Fascination About Termite Control Process

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 stuff ) or else traveling inside pencil-size (or larger)"mud tubes" that they assemble from dirt, wood particles and other materials. You'll find these tubes on foundation walls, floor joists or other parts of the home.

Break open the tubes to see if termites continue to be busy. An empty tube doesn't necessarily mean that termites are gonethey might have just abandoned this particular tunnel. Termites often rebuild damaged tubes, and it is another indication of current action. 'Old' tubes are dry and crumble easily, leaving behind"etching" on the surface that could be visible for decades (an indication that a home had termite activity at any time).

Tubes that are found on ceilings or on upper 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 constructed through an aboveground colony normally contain substances other than dirt, e.g., wood and sheet rock or whatever the termites are feeding on.

8 Easy Facts About Termite Control Products Explained

In such situations, a comprehensive inspection may require elimination 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 generally excluded by 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 about termites as feeding/injuring timber only. Termites really feed on virtually 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 materials, such as plastic and foamboard.

What Does Termite Control Process Do?

In reality, 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 try this out cease. If the termites are well-protected from colder temperatures (e.g., underneath a slab), then action may continue year-round. From a practical perspective, severe termite damage usually takes about 3-8 years. .

There's absolutely no accurate way of 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. This can be one reason why annual inspections (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 covered or not readily seen, link such as inside walls. On the other hand, the inspections can reveal conditions that may suggest that harm does exist and additional 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 have a termite contract, telephone 2-3 (or more) companies and have each one inspect your home and provide you with the specifics of their findings and any recommendations for a plan of action to correct any termite problems they found.

Some Known Details About Termite Control Products

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

Can there be harm that should be repaired or examined by a contractor or engineer before control steps are performed

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 future attacks by termites. The most common sort of termite treatment involves a"trench and treat" where a liquid insecticide ("termiticide") is placed on the soil surrounding website here critical areas of your house.

Termite Control Process Can Be Fun For Everyone

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

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

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