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

Break open the tubes to see if termites are still active. An empty tube doesn't necessarily mean that termites are gonethey might have simply abandoned this specific tunnel. Termites often rebuild damaged tubes, and it is another indication of current activity. 'Old' tubes are sterile and crumble easily, leaving behind"etching" on the surface that may be visible for years (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 ("aerial") infestation, i.e., the termite colony really lives in the building and the termites are traveling from the ground. Mud tubes built by an aboveground colony normally contain materials 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 with the customary soil treatment (see below) and therefore are generally deducted from a termite contract warranty. In these situations, finding and correcting the moisture problem is the first step to eliminating the termites. .

We tend to think of termites as feeding/injuring timber only. Termites really feed on virtually 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 fact, the amount of harm 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 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 decades. .

There's absolutely no accurate method for determining the age 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 specific wood. That is 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 insured or not easily seen, such as inside walls. On the other hand, the inspections can reveal conditions that may suggest that harm does exist and further investigation is needed.

In case you have a termite protection contract, contact the webpage pest control company quickly and arrange for them to take a look at the problem. Should you not have a termite contract, telephone 2-3 (or more) companies and have every get redirected here one inspect your house and offer you the specifics of their findings and any recommendations for a plan of action to correct any termite conditions that they found.

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

Can there be damage that should be repaired or examined by a contractor or engineer before control measures are done

Simply spraying swarmers or the surface of accessible infested wood can kill the termites that you see now, but it does not block the infestation nor does it protect your house from potential attacks by termites. The most common type of termite treatment involves a"trench and cure" where a liquid insecticide ("termiticide") is placed on the soil surrounding critical areas of your house.

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The soil is trenched 6" deep and about 4-6" wide. For homes with crawlspaces, the soil along the interior foundation wall must be treated within 4 ft of identified signs of termite activity. In some circumstances, the soil around supports (for example, piers) underneath the house are also treated.

When implemented my site correctly, this treatment forms a continuous chemical barrier that should prevent termites from reaching the foundation and piers in your residence. .

Concrete slabs which attach to the house, for example, a garage floor, or the slab of an earth-filled porch.