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

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

Tubes that are found on ceilings or on top levels of a building may indicate that you have an aboveground ("aerial") infestation, i.e., the termite colony really lives in the building and the termites are traveling from the ground. Mud tubes built by an aboveground colony normally 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 thorough 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 typically deducted from 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 of termites as feeding/injuring timber 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 reality, 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 stop. If the termites are well-protected from colder click site temperatures (e.g., underneath a slab), then activity may continue year-round. From a practical perspective, serious termite damage usually takes about 3-8 years. .

There is no accurate method for determining the age of recently discovered damage. You need some reference point, i.e., some point in time when it was known that there was no damage to this particular 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 which are not insured or not easily seen, such as inside walls. However, the inspections can reveal conditions that might suggest that harm does exist and additional investigation is needed.

In case you have a termite protection contract, contact the pest control company immediately and arrange for them to check out the problem. If you do not own a termite contract, telephone 2-3 (or more) companies and have every one inspect your home and provide you with the details of their findings and any recommendations for a course 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 extra days or even a couple weeks will not make any actual difference in terms just how much damage occurs. .

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

Only spraying swarmers or the surface of available infested wood may kill the termites that you see now, but it does not block the infestation nor does it shield your house from future attacks . The most common type of termite treatment involves a"trench and cure" in which a liquid insecticide ("termiticide") is applied to 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 must be treated at least within 4 ft of identified signs of termite activity. In some circumstances, the soil around supports (such as piers) underneath the home can also be treated.

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

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