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Mud tubesUnlike ants, termites do not ramble around on the ground surface or outside in the open. They will either tunnel through the soil or into wood (or other material) or else travel inside pencil-size (or bigger )"sand tubes" they assemble from dirt, wood contaminants and other materials. You will find these tubes on foundation walls, floor joists or other 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 can be another indication of current activity. 'Old' tubes are dry and crumble easily, leaving behind"etching" on the surface which could be visible for decades (an indication that a house had termite activity at some time).

Tubes that 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 from the ground. Mud tubes constructed 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 necessitate 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 are typically deducted 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 of termites as feeding/injuring wood 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 may 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 regions 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 may continue year-round. From a practical perspective, serious termite damage generally takes approximately 3-8 decades. .

There's absolutely no accurate method for determining the age of recently found damage. You need some reference point, i.e., some point in time when it was known there was no damage to this particular wood. This 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 can reveal conditions that might imply that damage does exist and additional 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 own a termite contract, call 2-3 (or more) companies and have each one inspect your home and offer you the specifics of their findings and any recommendations for a plan of action to fix any termite problems they found.

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

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

Only spraying swarmers or the surface of accessible infested wood can kill the termites which you see now, but it does not block the infestation nor does it shield your home from future attacks by termites. The most common type 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 about 4-6" wide. For homes with crawlspaces, the soil along the interior foundation wall must be treated within 4 ft of identified signs of termite activity. In some cases, the soil around supports (for example, piers) underneath the house can also be treated.

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

Concrete slabs which attach to the home, for instance, a garage floor, or the slab of an earth-filled porch.