The Definitive Guide to Termite Control Process

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

Split open the tubes to see if termites are still active. An empty tube doesn't necessarily mean that termites are gonethey might have just abandoned this specific tunnel. Termites often rebuild damaged tubes, which is another indication of current activity. 'Old' tubes are sterile and crumble easily, leaving behind"etching" on the surface which may be visible for decades (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 you have an aboveground ("airborne") infestation, i.e., the termite colony actually lives in the building and the termites are traveling from the ground. Mud tubes built through an aboveground colony usually contain materials other than soil, e.g., wood and sheet rock or anything the termites are feeding on.

The smart Trick of Termite Control Products That Nobody is Talking About

In such situations, a comprehensive 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 typically excluded 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 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 may tunnel through non-cellulosic substances, such as plastic and foamboard.

The Buzz on Termite Control Procedure

In reality, the amount of harm that termites cause depends on many aspects. In regions 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 action may continue year-round. From a practical perspective, serious termite damage generally takes about 3-8 years. .

There is no accurate way of determining the era of recently discovered 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 these inspections) are important. .

NOTE: All these inspections are not a guarantee that you do not have termites or damage in areas that are not insured or not easily my link seen, such as inside walls. However, the inspections can reveal conditions that might 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, 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 problems that they found.

Top Guidelines Of Termite Control Products

Termites do not cause significant damage 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 harm That Needs to Be repaired or at least examined by a contractor or engineer before control measures are performed

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 by click resources termites. The most common sort of termite treatment involves a"trench and treat" in which a liquid insecticide ("termiticide") is applied to the soil surrounding critical areas of your house.

Getting My Termite Control Products To Work

The dirt is trenched 6" deep and approximately 4-6" wide. For houses with crawlspaces, the dirt along the interior foundation wall must be treated at least within 4 feet of identified signs of termite activity. In some circumstances, the soil around supports (for example, piers) underneath the house are also treated.

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

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