Termite Control Procedure Fundamentals Explained

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

Split open the tubes to determine if termites are still busy. An empty tube doesn't necessarily mean that termites are gonethey might have simply 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 home 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 really lives in the building and the termites are traveling up from the ground. Mud tubes built through an aboveground colony normally contain materials other than soil, e.g., wood and sheet rock or anything the termites are feeding on.

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In such situations, a comprehensive inspection may require removal of siding or interior wallboards, etc.. More importantly for you, these aboveground infestations cannot be controlled using 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 really feed on almost anything which 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 may tunnel through non-cellulosic substances, such as plastic and foamboard.

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In fact, the amount of damage that termites cause depends on many aspects. In areas with cold winter temperatures, termite activity (and feeding) often declines, but does not necessarily 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 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 that there was no harm 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 not have termites or harm in areas which are not insured or not easily seen, such as inside walls. However, the inspections can reveal conditions that may imply that harm does exist and further investigation is needed.

If you've got a termite protection contract, contact the pest control company quickly and arrange for them to take a look at the problem. Should you not have a termite contract, call 2-3 (or more) companies and have each one inspect your home and provide you with the details of their findings and any recommendations for a read the full info here course of action to correct any termite conditions they found.

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Termites do not cause significant harm in a short time period, so spending a few added days or even a few weeks will not make any actual difference in terms 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 that you see now, but it does not stop the infestation nor does it shield your house from future attacks . The most common type of termite treatment involves a"trench and treat" in which a liquid insecticide ("termiticide") is placed on the soil surrounding crucial areas of your house.

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