Some Known Details About Termite Control Process

Mud tubesUnlike ants, termites do not ramble around on the ground surface or out in the open. They'll either tunnel through the soil or into wood (or other material) or else traveling inside pencil-size (or larger)"mud tubes" that they assemble from dirt, wood particles and other substances. You'll find these tubes on foundation walls, floor joists or different areas of the house.

Split open the tubes to determine if termites are still busy. An empty tube doesn't necessarily mean that termites are gonethey may have just abandoned this specific tunnel. Termites often rebuild damaged tubes, which can be another indication of current activity. 'Old' tubes are dry and crumble easily, leaving behind"etching" on the surface that could be visible for years (an indication that a house had termite activity at some time).

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

More About Termite Control Products

In such situations, a thorough inspection may necessitate removal of siding or interior wallboards, etc.. More importantly for you, these aboveground infestations cannot be controlled with the customary soil treatment (see below) and are generally 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 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 newspaper covering of sheet rock, carpeting, etc.. While foraging and feeding, they could tunnel through non-cellulosic materials, such as plastic and foamboard.

The 30-Second Trick For Termite Control Process

In reality, the amount of damage that termites cause depends on many aspects. In areas 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 may continue year-round. From a practical perspective, serious termite damage generally takes approximately 3-8 years. .

There is 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 there was no damage to this specific wood. That is one reason why annual inspections (and get redirected here 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 which are not insured or not readily seen, such as inside walls. However, the inspections can reveal conditions that might suggest that harm 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 problem. If you do not have a termite contract, call 2-3 (or more) companies and have every one inspect your house and offer you the details of their findings and any recommendations for a course of action to correct any termite conditions they found.

Facts About Termite Control Products Uncovered

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

Is there damage That Needs to Be repaired or at least examined by a contractor or engineer before control steps are performed

Only spraying swarmers or the surface of accessible infested wood can kill the termites that you could try these out you see now, but it does not block the infestation nor does it protect your home from potential you can try here attacks by termites. 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 residence.

Fascination About Termite Control Process

The soil is trenched 6" deep and approximately 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 cases, the soil around supports (such as piers) underneath the home 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 home, as an instance, a garage floor, or the slab of an earth-filled porch.