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

Split open the tubes to see if termites are still busy. An empty tube doesn't necessarily mean that termites are gone; they may have simply abandoned this particular tunnel. Termites often rebuild damaged tubes, which is another indication of current action. 'Old' tubes are sterile and crumble easily, leaving behind"etching" on the surface that may 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 ("aerial") infestation, i.e., the termite colony really lives in the building and the termites are traveling up from the soil. Mud tubes constructed through an aboveground colony normally contain substances 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 necessitate 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 typically deducted by a termite contract warranty. In these 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 paper covering of sheet rock, carpeting, etc.. While foraging and feeding, they could 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 cease. When 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 usually takes about 3-8 years. . look at here now

There's absolutely no accurate way of determining the era of recently discovered damage. You need some reference point, i.e., some point in time when it was known there was no damage 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 damage in areas that are not covered or not easily seen, such as inside walls. However, the inspections can reveal conditions that might suggest that damage 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 issue. Should you not own a termite contract, call 2-3 (or more) companies and have each one inspect your home and offer you the details of their findings and any recommendations for a plan of action to fix any termite problems 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 couple weeks will not make any actual difference in terms how much damage occurs. .

Is there damage that should be repaired this post or at least examined by a contractor or engineer before control measures are performed

Only spraying swarmers or the surface of accessible infested wood may kill the termites which you see now, but it does not block the infestation nor does it shield your home from future attacks by termites. 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 residence.

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The soil is trenched 6" deep and approximately 4-6" wide. For homes with crawlspaces, the dirt 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 house are also treated.

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

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