Termite Control Procedure - The Facts
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 larger)"mud 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 home.
Tubes which are found on ceilings or on upper levels of a building may indicate you have an aboveground ("airborne") infestation, i.e., the termite colony actually resides in the building and the termites are traveling from the soil. Mud tubes built through an aboveground colony usually contain substances 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 elimination of siding or interior wallboards, etc.. More importantly for you, these aboveground infestations cannot be controlled using the usual soil treatment (see below) and are typically deducted from 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 about termites as feeding/injuring timber only. Termites really feed on virtually 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 could tunnel through non-cellulosic substances, such as plastic and foamboard.
Termite Control Process - Questions
In fact, the amount of damage that termites cause depends on many aspects. 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 activity may continue year-round. From a practical perspective, serious termite damage generally takes approximately 3-8 decades. .
There's absolutely no accurate method for determining the era of recently found damage. You need some reference point, i.e., some point in time when it was known that there was no harm to this my latest blog post specific wood. This can be one reason why annual inspections (and keeping your records of these inspections) are important. .
NOTE: These inspections are not wikipedia reference a guarantee that you do not have termites or damage in areas that are not covered or not easily seen, such as inside walls. However, the inspections can reveal conditions that may imply that damage 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 issue. Should you not own a termite contract, telephone 2-3 (or more) companies and have every one inspect your house and offer you the specifics of their findings and any recommendations for a plan of action to fix any termite problems that they found.
The Of Termite Control Process
Termites do not cause significant harm in a brief period of time, so spending a few added days or even a couple weeks will not make any real difference in terms how much damage occurs. .
Can there be harm That Needs to Be repaired or 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 which you see now, but it does not block the infestation nor does it shield your house from future attacks . The most common type of termite treatment involves a"trench and cure" where a liquid insecticide ("termiticide") is placed on the soil surrounding crucial areas of your house.
The Termite Control Process Diaries
The dirt is trenched 6" deep and about 4-6" wide. For homes with crawlspaces, the soil along the interior foundation anchor wall has to 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 can also be treated.
When implemented correctly, this treatment forms a continuous chemical barrier that should prevent termites from reaching the foundation and piers in your residence. .
Concrete slabs that attach to the house, as an instance, a garage floor, or the slab of an earth-filled porch.