The Facts About Termite Control Process Revealed

Mud tubesUnlike ants, termites do not ramble 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" that they assemble from dirt, wood particles and other materials. You'll find these tubes on foundation walls, floor joists or other areas of the home.

Break open the tubes to determine if termites are still busy. An empty tube doesn't necessarily mean that termites are gone; they might have simply abandoned this specific tunnel. Termites often rebuild damaged tubes, which is another indication of current action. 'Old' tubes are sterile and crumble easily, leaving behind"etching" on the surface which may be observable 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 that you have an aboveground ("aerial") infestation, i.e., the termite colony really resides in the building and the termites are traveling from the soil. Mud tubes built through an aboveground colony usually contain materials other than soil, e.g., wood and sheet rock or anything the termites are feeding on.

Unknown Facts About Termite Control Process

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 with the usual soil treatment (see below) and therefore are typically excluded by 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 timber 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 harm 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 action may continue year-round. From a practical perspective, severe termite damage usually takes approximately 3-8 years. .

There's absolutely no accurate method for determining the age of recently discovered harm. 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 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 in areas which are not covered or not readily seen, such as inside walls. However, the inspections can reveal conditions that may imply that damage does exist and additional investigation is needed.

If you've got a termite protection contract, contact the pest control company immediately and arrange for them to take a look at the problem. Should you not own a termite contract, call 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 correct any termite conditions they found.

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

Can there be damage official statement That Needs to 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 potential attacks . The most common type of termite treatment involves a"trench and cure" where a liquid insecticide ("termiticide") is placed on the soil surrounding critical 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 at least within 4 ft of identified signs of termite activity. In some circumstances, the soil around supports (for example, piers) underneath the house can also be treated.

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

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