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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 wood (or other material) or else travel inside pencil-size (or larger)"mud tubes" they build from dirt, wood contaminants and other substances. You will find these tubes on foundation walls, floor joists or different areas of the home.

Break open the tubes to see if termites are still active. An empty tube doesn't necessarily mean that termites are gone; they may have just abandoned this specific tunnel. Termites often rebuild damaged tubes, which is another indication of current action. '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 actually resides in the building and the termites are traveling from the soil. Mud tubes constructed through an aboveground colony normally 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 comprehensive inspection may necessitate removal of siding or interior wallboards, etc.. More importantly for you, these aboveground infestations cannot be controlled using 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 about termites as feeding/injuring wood only. Termites really 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 could tunnel through non-cellulosic materials, such as plastic and foamboard.

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In fact, the amount of harm that termites cause depends on many factors. 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 action may continue year-round. From a practical perspective, severe termite damage usually takes approximately 3-8 years. .

There's absolutely 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 that there was no harm to this specific wood. This can be 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 damage in areas which are not insured or not readily seen, such as inside walls. On the other hand, the inspections can reveal conditions that might 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 problem. If you do not have a termite contract, telephone 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 course of action to correct any termite conditions that they found.

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

Is there linked here harm that should be repaired or at least examined by a contractor or engineer 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 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 critical areas of your residence.

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The dirt is trenched 6" deep and approximately 4-6" wide. For homes with crawlspaces, the dirt along the interior foundation wall has to be treated within 4 feet of identified signs of termite activity. In some cases, the soil around supports (such as piers) underneath the home are also 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 which attach to the house, as an instance, a garage floor, or the slab of an earth-filled porch.