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Mud tubesUnlike ants, termites do not ramble around on the ground surface or out in the open. They will either tunnel through the soil or into wood (or other stuff ) or else travel inside pencil-size (or larger)"sand tubes" they build from dirt, wood contaminants and other substances. You'll find these tubes on foundation walls, floor joists or different parts of the home.

Split open the tubes to see if termites are still busy. An empty tube doesn't necessarily mean that termites are gonethey might have just abandoned this particular tunnel. Termites often rebuild damaged tubes, which can be another indication of current action. 'Old' tubes are sterile and crumble easily, leaving behind"etching" on the surface which may be observable for years (an indication that a house had termite activity at some time).

Tubes that are found on ceilings or on upper levels of a building may indicate you have an aboveground ("airborne") infestation, i.e., the termite colony really resides 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 anything the termites are feeding on.

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In such situations, a comprehensive inspection may necessitate removal of siding or interior wallboards, etc.. More importantly for you, these aboveground infestations cannot be controlled with the usual soil treatment (see below) and are generally excluded from a termite contract warranty. In such 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 almost anything that 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 may 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 factors. In areas with cold winter temperatures, termite activity (and feeding) often declines, but does not necessarily stop. If the termites are well-protected from colder temperatures (e.g., underneath a slab), then action might continue year-round. From a practical perspective, severe termite damage generally takes approximately 3-8 years. .

There is no accurate method for determining the era of recently found damage. You need some reference point, i.e., some point in time when it was known that there was no harm to this specific wood. That can be one reason why annual inspections (and keeping your records of those inspections) are important. .

NOTE: These inspections are not a guarantee that you do not have termites or harm in areas which are not insured or not readily seen, such as inside walls. On the other hand, the inspections can reveal conditions that may imply that harm 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 check out the problem. If you do not own a termite contract, telephone 2-3 (or more) companies and have every one inspect your house and provide you with 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 damage in a brief time period, so spending a couple of extra days or even a few you could try this out weeks will not make any actual difference in terms how much damage occurs. .

Is there damage That Needs to Be repaired or examined by a contractor or engineer before control steps are done

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

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The dirt is trenched 6" deep and approximately 4-6" wide. For houses with crawlspaces, the soil along the interior foundation wall has to be treated within 4 feet of identified signs of termite activity. In some circumstances, the soil around supports (for example, piers) underneath the house are also 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, as an example, a garage floor, or the slab of an earth-filled porch.