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

Split open the tubes to see if termites continue to be active. An empty tube doesn't necessarily mean that termites are gone; they may 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 that could be visible for decades (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 ("aerial") infestation, i.e., the termite colony actually resides in the building and the termites are traveling up from the ground. Mud tubes built by an aboveground colony normally 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 with the usual 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 about termites as feeding/injuring wood 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 could tunnel through non-cellulosic materials, such as plastic and foamboard.

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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 cease. If the termites are well-protected from colder temperatures (e.g., underneath a slab), then activity may continue year-round. From a practical standpoint, severe termite damage usually takes approximately 3-8 years. .

There is no accurate way of determining the age of recently discovered harm. You need some reference point, i.e., some point in time when it was known that there was no damage to this specific wood. That is one reason why annual inspections (and keeping your records of these inspections) are important. .

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

If you've got a termite protection contract, contact the pest control company immediately and arrange for them to take a look at the issue. Should you not have 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 plan of action to fix any termite conditions they found.

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Termites do not cause significant harm in a short period of time, so spending a few 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 performed

Only spraying swarmers or the surface of accessible infested wood may kill the termites that you see now, but it does not index stop the infestation nor does it shield your home from potential attacks . The most common type of termite treatment involves a"trench and cure" in which a liquid insecticide ("termiticide") is placed on the soil surrounding crucial areas of your residence.

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The dirt is trenched 6" deep and approximately 4-6" wide. For houses with crawlspaces, the soil along the interior foundation wall has to be treated within 4 feet of identified signs of termite activity. In some cases, the soil around supports (such as piers) underneath the house can also be treated.

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

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