Termite Control Process Fundamentals Explained

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

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

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

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In such situations, a comprehensive 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 generally excluded 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 timber only. Termites actually 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 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 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 standpoint, serious termite damage generally takes approximately 3-8 years. .

There's absolutely no accurate method for determining the era of recently found damage. 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 is one reason why annual inspections (and keeping your records of those inspections) are important. .

NOTE: All these inspections are not a guarantee that you do not have termites or harm in areas that are not insured or not easily seen, such as inside walls. However, the inspections can reveal conditions that may imply that harm does exist and further investigation is needed.

If you've got a visit termite protection contract, contact the pest control company immediately and arrange for them to take a look at the problem. If you do not own 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 plan of action to fix any termite conditions they found.

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

Can there be harm that should be repaired or at least 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 that you see now, but it does not stop the infestation nor does it protect your home from future attacks by termites. The most common sort of termite treatment involves a"trench and treat" in which a liquid insecticide ("termiticide") is placed on the soil surrounding critical 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 has to be treated within 4 ft of identified signs of termite activity. In some cases, the soil around supports (for example, piers) underneath the house 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 which attach to the home, for instance, a garage floor, or the slab of an earth-filled porch.