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

Split open the tubes to determine if termites continue to be active. An empty tube doesn't necessarily mean that termites are gonethey might have simply abandoned this specific tunnel. Termites often rebuild damaged tubes, which can be another indication of current activity. '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 some time).

Tubes that are found on ceilings or on top levels of a building may indicate that you have an aboveground ("airborne") infestation, i.e., the termite colony really resides in the building and the termites are traveling up from the ground. Mud tubes built through an aboveground colony normally contain materials other than soil, e.g., wood and sheet rock or whatever the termites are feeding on.

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In such situations, a thorough inspection may necessitate 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 deducted from 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 timber 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 paper covering of sheet rock, carpeting, etc.. While foraging and feeding, they could tunnel through non-cellulosic materials, 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 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, severe termite damage generally takes about 3-8 years. .

There's absolutely no accurate method for determining the age of recently found harm. You need some reference point, i.e., some point in time when it was known that there was no harm to this specific wood. This can be 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 harm in areas that are not insured or not readily seen, such as inside walls. On the other hand, the inspections can reveal conditions that might suggest that damage does exist and additional investigation is needed.

If you've got a termite protection contract, contact the pest control company quickly and arrange for them to take a look at the issue. If you do not own a termite contract, call 2-3 (or more) companies and have every helpful resources one inspect your house and offer you the specifics of their findings and any recommendations for a plan of action to fix any termite conditions they found.

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Termites do not cause significant damage in a brief period of time, so spending a few added days or even a couple 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

Only 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 future attacks by termites. The most common sort of termite treatment involves a"trench and cure" where a liquid insecticide ("termiticide") is placed on 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 has to be treated within 4 ft of identified signs of termite activity. In some cases, the soil around supports (such as 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 house. .

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