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

Split open the tubes to see if termites are still busy. An empty tube doesn't necessarily mean that termites are gone; they may have simply abandoned this particular tunnel. Termites often rebuild damaged tubes, and it can be another indication of current activity. 'Old' tubes are sterile and crumble easily, leaving behind"etching" on the surface which may be visible for years (an indication that a house 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 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 comprehensive inspection may necessitate elimination of siding or interior wallboards, etc.. More importantly for you, these aboveground infestations cannot be controlled using the customary soil treatment (see below) and therefore are generally deducted by a termite contract warranty. In such 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 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 substances, such as plastic and foamboard.

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In fact, the amount of damage that termites cause depends on many factors. In areas 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 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 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 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 covered or not readily seen, such as inside walls. However, the inspections can reveal conditions that may suggest that damage does exist and further investigation is needed.

If you have a termite visit this site 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 every one inspect your home and offer you the specifics of their findings and any recommendations for a plan of action to correct any termite problems that they found.

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

Is there harm that should be repaired or examined by a contractor or engineer before control measures are performed

Simply spraying swarmers or the surface of accessible infested wood can kill the termites which you see now, but it does not stop the infestation nor does it protect your house from potential attacks . The most common sort of termite treatment involves a"trench and cure" 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 within 4 feet of identified signs of termite activity. In some circumstances, the soil around supports (such as piers) underneath the house can also be treated.

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

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