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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 particles and other substances. You will find these tubes on foundation walls, floor joists or different parts of the house.

Break open the tubes to see if termites continue to be active. An empty tube doesn't necessarily mean that termites are gonethey may have just abandoned this particular tunnel. Termites often rebuild damaged tubes, which can be another indication of current action. 'Old' tubes are sterile and crumble easily, leaving behind"etching" on the surface which could be visible for years (an indication that a home had termite activity at any 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 resides in the building and the termites are traveling up from the soil. Mud tubes built through an aboveground colony normally 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 comprehensive inspection may require 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 generally excluded by a termite contract warranty. In these situations, finding and correcting the moisture problem is the very first step to eliminating the termites. .

We tend to think about termites as feeding/injuring timber only. Termites really feed on virtually 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 reality, the amount of damage 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 standpoint, serious termite damage usually takes about 3-8 years. .

There is no accurate method for determining the age 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 particular 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 harm in areas that are not covered or not easily seen, such as inside walls. However, the inspections can reveal conditions that may suggest that harm does exist and additional investigation is needed.

If you have a termite protection contract, contact the pest control company quickly and arrange for them to check out the problem. If you do not own a termite contract, telephone 2-3 (or more) companies and have every one inspect your home and provide you with the specifics of their findings and any recommendations for a course of action to fix any termite problems that they found.

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

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

Simply spraying swarmers or the surface of available infested wood can 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 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 about 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 cases, the soil view website around supports (for example, piers) underneath the house 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 that attach to the home, as an example, a garage floor, or the slab of an earth-filled porch.