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Mud tubesUnlike ants, termites do not roam around on the ground surface or outside in the open. They'll either tunnel through the soil or into wood (or other material) or else travel inside pencil-size (or larger)"sand tubes" they build from dirt, wood contaminants and other materials. You'll find these tubes on foundation walls, floor joists or other areas of the house.

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

Tubes which 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 lives in the building and the termites are traveling up from the ground. Mud tubes built through an aboveground colony usually contain substances 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 require 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 therefore 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 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 paper covering of sheet rock, carpeting, etc.. While foraging and feeding, they may tunnel through non-cellulosic materials, such as plastic and foamboard.

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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 might continue year-round. From a practical perspective, severe termite damage usually takes about 3-8 years. .

There is no accurate way of determining the age of recently discovered 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 those inspections) are important. .

NOTE: All these inspections are not a guarantee that you do not have termites or damage in areas which are not covered or not easily seen, such as inside walls. However, the inspections go to my blog 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 check out the issue. Should you not own a termite contract, call 2-3 (or more) companies and have each one inspect your home and offer you the details of their findings and any recommendations for a course of action to fix any termite problems that they found.

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

Is there damage that should 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 which you see now, but it does not block the infestation nor does it shield your house from future 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 critical areas of your house.

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The soil is trenched 6" deep and about 4-6" wide. For homes 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 (for example, piers) underneath the home are also treated.

When implemented correctly, this treatment creates a continuous chemical barrier which should prevent termites from reaching the foundation and piers in your house. .

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