I have noticed a small hole about the size of a pencil in a vaulted living room ceiling. The ceiling is plaster board and sprayed for texture. A sand-like reddish residue is coming from this hole. My first thought was termites, but we have had every window and door in our house replaced within the last two to five years and no termites have been found.
I’m reluctant to cut into the ceiling until I know more about what I’m dealing with. Does anyone have an idea? Any thoughts I what I should do next? Thanks, David
Replies
A sand-like reddish residue is coming from this hole.
Call your exterminator. I'm betting that the "sand" is actually frass (insect poop).
Good luck.
Unless you're the lead dog, the view just never changes.
Or carpenter ant sawdust.
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
Do yourself a favor.....cut into the ceiling before it collapses on your head while you`re sitting there contemplating the myriad possible causes.
J. D. Reynolds
Home Improvements
I don't think that this problem is so serious that I need to cut a hole in the ceiling. I've called an exterminator, and he'll be here Monday. If he says to cut it out, that's what I'll do. I also think at this point, by doing some research on my own, that it might be carpenter ants. Just how fast can they chew?
I was having dinner at a friend's house one evening who had a similar situation..I don't recall the specifics of the hole or the residue, but in any case, a short time after the eats were done, while we were sitting around having a drink, the ants that had been in his ceiling decided to 'fly the coop'..At first we'd noticed a few large, winged bugs crawling around on the walls. Seemed kind of odd. We tried to kill them. More appeared. Then we watched helplessly as 40 million flying ants engulfed his living room, pouring endlessly out of the little hole that had been in the corner of a ceiling.It was apocalyptic.Don't know if it applies to your situation, but, it's something to think about anyhow.
Some fine after dinner thoughts to chew on!;)
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Re: "We tried to kill them. More appeared. Then we watched helplessly as 40 million flying ants engulfed his living room, pouring endlessly out of the little hole that had been in the corner of a ceiling."The proper response is to break out the fondue pot and have chocolate covered ants. Kind of tickle as they thrash going down. Tasty and full of crunchy protein goodness.
Don't know how fast they chew, but they seem to prefer wet wood. I've seen lots of microbe stained drywall, and rodents will chew into it also, but haven't seen an insect yet that liked the taste of gypsum. You sure it's not a nail or screw head that's rusting through? I'd poke it with a scratch awl first. If it doesn't go through, touch it with a strong magnet to see if there isn't a nail head in the hole.
Mystery solved! The Orkin Man tells me its termite droppings, and that I need to tent my house. Like I need another expense at Christmas time. I want to "thank all of you" for your help and thoughts.
Re: ..." I need to tent my house."On the up side those red and white and red and green tents are quite festive. Fit right into the season.If you you time it right and have the kids put out the traditional cookies and milk before the tenting it can be advantageous. Santa being tricked by the kids into a poisoned house is a great play.Tie it with putting a dummy in a Santa outfit, or even just a hat, for the kids to find. It is a great way to instill enough guilt over 'killing Santa' that they will be well into their middle age before you need worry about Christmas presents. The therapy sessions can be put off long enough for it to go on their dime. You can save several thousands in presents. And the threat that you tell their friends who 'killed Santa' can be used for years to keep them in line.It is never too early to instill a profound sense of guilt and unworthiness into the children. This alone almost makes the cost of the tenting worth it.
Tenting for termites??I thought termites were killed by treating the ground that contained the nest. How does tenting the house work?Rich BeckmanAnother day, another tool.
Subterranean termites live in the ground and come up into the wood to eat. You kill them by treating the ground and prevent further infestations by keeping the wood away from the ground.Dry wood termites live in the wood. It's pretty much impossible to kill them without fumigating the entire structure. Well, I suppose if you had a small, localized infestation you could tent part of the structure. I don't know how you prevent further infestation. Eliminate all possible access to wood from the air?
The other point is that dry wood termites are limited to the SW and west coast and apparently some in the Gulf coat. So many people have never heard of them and are more familar with the sub-terain.http://www.termite.com/termites/western-dry-wood-termite.htmlBut it looks like there is another dry wood termite that more common in the SE including the off shore islanda and into central America.http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/urban/termites/c_cavifrons.htm
"...limited to the SW and west coast and apparently some in the Gulf coat." " common in the SE including the off shore islanda and into central America."Well, I'm in Indiana, so that explains my ignorance.:)Rich BeckmanAnother day, another tool.
Naw, there's a whole other explanation for your ignorance.;o)
"If we'd stop trying to be happy we could have a pretty good time." - Edith Wharton
Seeing as how you are from Indiana yourself....You wish!!!!!!Rich BeckmanAnother day, another tool.
Yeah, well, when I left Indiana and moved to Washington, I lowered the IQ level of both states.;o)
"Remember, no one is listening until you fart."
Uncle! Uncle!ROFLMAO!!Rich BeckmanAnother day, another tool.
" Uncle!"Both from Indiana!The truth comes out.
HeHeHe...
"If we'd stop trying to be happy we could have a pretty good time." - Edith Wharton
The Orkin Man tells me its termite droppings, and that I need to tent my house.
If it were me, I'd get a second opinion -
"there's enough for everyone"
I would, too, but not because I think he's wrong...BTW, see if someone can find the live buggers and show 'em to you.Rebeccah