The Basic Principles Of Termite Control Process

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 wood (or other stuff ) or else travel inside pencil-size (or bigger )"mud tubes" they build from soil, wood contaminants and other materials. You'll find these tubes on foundation walls, floor joists or other parts of the home.

Break open the tubes to see if termites are still busy. An empty tube doesn't necessarily mean that termites are gonethey may have simply abandoned this specific tunnel. Termites often rebuild damaged tubes, which is another indication of current action. 'Old' tubes are sterile and crumble easily, leaving behind"etching" on the surface that could be observable for years (an indication that a house had termite activity at some time).

Tubes that are found on ceilings or on upper levels of a building may indicate that you have an aboveground ("airborne") infestation, i.e., the termite colony actually lives in the building and the termites are traveling from the soil. Mud tubes built by an aboveground colony normally contain materials other than soil, e.g., wood and sheet rock or anything the termites are feeding on.

Termite Control Process Fundamentals Explained

In such situations, a comprehensive inspection may require removal of siding or interior wallboards, etc.. More importantly for you, these aboveground infestations cannot be controlled with the customary soil treatment (see below) and are generally deducted from 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 of termites as feeding/injuring wood only. Termites really 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 materials, such as plastic and foamboard.

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In fact, 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 cease. 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 about 3-8 decades. .

There is no accurate way of 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 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 harm in areas that are not covered or not readily seen, such as inside walls. On the other hand, the inspections can reveal conditions that might suggest that harm does exist and further 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. Should you not own a termite contract, call 2-3 (or more) companies and have every one inspect your house and provide you look at more info with the details of their findings and any recommendations for a course of action to correct any termite problems that they found.

Unknown Facts About Termite Control Procedure

Termites do not cause significant damage in a brief period of time, so spending a few added days or even a couple weeks will not make any actual difference in terms how much damage occurs. .

Is there damage that should be repaired or at least examined by a contractor or engineer before control measures are done

Only spraying swarmers or the surface of accessible infested wood can kill the termites that you see now, but it does not stop the infestation nor does it shield your house from future attacks . The most common sort of termite treatment involves a"trench and cure" where 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 about 4-6" wide. For homes with crawlspaces, the soil along the interior foundation wall has to be treated within 4 ft of identified signs of termite activity. In some cases, the soil around supports (such as 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. .

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