Rumored Buzz on Termite Control Products

Mud tubesUnlike ants, termites do not roam around on the ground surface or out in the open. They will either tunnel through the soil or into timber (or other material) or else traveling inside pencil-size (or larger)"mud tubes" that they assemble from soil, wood contaminants and other substances. You will find these tubes on foundation walls, floor joists or different parts of the house.

Split open the tubes to determine if termites are still active. An empty tube doesn't necessarily mean that termites are gone; they might have just abandoned this specific tunnel. Termites often rebuild damaged tubes, which is another indication of current activity. 'Old' tubes are dry and crumble easily, leaving behind"etching" on the surface that could be observable for decades (an indication that a house had termite activity at some time).

Tubes which 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 really resides in the building and the termites are traveling from the ground. Mud tubes built through an aboveground colony normally contain substances other than soil, e.g., wood and sheet rock or anything the termites are feeding on.

The smart Trick of Termite Control Products That Nobody is Discussing

In such situations, a thorough inspection may require 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 therefore are typically excluded by 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 timber only. Termites really feed on almost anything which 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.

The Termite Control Process Statements

In reality, the amount of harm that termites cause depends on many aspects. In regions with cold winter temperatures, termite activity (and feeding) often declines, but does not necessarily stop. 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 decades. .

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 that there was no harm to this specific 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 damage in areas that are not insured or not readily seen, such as inside walls. However, the inspections can reveal conditions that might suggest that harm does exist and further investigation is needed.

If you have a termite protection contract, contact the pest control company quickly and arrange for them to check out the issue. If you do not own a termite contract, call 2-3 (or more) companies and have each one inspect your house and provide you with the specifics of their findings and any recommendations for a course of action to correct any termite conditions they found.

The Best Strategy To Use For Termite Control Procedure

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

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

Simply spraying swarmers or the surface of available infested wood can kill the termites that you see now, but it does not stop the infestation nor does it shield your house from potential attacks . The most common type 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.

The Best Guide To Termite Control Products

The soil is trenched 6" deep and about 4-6" wide. For houses with crawlspaces, the dirt along the interior foundation wall has to be treated at least within 4 feet of identified signs of termite activity. In some cases, the soil around supports (such as piers) underneath the house 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 which attach my website to the home, for instance, a garage floor, or the slab of an earth-filled porch.