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Mud tubesUnlike ants, termites do not ramble around on the ground surface or outside in the open. They will either tunnel through the soil or into timber (or other stuff ) or else travel inside pencil-size (or bigger )"sand tubes" they assemble from soil, 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 simply abandoned this particular 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 visible 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 you have an aboveground ("aerial") infestation, i.e., the termite colony actually lives in the building and the termites are traveling up from the soil. Mud tubes built by an aboveground colony normally 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 removal 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 deducted by 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 wood only. Termites actually feed on almost 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 substances, such as plastic and foamboard.

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In reality, the amount of damage 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 might continue year-round. From a practical standpoint, severe termite damage generally takes approximately 3-8 years. .

There is 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 there was no harm to this particular wood. That 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 covered or not readily seen, such as inside walls. However, the inspections can reveal conditions that may imply that harm does exist and additional investigation is needed.

If you've got 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 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 harm in a brief period of time, so spending a few added days or even a few weeks will not make any real difference in terms just how much damage happens. .

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

Simply 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 protect your home from future attacks by 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 crucial areas of your residence.

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The soil is trenched 6" deep and about 4-6" wide. For homes with crawlspaces, the soil along the interior foundation wall has to be treated at least within 4 ft of identified signs of termite activity. In some cases, the soil around supports (such as piers) underneath the home are also treated.

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

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