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Mud tubesUnlike ants, termites do not roam around on the ground surface or outside in the open. They'll either tunnel through the soil or into wood (or other stuff ) or else traveling inside pencil-size (or bigger )"mud tubes" they assemble from soil, wood particles and other materials. You will find these tubes on foundation walls, floor joists or other 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 might have just abandoned this particular tunnel. Termites often rebuild damaged tubes, which can be another indication of current action. 'Old' tubes are dry and crumble easily, leaving behind"etching" on the surface which may be visible for decades (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 actually resides in the building and the termites are traveling from the soil. Mud tubes constructed through an aboveground colony usually 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 thorough inspection may necessitate removal of siding or interior wallboards, etc.. More importantly for you, these aboveground infestations cannot be controlled with the usual soil treatment (see below) and are typically excluded from 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 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 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. When the termites are well-protected from colder temperatures (e.g., underneath a slab), then activity might continue year-round. From a practical standpoint, serious termite damage generally takes approximately 3-8 years. .

There's absolutely no accurate method for determining the era of recently found harm. You need some reference point, i.e., some point in time when it was known you can find out more that there was no harm 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 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 company immediately and arrange for them to check out the issue. If you do not have a termite contract, telephone 2-3 (or more) companies and have every one inspect your house and offer you the specifics of their findings and any recommendations for a plan 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 happens. .

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

Simply spraying swarmers or the surface of available infested wood can kill the termites that you see now, but it does not block the infestation nor does it protect your home from future 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 critical areas of your house.

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The dirt is trenched 6" deep and approximately 4-6" wide. For homes with crawlspaces, the soil along the interior foundation wall must 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 which should prevent termites from reaching the foundation and piers in your residence. .

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