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Mud tubesUnlike ants, termites do not ramble 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 travel inside pencil-size (or bigger )"mud tubes" that they build from soil, wood contaminants and other materials. You'll find these tubes on foundation walls, floor joists or other areas 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 gone; they may have just abandoned this specific 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 that may be visible for years (an indication that a house had termite activity at some 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 really resides in the building and the termites are traveling up from the soil. Mud tubes built through an aboveground colony normally contain materials other than soil, 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 elimination of siding or interior wallboards, etc.. More importantly for you, these aboveground infestations cannot be controlled using 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 actually feed on almost 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 may tunnel through non-cellulosic substances, such as plastic and foamboard.

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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 stop. 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 years. .

There is no accurate method for determining the era 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 specific wood. This is one reason why annual inspections (and keeping your records of these inspections) are important. .

NOTE: These inspections are not a guarantee that you do get more not have termites or harm in areas which are not covered or not readily seen, such as inside walls. On the other hand, the inspections can reveal conditions that might imply that damage 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 issue. If you do not own a termite contract, call 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 conditions that they found.

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

Is there harm That Needs to Be repaired or at least examined by a contractor or engineer before control measures are done

Only spraying swarmers or the surface of accessible infested wood can kill the termites that you see now, but it does not block the infestation nor does it protect 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 placed on the soil surrounding crucial areas of your residence.

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The soil is trenched 6" deep and approximately 4-6" wide. Read Full Article For houses with crawlspaces, the dirt along the interior foundation wall must be treated within 4 feet of webpage identified signs of termite activity. In some cases, the soil around supports (for example, 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 house. .

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