What Does Termite Control Process Mean?

Mud tubesUnlike ants, termites do not ramble around on the soil surface or out in the open. They will either tunnel through the soil or into wood (or other material) 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 different parts of the house.

Split open the tubes to see if termites are still busy. An empty tube doesn't necessarily mean that termites are gone; they may 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 may be visible for years (an indication that a house 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 usually contain materials other than soil, e.g., wood and sheet rock or whatever the termites are feeding on.

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In such situations, a thorough inspection may necessitate 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 by a termite contract warranty. In such situations, finding and correcting the moisture problem is the first step to eliminating the termites. .

We tend to think of termites as feeding/injuring wood only. Termites actually feed on almost anything which 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.

What Does Termite Control Procedure Mean?

In fact, the amount of harm that termites cause depends on many aspects. In areas 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 try this activity may continue year-round. From a practical perspective, serious termite damage usually takes about 3-8 decades. .

There is no accurate way of determining the era of recently found harm. You need some reference point, i.e., some point in time when it was known there was no harm to this specific wood. That is one reason why annual 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 which are not insured or not easily seen, such as inside walls. However, the inspections can reveal conditions that may imply that harm does exist and additional investigation is needed.

In case you've got 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 each one inspect your house and offer you the details of their findings and any recommendations for a course of action to fix any termite conditions 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 occurs. .

Is there harm That Needs to Be repaired or examined by a contractor or engineer before control steps are done

Simply spraying swarmers or the surface of available infested wood can kill the termites that you see now, but it does not block the infestation nor does it protect your home from potential attacks by termites. The most common sort of termite treatment involves a"trench and treat" in which a liquid insecticide ("termiticide") is placed on the soil surrounding crucial areas of your house.

Termite Control Process Fundamentals Explained

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

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

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