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Mud tubesUnlike ants, termites do not ramble 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 travel inside pencil-size (or bigger )"sand tubes" that they assemble from dirt, wood particles and other substances. You will find these tubes on foundation walls, floor joists or different areas of the home.

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

Tubes that are found on ceilings or on top levels of a building may indicate you have an aboveground ("airborne") infestation, i.e., the termite colony really lives in the building and the termites are traveling up from the ground. Mud tubes constructed by an aboveground colony usually contain materials other than dirt, e.g., wood and sheet rock or whatever the termites are feeding on.

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In such situations, a thorough inspection may necessitate elimination 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 from 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 timber only. Termites really feed on virtually anything which 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 reality, the amount of damage that termites cause depends on many factors. In areas with cold winter temperatures, description termite activity (and feeding) often declines, but does not necessarily stop. If the termites are well-protected from colder temperatures (e.g., underneath a slab), then activity might continue year-round. From a practical standpoint, severe termite damage generally takes approximately 3-8 years. .

There is no accurate method for determining the era of recently discovered damage. 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 these inspections) are important. .

NOTE: 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 additional investigation is needed.

In case you have a termite protection contract, contact the pest control company quickly and arrange for them to take a look at the problem. 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 details of their findings and any recommendations for a plan of action to fix any termite problems that they found.

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

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

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

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