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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 timber (or other material) or else travel inside pencil-size (or larger)"sand tubes" they build from dirt, wood particles and other materials. You will find these tubes on foundation walls, floor joists or different areas of the home.

Split open the tubes to see if termites continue to be busy. An empty tube doesn't necessarily mean that termites are gone; they might have simply abandoned this specific tunnel. Termites often rebuild damaged tubes, which can be another indication of current activity. '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 any 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 up from the ground. Mud tubes built through an aboveground colony usually 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 necessitate elimination of siding or interior wallboards, etc.. More importantly for you, these aboveground infestations cannot be controlled with the usual soil treatment (see below) and therefore are generally excluded by 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 virtually anything which 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 substances, such as plastic and foamboard.

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In reality, 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 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 usually takes about 3-8 decades. .

There is no accurate method for determining the age of recently found harm. You need some reference point, i.e., some point in time when it was known that there was no damage to this specific wood. This is one reason why annual inspections see this site (and keeping your 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 insured or not easily seen, such as inside walls. However, the inspections can reveal conditions that might suggest that damage 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 take a look at the issue. Should you not own a termite contract, telephone 2-3 (or more) companies and have every one inspect your home and offer you the specifics of their findings and any recommendations for a course of action to correct any termite conditions that they find more information found.

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Termites do not cause significant harm in a brief time period, so spending a few 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 measures are done

Only spraying swarmers or the surface of available infested wood may kill the termites which you see now, but it does not block the infestation nor does it shield your house from potential attacks . The most common sort of termite treatment involves a"trench and cure" where a liquid insecticide ("termiticide") is placed on the soil surrounding critical areas of your residence.

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The soil is trenched 6" deep and approximately 4-6" wide. For homes with crawlspaces, the soil along the interior foundation wall has to be treated at least within 4 ft of identified signs of termite activity. In some circumstances, the soil around supports (such as piers) underneath the house can also be 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 that attach to the home, as an instance, a garage floor, or the slab of an earth-filled porch.