Getting The Termite Control Process To Work

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

Split open the tubes to see if termites continue to be active. An empty tube doesn't necessarily mean that termites are gonethey may have simply abandoned this particular tunnel. Termites often rebuild damaged tubes, which is another indication of current activity. 'Old' tubes are dry and crumble easily, leaving behind"etching" on the surface that could be observable for years (an indication that a house had termite activity at any time).

Tubes which are found on ceilings or on upper 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 up from the soil. Mud tubes constructed by 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 using the customary soil treatment (see below) and are generally deducted by 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 about termites as feeding/injuring wood 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 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 regions with cold winter temperatures, termite activity (and feeding) often declines, but does not necessarily stop. When the termites are well-protected from colder temperatures (e.g., underneath a slab), then action may continue year-round. From a practical standpoint, serious termite damage usually takes approximately 3-8 decades. .

There is no accurate method for 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 particular wood. That can be 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 which are not insured or not easily seen, such as inside walls. On the other hand, the inspections can reveal conditions that may suggest 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 check out the problem. If you do not have a termite contract, telephone 2-3 (or more) companies and have every one inspect your house and provide you with the specifics of their findings and any recommendations for a plan of action to correct additional resources any termite problems that they found.

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Termites do not cause significant damage in a brief time period, so spending a few 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 examined by a contractor or engineer before control steps are performed

Simply 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 potential attacks . The most common sort of termite treatment involves a"trench and cure" in which a liquid insecticide ("termiticide") is applied to the soil surrounding critical areas of your house.

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The soil is trenched 6" deep and about 4-6" wide. For houses with crawlspaces, the soil dig this 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 (for example, piers) underneath the home can also be treated.

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

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