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

Split open the tubes to determine if termites are still busy. An empty tube doesn't necessarily mean that termites are gonethey might have just abandoned this particular tunnel. Termites often rebuild damaged tubes, which can be another indication of current action. 'Old' tubes are sterile and crumble easily, leaving behind"etching" on the surface that may be visible for decades (an indication that a house had termite activity at any time).

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

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

We tend to think about termites as feeding/injuring wood only. Termites really feed on almost anything that contains cellulose, the main component of wood, including wood paneling, paper products, cardboard boxes, art canvases, the paper 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 reality, the amount of damage that termites cause depends on many aspects. In regions with cold winter temperatures, termite activity (and feeding) often declines, but does not necessarily cease. When the termites are well-protected try this from colder temperatures (e.g., underneath a slab), then activity may continue year-round. From a practical standpoint, severe termite damage usually takes about 3-8 years. .

There is no accurate method for determining the age of recently discovered damage. You need some reference point, i.e., some point in time when it was known there was no damage to this particular wood. go to my site This can be one reason why annual inspections (and keeping your records of those inspections) are important. .

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

In case you've got a termite protection contract, contact the pest control company quickly and arrange for them to check out the issue. If you do not own a termite contract, telephone 2-3 (or more) companies and have each one inspect your house and provide you with the specifics of their findings and any recommendations for a plan of action to fix any termite problems that they found.

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Termites do not cause significant damage in a brief time period, so spending a couple of extra days or even a couple weeks will not make any actual difference in terms just how much damage occurs. .

Is there harm That Needs to Be repaired or examined by a contractor or engineer before control steps are performed

Simply 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 home from future attacks by termites. The most common sort of termite treatment involves a"trench and cure" in which Related Site a liquid insecticide ("termiticide") is placed on the soil surrounding critical areas of your residence.

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

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

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