What Does Termite Control Process Do?

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

Split open the tubes to determine if termites continue to be active. An empty tube doesn't necessarily mean that termites are gone; they might have simply abandoned this specific tunnel. Termites often rebuild damaged tubes, and it can be another indication of current action. 'Old' tubes are sterile and crumble easily, leaving behind"etching" on the surface which 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 that you have an aboveground ("aerial") infestation, i.e., the termite colony really resides in the building and the termites are traveling up from the ground. Mud tubes built by an aboveground colony usually contain substances 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 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 therefore are generally excluded by a termite contract warranty. In these 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 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 newspaper covering of sheet rock, carpeting, etc.. While foraging and feeding, they may 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 regions 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 standpoint, serious termite damage generally takes approximately 3-8 years. .

There's absolutely 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 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 damage 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 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 issue. Should you not own a termite contract, call 2-3 (or more) companies and have each one inspect your home and provide you with 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 time period, so spending a few extra days or even a few weeks will not make any real difference in terms how much damage occurs. .

Is there official source damage visit their website That Needs to Be repaired or examined by a contractor or engineer before control measures are performed

Simply spraying swarmers or the surface of accessible infested wood may kill the termites that you see now, but it does not stop the infestation nor does it shield your home from potential attacks . The most common sort of termite treatment involves a"trench and cure" in which 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 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 circumstances, the soil around supports (for example, piers) underneath the home can also be treated.

When implemented correctly, this treatment forms a continuous chemical barrier that should prevent termites from reaching the foundation and piers in your house. .

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