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

Split open the tubes to determine if termites are still 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, which can be another indication of current activity. 'Old' tubes are sterile and crumble easily, leaving behind"etching" on the surface which may be observable for years (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 ("airborne") infestation, i.e., the termite colony really lives in the building and the termites are traveling from the ground. Mud tubes built by an aboveground colony usually contain materials 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 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 deducted by 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 really feed on virtually 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 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. In areas 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 perspective, serious termite damage usually takes about 3-8 years. .

There is no accurate method for determining the age 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 particular wood. This can be one reason why annual inspections (and keeping your records of those inspections) are important. .

NOTE: All these inspections are not a guarantee that you do not have termites or harm in areas which are not covered or not easily seen, such as inside walls. However, the inspections can reveal conditions that might imply that harm does exist and further investigation is needed.

If you have a termite protection contract, contact the pest control view publisher site company quickly and arrange for them to take a look at the issue. If you do not have a termite contract, call 2-3 (or more) companies and have every one inspect your house and offer you the details of their findings and any recommendations for a course of action to fix any termite conditions they found.

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

Can there be damage That Needs to Be repaired or at least examined by a contractor or engineer before control measures are performed

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

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The dirt is trenched 6" deep and about 4-6" wide. For houses with crawlspaces, the soil along the interior foundation wall must be treated at least within 4 ft of identified signs of termite activity. In some circumstances, the soil around supports (for example, piers) underneath the house are also treated.

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

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