The Best Guide To Termite Control Products

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

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

Tubes that 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 up from the soil. Mud tubes constructed by an aboveground colony normally contain substances other than dirt, e.g., wood and sheet rock or anything the termites are feeding on.

Termite Control Products Things To Know Before You Get This

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 with the customary soil treatment (see below) and are generally excluded by 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 wood only. Termites actually 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 substances, such as plastic and foamboard.

Excitement About Termite Control Process

In fact, the amount of damage that termites cause depends on many aspects. In regions 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 action may continue year-round. From a practical standpoint, severe termite damage generally takes about 3-8 decades. .

There's absolutely 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 there was no harm to this particular wood. That can be one reason why annual inspections (and my review here 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 that are not insured or not published here easily seen, such as inside walls. On the other hand, the inspections can reveal conditions that may suggest that damage does exist and further investigation is needed.

If you've got a termite protection contract, contact the pest control company immediately 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 each one inspect your house and offer you the details of their findings and any recommendations for a plan of action to correct any termite problems that they found.

The Greatest Guide To Termite Control Products

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

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

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

Indicators on Termite Control Procedure You Should Know

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

When implemented correctly, this treatment forms a continuous chemical barrier which should prevent termites from reaching the foundation and piers in your residence. .

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