All posts in “foundation”

What do you want to know by ProBest Pest Management!

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DrBugKVBdidyouknow1

Desert subterranean termites

  • Southwestern U.S. – Colorado and Gila deserts.
  • Lives on grasses, dead cacti, desert plants and can attack fences and other wood products.
  • This termite becomes active during and after the summer rainy season (monsoon), from July to September. This termite does swarm, however I have only seen 2 indoor swarms and generally swarms at dusk, after a rain.
  • These termites will openly build very narrow, free-hanging tubes from ceilings, shelves and overhangs. Don’t be surprised if you see tubes as long as six to 12 inches or longer in length. These tubes are often reused by these termites even when there is no feeding activity. They also build tubes over the foundation walls.
  • Generally speaking this termite causes very little damage to homes and buildings. This doesn’t mean that you should ignore them, they will continue to eat your home until you treat for them.

You need to see your foundation slab

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Termites gain access into your home from the ground through penetrations of your slab or from the outside of your slab. So seeing the slab is extremely important to keeping them out. River rock or rock against your home also makes a great home for bark scorpions or other bugs.

Are your plants too close too your home?

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Plants that are planted too close too your home create issues down the road, what are those issues you ask?

  • Roots may damage or cause problems to the foundation.
  • Watering those plants may cause additional problems with any wood siding or the foundation.
  • Plants may cause issues with the termite treatment.
  • Termite treatments may not be done correctly with plants in the way.
  • If it is a tree, bush or cactus it will grow and possibly damage the home or overhang.

Did you know by ProBest Pest Management?

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DrBugKVBdidyouknow1

  • Termites eat 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, meaning damage to wood in and around a structure can happen very quickly.
  • Typically, homeowner’s insurance does not cover termite damage. Most pest infestations and accompanying damage are considered maintenance issues by insurance carriers.
  • The most effective type of treatment depends on the severity of the infestation, the species of termite, and the location and construction of the home.
  • Termites cannot be effectively treated by a homeowner on their own generally. Pest control professionals have the training, expertise and technology to eliminate a termite infestation.

Its National Termite Awareness Week.

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Information by the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) – check out the info at their site.

My Top 10 Tips on preventing Termites at your home or business:

  1. Don’t stack wood or firewood against your home.
  2. Trim trees so they don’t touch your home, better yet don’t plant trees to close to your home.
  3. In Arizona our termite season is really somewhere near August through December depending on monsoon rains.
  4. If you have a crawlspace, check to be sure that you don’t have any water leaks.
  5. Check the foundation for mud tubes, inside if you see mud trails or tubes coming from the ceiling call a Pro.
  6. Don’t store boxes over the expansion joint in garage, leave a little space to inspect the wall and foundation.
  7. Any structure like shed should be installed on blocks or concrete, wood to ground allows termites to damage the shed.
  8. Slope dirt and stone away from home, don’t allow dirt or rock to be higher than the stucco.
  9. Position sprinklers away from the house.
  10. Once a year call a Professional Termite Inspector, have them give you their opinion and advice on termite activity.

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Termites are active in Arizona.

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The first picture is at the tire stop and the termites decided to just continue right on to the wall. The 3rd picture is my favorite, it appears someone decided to paint right over the tube. Maybe they were trying to hide it from the dreaded Termite Inspector (Me), by the way that doesn’t work.

Most destructive insect?

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I’ll would bet that most people would say termites but not so, it turns out to be the desert locust. This locust you may recall is the one from the Bible and can eat its own weight in food a day. It is estimated that a large swarm could eat 20,000 tons of grain and vegetation per day. (“The Handy Biology Answer Book”)

In the U.S. I’m still betting on the termite, estmates suggest over 5 billon in damage each year. Termites are in search of food and when they find it they will eat and eat. 24/7/365 that is their schedule and they won’t waiver unless the building is under water.

What can you do to discourage termites from finding your home as a food source:

  • Check water drip and irrigation systems to make sure they are working properly.
  • Don’t plant plants or trees to close to the foundation of your home.
  • Don’t allow stucco to come in contact with dirt or stone, you need to see the foundation.
  • If you noticed any wood in the ground left over after construction, remove it.
  • Don’t stack wood against the home.
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PPMA King/Queen Sub-termites

 

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