Termite Control Process Fundamentals Explained

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

Break open the tubes to determine if termites are still busy. An empty tube doesn't necessarily mean that termites are gonethey may have simply abandoned this particular tunnel. Termites often rebuild damaged tubes, which is 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 which are found on ceilings or on upper levels of a building may indicate you have an aboveground ("aerial") infestation, i.e., the termite colony actually resides in the building and the termites are traveling up from the soil. Mud tubes built by 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 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 very first step to eliminating the termites. .

We tend to think about 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 materials, such as plastic and foamboard.

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In fact, the amount of harm that termites cause depends on many aspects. go to this web-site 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, serious termite damage generally takes about 3-8 decades. .

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 that there was no damage to this particular wood. This can be 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 which are not insured or not easily seen, such as inside walls. On the other hand, the inspections can reveal conditions that might suggest that damage 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 take a look at the issue. 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 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 time period, so spending a few extra days or even a couple weeks Read Full Report will not make any real difference in terms just how much damage happens. .

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

Simply spraying swarmers or the surface of available infested wood can kill the termites which you see now, but it does not stop the infestation nor does it shield your house from potential attacks . 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 approximately 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 circumstances, the soil around supports (for example, pop over to this web-site piers) underneath the home 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 which attach to the house, for example, a garage floor, or the slab of an earth-filled porch.