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

Break open the tubes to see if termites are still busy. An empty tube doesn't necessarily mean that termites are gone; they might have simply abandoned this particular tunnel. Termites often rebuild damaged tubes, and it can be another indication of current activity. 'Old' tubes are sterile and crumble easily, leaving behind"etching" on the surface which may be visible for decades (an indication that a home 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 lives in the building and the termites are traveling from the soil. Mud tubes built by an aboveground colony usually contain materials other than dirt, 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 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 are typically 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 timber only. Termites really feed on virtually anything which 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 harm that termites cause depends on many aspects. In areas 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 action may continue year-round. From a practical perspective, serious termite damage usually takes about 3-8 years. .

There's absolutely no accurate way of determining the era of recently discovered harm. 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 Get More Information records of these 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 might suggest that harm does exist and further investigation is needed.

If you have a termite protection contract, contact the pest control company immediately 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 home and offer you the details of their findings and any recommendations for a course of action to correct any termite problems that they found.

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

Can there be harm that should be repaired or examined by a contractor or engineer before control measures 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 potential attacks . The most common sort of termite treatment involves a"trench and cure" 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 homes with crawlspaces, the soil along the interior foundation wall has to be treated within 4 ft of identified signs of termite activity. In some cases, the soil around supports (such as piers) underneath the home can also be treated.

When implemented 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 home, as an example, a garage floor, or the slab of an earth-filled porch.