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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 material) or else travel inside pencil-size (or larger)"sand tubes" that they build from soil, wood particles and other substances. You'll find these tubes on foundation walls, floor joists or other parts of the home.

Split open the tubes to see if termites are still busy. An empty tube doesn't necessarily mean that termites are gonethey might have simply abandoned this particular 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 which 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 from the soil. Mud tubes constructed through an aboveground colony normally contain substances 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 require elimination of siding or interior wallboards, etc.. More importantly for you, these aboveground infestations cannot be controlled using the usual soil treatment (see below) and therefore are typically deducted from a termite contract warranty. In these situations, finding and correcting the moisture problem is the first step to eliminating the termites. .

We tend to think of termites as feeding/injuring wood only. Termites really 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 materials, such as plastic and foamboard.

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In fact, the amount of harm that termites cause depends on many aspects. In regions with cold winter temperatures, termite activity (and feeding) often declines, but does not necessarily stop. If the termites are well-protected from colder temperatures (e.g., underneath a slab), then activity might continue year-round. From a practical perspective, severe termite damage usually takes approximately 3-8 decades. .

There is no accurate way of 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 specific wood. This is 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 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.

In case you've got a termite protection contract, contact the pest control company immediately and arrange for them to check out the problem. Should you not have 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 problems that they found.

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Termites do not cause significant damage in a brief time period, so spending a couple of added days her comment is here or even a couple weeks will not make any actual difference in terms just how much damage happens. .

Can there be harm that should be repaired or at least examined by a contractor or engineer before control measures are done

Only 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 future attacks by termites. The most common type of termite treatment involves a"trench and treat" where 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 at least within 4 ft of identified signs of termite activity. In some cases, the soil around supports (such as piers) underneath the home are also treated.

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

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