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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 timber (or other stuff ) or else travel inside pencil-size (or larger)"mud tubes" they assemble from soil, wood particles and other materials. You'll find these tubes on foundation walls, floor joists or other parts of the house.

Break open the tubes to see if termites continue to be busy. An empty tube doesn't necessarily mean that termites are gone; they may have simply abandoned this specific tunnel. Termites often rebuild damaged tubes, and it is another indication of current activity. 'Old' tubes are dry and crumble easily, leaving behind"etching" on the surface which could be observable for years (an indication that a house 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 ("airborne") infestation, i.e., the termite colony really resides in the building and the termites are traveling from the ground. Mud tubes built 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 require elimination of siding or interior wallboards, etc.. More importantly for you, these aboveground infestations cannot be controlled using the customary soil treatment (see below) and therefore are generally excluded from a termite contract warranty. In such 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 wood only. Termites really feed on virtually 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 may tunnel through non-cellulosic substances, such as plastic and foamboard.

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In reality, the amount of harm that termites cause depends on many factors. In areas 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 perspective, serious termite damage generally takes approximately 3-8 years. .

There's absolutely 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 that there was no damage to this specific wood. That is one reason why annual inspections (and keeping your records of those inspections) are important. .

NOTE: All these inspections are not a guarantee that you do not have termites or damage Home Page in areas which are not covered or not easily seen, such as inside walls. However, the inspections can reveal conditions that may suggest that damage does exist and further investigation is needed.

In case you've got a termite protection contract, contact the pest control company quickly and arrange for them to check out the issue. If you do not own a termite contract, telephone 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 plan of action to correct any termite problems that they found.

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

Is there damage that should be repaired or examined by a contractor or engineer before click for more control steps are done from this source

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

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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 within 4 feet of identified signs of termite activity. In some circumstances, the soil around supports (for example, piers) underneath the house 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 which attach to the house, for example, a garage floor, or the slab of an earth-filled porch.