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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 wood (or other stuff ) or else travel inside pencil-size (or larger)"sand tubes" they assemble from dirt, wood particles and other substances. You'll find these tubes on foundation walls, floor joists or other parts of the house.

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

Tubes that are found on ceilings or on upper levels of a building may indicate that you have an aboveground ("aerial") infestation, i.e., the termite colony actually resides in the building and the termites are traveling from the soil. 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 thorough inspection may require elimination 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 such 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 wood only. Termites actually feed on almost 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 substances, 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 cease. 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 this contact form termite damage generally takes approximately 3-8 decades. .

There is 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 there was no damage to this particular wood. That is one reason why annual inspections (and keeping your records of these inspections) are important. .

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

In case you've got a termite protection contract, contact the pest control company immediately and arrange for them to check out the problem. 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 course of action to correct any termite problems 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 happens. .

Is there harm 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 stop helpful hints the infestation nor does it shield your house from future attacks . The most common type of termite treatment involves a"trench and cure" where a site link 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 approximately 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 circumstances, the soil around supports (for example, piers) underneath the house are also treated.

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

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