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Mud tubesUnlike ants, termites do not roam around on the ground surface or outside in the open. They'll either tunnel through the soil or into timber (or other material) or else travel inside pencil-size (or bigger )"mud tubes" that they build from dirt, wood particles and other materials. You will find these tubes on foundation walls, floor joists or different areas of the house.

Split open the tubes to see if termites are still 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 that could be visible for decades (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 actually resides in the building and the termites are traveling from the ground. Mud tubes built through an aboveground colony usually contain substances other than dirt, 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 removal 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 generally deducted by 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 wood only. Termites actually feed on almost 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 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 regions with cold winter temperatures, termite activity (and feeding) often declines, but does not necessarily stop. When 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 about 3-8 decades. .

There is no accurate method for determining the era of recently discovered harm. You need some reference point, i.e., some point in time when it was known there was no damage to this specific wood. That 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 anchor or damage in areas that are not insured or not easily 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.

In case you've got a termite protection contract, contact the pest control company quickly and arrange for them to check out the issue. Should you not have a termite contract, call 2-3 (or more) companies and have each one inspect your home and offer you 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 harm in a short period of time, 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 examined by a contractor or engineer before control steps are done

Simply spraying swarmers or the surface of accessible infested wood can kill the termites which you see now, but it does not block the infestation nor does it protect your house from potential attacks . The most common sort of termite treatment involves a"trench and treat" where a liquid insecticide ("termiticide") is placed on the soil surrounding crucial areas of your house.

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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 must be treated at least 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 applied correctly, this treatment forms a continuous chemical barrier that should prevent termites from next reaching the foundation and piers in your house. .

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