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Mud tubesUnlike ants, termites do not roam around on the ground surface or outside in the open. They will either tunnel through the soil or into wood (or other material) or else traveling inside pencil-size (or larger)"sand tubes" that they build from dirt, wood particles and other materials. You'll find these tubes on foundation walls, floor joists or other areas of the house.

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

Tubes which are found on ceilings or on top 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 constructed through an aboveground colony normally contain substances other than dirt, e.g., wood and sheet rock or whatever 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 using the usual soil treatment (see below) and therefore are typically 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 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 materials, such as plastic and foamboard.

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In reality, 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 might continue year-round. From a practical standpoint, serious termite damage generally takes approximately 3-8 decades. .

There is no accurate method for determining the age 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 records of those inspections) are important. .

NOTE: All 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 suggest that damage does exist and additional investigation is needed.

In case you have a termite protection contract, contact the pest control company quickly and arrange for them to check out the issue. Should you not have a termite contract, telephone 2-3 (or more) companies and have every more tips here one inspect your home and provide you with the details of their findings and any recommendations for a course of action to fix any termite problems they found.

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

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

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

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

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

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