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

Break open the tubes to determine if termites continue to be busy. An empty tube doesn't necessarily mean that termites are gonethey may have just abandoned this particular tunnel. Termites often rebuild damaged tubes, which is another indication of current activity. 'Old' tubes are sterile and crumble easily, leaving behind"etching" on the surface which could be visible for years (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 that 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 constructed by an aboveground colony usually contain substances 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 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 therefore are generally 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 that 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 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 factors. 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 might continue year-round. From a practical standpoint, severe termite damage usually takes about 3-8 years. .

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 that there was no damage 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 damage in areas that are not insured or not readily seen, such as inside walls. On the other hand, the inspections can reveal conditions that may imply that harm does exist and further investigation is needed.

If you have a termite protection contract, pop over here contact the pest control company immediately and arrange for them to check out the issue. If you do 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 course of action to correct any termite problems that they found.

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

Can there be harm that should be repaired or examined by a contractor or engineer before control measures are done

Simply spraying swarmers or the surface of accessible infested wood may kill the termites that you see now, but it does not block the infestation nor does it protect your home from future attacks . The most common sort of termite treatment involves a"trench and treat" in which a liquid insecticide ("termiticide") is applied to the soil surrounding crucial areas of your house.

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The soil is trenched 6" deep and approximately 4-6" wide. For houses with crawlspaces, the dirt 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 (such as piers) underneath the home can also be treated.

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

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