termite contract, telephone 2-3 (or more) companies and have every one inspect your house and provide you with the details of their findings and any recommendations for a course of action to correct any termite conditions they found.

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Termites do not cause significant damage in a short period of time, so spending a few added days or even a couple weeks will not make any actual difference in terms just how much damage happens. . my blog

Is there damage That Needs to Be repaired or at least examined by a contractor or engineer before control measures are performed

Only spraying swarmers or the surface of accessible infested wood may kill the termites that you see now, but it does not stop the infestation nor does it protect your house from future attacks by termites. The most common type of termite treatment involves a"trench and treat" where a liquid insecticide ("termiticide") is applied to the soil surrounding critical areas of your house.

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The soil is trenched 6" deep and about 4-6" wide. For houses with crawlspaces, the soil along the interior foundation wall must be treated within 4 feet of identified signs of termite activity. In some cases, the soil around supports (such as piers) underneath the home are also treated.

When applied correctly, this treatment forms a continuous chemical barrier that should prevent termites from reaching the foundation and piers in your house. .

Concrete slabs that attach to the home, for instance, a garage floor, or the slab of an earth-filled porch.