About Termite Control Products

Mud tubesUnlike ants, termites do not ramble 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 traveling inside pencil-size (or larger)"sand tubes" that they build from dirt, wood particles and other materials. You'll find these tubes on foundation walls, floor joists or different areas of the home.

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

Tubes which are found on ceilings or on upper levels of a building may indicate that 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 normally contain materials other than soil, e.g., wood and sheet rock or whatever the termites are feeding on.

Top Guidelines Of Termite Control Procedure

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 using the usual soil treatment (see below) and are generally deducted 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 about termites as feeding/injuring wood only. Termites actually feed on virtually 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.

About Termite Control Process

In fact, 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 cease. When 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 damage. You need some reference point, i.e., some point in time when it was known there you can check here was no harm to this particular wood. That can be 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 damage in areas that are not insured or not easily seen, such as inside walls. On the other hand, the inspections can reveal conditions that may suggest that harm does exist and further investigation is needed.

If you've got a termite protection contract, contact the pest control company immediately and arrange for them to take a look at the issue. If you do not have a termite contract, telephone 2-3 (or more) companies and have every one inspect your home and provide you with the specifics of their findings and any recommendations for a course of action to fix any termite conditions that they found.

Our Termite Control Process 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 real difference in terms how much damage happens. .

Can there be harm That Needs to Be repaired or at least examined by a contractor or engineer before control measures are performed

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

Our Termite Control Products Statements

The dirt is trenched 6" deep and approximately 4-6" wide. For homes with crawlspaces, the dirt along the interior foundation wall must their explanation be treated within 4 ft of identified signs of termite activity. In some cases, the soil around supports (for example, piers) underneath the house are also 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 home, for example, a garage floor, or the slab of an earth-filled porch.