The Main Principles Of Termite Control Process

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

Split open the tubes to see if termites continue to be busy. An empty tube doesn't necessarily mean that termites are gonethey may 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 that could be visible for decades (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 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 through an aboveground colony normally contain materials other than dirt, 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 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 are generally 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 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 paper 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 fact, the amount of damage that termites cause depends on many factors. 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 activity may continue year-round. From a practical standpoint, severe termite damage generally takes approximately 3-8 years. .

There is no accurate way of determining the era of recently discovered damage. You need some reference point, i.e., some point in time when it was known that there was no harm to this particular wood. That is one reason why annual Website inspections (and keeping your records of these inspections) are important. .

NOTE: These inspections are not a guarantee that you do not have termites or harm in areas that are not insured or not readily seen, such as inside walls. On the other hand, the inspections can reveal conditions that may suggest that damage does exist and further investigation is needed.

In case you've got a termite protection contract, contact the pest control company quickly and arrange for them to check out the problem. If you do not have a termite contract, telephone 2-3 (or more) companies and have each one inspect your home and offer you the specifics of their findings and any recommendations for a plan of action to fix any termite conditions they found.

The Termite Control Procedure Diaries

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

Can there be harm that should 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 can kill the termites which you see now, but it does not stop the infestation nor does it protect your home from potential attacks by termites. The most common sort of termite treatment involves a"trench and cure" in which a liquid insecticide ("termiticide") is applied to the soil surrounding critical areas of your house.

The Termite Control Procedure Statements

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 feet of identified signs of termite activity. In some cases, the soil around supports (for example, piers) underneath the house are also treated.

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

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