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Mud tubesUnlike ants, termites do not roam around on the ground surface or out 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 assemble from dirt, wood particles and other substances. You'll find these tubes on foundation walls, floor joists or other areas 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 just abandoned this particular tunnel. Termites often rebuild damaged tubes, and it is another indication of current activity. 'Old' tubes are dry and crumble easily, leaving behind"etching" on the surface which may be observable for years (an indication that a home had termite activity at some 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 actually resides in the building and the termites are traveling up from the ground. 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.

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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 usual soil treatment (see below) and are typically excluded by a termite contract warranty. In such 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 almost 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.

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In fact, the amount of harm that termites cause depends on many factors. In regions with cold winter temperatures, termite activity (and feeding) often click to investigate declines, but does not necessarily stop. If 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 usually takes approximately 3-8 decades. .

There's absolutely 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 damage to this specific wood. That can be 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 covered or not easily seen, such as inside walls. On the other hand, the inspections can reveal conditions that might suggest that damage does exist and further investigation is needed.

If you have a termite protection contract, contact the pest control company immediately and arrange for them to take a look at the issue. Should you not own a termite contract, telephone 2-3 (or more) companies and have each one inspect your home and provide you with the details of their findings and any recommendations for a course of action to correct any termite problems that they found.

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

Can there be damage that should be repaired or at least examined by a contractor or engineer before control steps are performed

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

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