About Termite Control Procedure

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

Split open the tubes to see 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, and it is another indication of current activity. 'Old' tubes are dry and crumble easily, leaving behind"etching" on the surface which could be visible for decades (an indication that a house had termite activity at any time).

Tubes that are found on ceilings or on upper 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 soil. Mud tubes built through an aboveground colony usually 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 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 are typically excluded from 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 actually 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 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 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 approximately 3-8 decades. .

There's absolutely no accurate way of determining the era 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: These inspections are not a guarantee that you do not have termites or damage in areas that are not covered or not readily seen, such as inside walls. On the other hand, the inspections can reveal conditions that may imply that damage does exist and further investigation is needed.

If you have a termite protection contract, contact the pest control company quickly and arrange for them to take a look at the issue. Should you not have a termite contract, call 2-3 (or more) companies and have every one inspect your house and offer you the specifics of their findings and any recommendations for a course of action to correct any termite problems they found.

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

Can there be harm That Needs to Be repaired or at least examined by a contractor or engineer this link 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 stop the infestation nor does it protect your home from potential attacks by termites. The most common type of termite treatment involves a"trench and cure" where a liquid insecticide ("termiticide") is applied to the soil surrounding critical areas of your residence.

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The dirt is trenched 6" deep and about 4-6" wide. For homes with crawlspaces, the soil along the interior foundation wall has to be treated at least within 4 feet of identified signs of termite activity. In some circumstances, the soil around supports (such as piers) underneath the home are also treated.

When implemented 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, for example, a garage floor, or the slab of an earth-filled porch.