How do you get rid of damp wood termites?
Scan your home for decaying wood or wood that have moisture issues and this will likely lead you to the dampwood termite infestation. Once you find them, you want to replace the damaged wood and treat with a borate based product Boracare. Boracare is applied to bare wood and should be mixed in a bucket with warm water.
What do damp wood termites look like?
COLOR: Dampwood termites are generally brown in color, but can range from dark to light, and can even be reddish, especially towards their abdomens. Nymphs are cream-colored. BEHAVIOR: This species needs regular contact with water and a high humidity to survive. This makes them very different from their drywoodcousins.
Do termites make wood wet?
This, in turn, can lead to an infestation since termites are attracted to wood. Again, this will cause the wood to always be wet leading to decay and attracting those destructive termites. Termites require moisture to survive, so this is the perfect environment for them.
How do I know if my wood is infested with termites?
Take a look at the top three signs of termite activity below:
- Blisters in Wood Flooring. These areas or blisters can indicate termites feeding within or below.
- Hollowed or Damaged Wood. Wood damage can be found below and behind surfaces like walls, floors and more.
- Evidence of Swarms.
- Mud Tubes.
- Drywood Termite Droppings.
How serious are drywood termites?
How serious are drywood termites? Infestations can be limited to one area of the house or can be widespread. Damage is often extensive, as these pests will chew tunnels inside wooden beams or other wooden objects, weakening them from the inside.
What do Dampwood termites eat?
decaying wood
Dampwood Termites eat decaying wood and other cellulose materials in homes, furniture, dying trees and utility poles with high moisture content.
Is termite damage wet?
Wood rot that involves moisture can also be called wet rot. Termite damage can leave wood looking wavy or with areas that appear to be hollowed out. Wet rot can cause wood to look darker than surrounding areas and cause it to feel soft and spongy. Dry rot can cause the wood to crack and crumble when it is touched.
How can you tell the difference between termites and water damage?
Termite damage will leave the wood with wavy grooves or looking hollowed out, while water damage will most likely cause a darker area, a weird smell, and even some possible mold or mildew.
How do you tell if termites are active in your house?
Keep an eye out for the following signs of termite activity:
- Discolored or drooping drywall.
- Peeling paint that resembles water damage.
- Wood that sounds hollow when tapped.
- Small, pinpoint holes in drywall.
- Buckling wooden or laminate floor boards.
- Tiles loosening from the added moisture termites can introduce to your floor.
Can I treat drywood termites myself?
Widespread drywood termite infestations can be extremely hard to treat yourself. You may even need to have your home tented and fumigated. Many professional pest control companies will give you a free or low-cost inspection if you need help determining your level of infestation.