What Does Termite Control Process Mean?

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 timber (or other stuff ) or else traveling inside pencil-size (or bigger )"sand tubes" they build from dirt, wood particles and other materials. You will find these tubes on foundation walls, floor joists or other parts of the house.

Split open the tubes to determine if termites continue to be active. An empty tube doesn't necessarily mean that termites are gone; they may have just abandoned this particular tunnel. Termites often rebuild damaged tubes, and it is another indication of current action. '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 top levels of a building may indicate you have an aboveground ("airborne") infestation, i.e., the termite colony actually lives in the building and the termites are traveling up from the ground. Mud tubes built by an aboveground colony usually contain materials other than dirt, e.g., wood and sheet rock or anything the termites are feeding on.

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In such situations, a thorough inspection may require 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 first step to eliminating the termites. .

We tend to think of termites as feeding/injuring timber 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 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 harm 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 may continue year-round. From a practical perspective, serious termite damage generally takes approximately 3-8 decades. .

There is no accurate way of determining the era of recently discovered damage. You need some reference point, i.e., some point in time when it was known there was no damage to this specific wood. That can be 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 or harm in areas that are not covered or not easily seen, such as inside walls. On the other hand, the inspections can reveal conditions that may 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 issue. If you do not own a termite contract, call 2-3 (or more) companies and have each one inspect your house and provide you with the details of their findings and any recommendations for a plan of action to fix any termite problems that they found.

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

Can there be damage that should be repaired or examined by a contractor or engineer before control steps are done

Only 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 home from potential attacks by termites. The most common sort of termite treatment involves a"trench and treat" in my blog which a liquid insecticide ("termiticide") is applied to the soil surrounding crucial areas of your residence.

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The soil is trenched 6" deep and approximately 4-6" wide. For houses with crawlspaces, the soil along the interior foundation wall must 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 creates a continuous chemical barrier which should prevent termites from reaching the foundation and piers in your house. .

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