Ants eating through brick mortar!

[Bill]

Hello all,

Any remedy for the problem of ants eating through brick mortar? I know I
should have put down ant powder to stop the ants getting established. But is
there something I can treat the existing mortar with so they leave it alone
in future, e.g. spray?

At the moment they seem to be nesting in the wall cavity, and if i fill up
the holes they just drill a hole through the wet cement. I guess I need to
wait until the colony is dead.

Any advice welcome,

Bill.

[Steve Walker]

quick set cement

[Ian Davies]

"Bill" <no-email> wrote in message
news:44ad621e$0$3548$ed26...@ptn-nntp-reader01.plus.net...

You can get lots of products in DIY stores for killing ants. No need to ask
here, go and look.
Think what you would do if you didn't have an internet connection - what
would you do?

[Andrew Mawson]

"Bill" <no-email> wrote in message
news:44ad621e$0$3548$ed26...@ptn-nntp-reader01.plus.net...

Mix ant powder in with the new mortar?

AWEM

[Phil L]

Repoint the brickwork with a fairly strong mix of sand and cement, don't
just try to fill in visible holes...and BTW, ants can neither drill holes
nor eat mortar, they simply walk in through holes.

[Malcolm Race]

Something to look for which I used years ago, but have seen recently
(Wilkinsons?) is Deathlac. It is a spray on transparent coating
containing insecticide. Ants and other crawling insects apparently pick
up enough to kill them when they walk over it. ISRT it was effective
when sprayed around a door to stop them getting in through the small
gaps. However recently, not having any, I sprayed the wall with
ordinary ant powder and enough stuck on in the dry weather to stop them
getting in

Malcolm

[meow...@care2.com]

Phil L wrote:
> Bill wrote:

> > Any remedy for the problem of ants eating through brick mortar? I

> Repoint the brickwork with a fairly strong mix of sand and cement, don't

> just try to fill in visible holes...and BTW, ants can neither drill holes
> nor eat mortar, they simply walk in through holes.

maybe theyre SDS ants. Evolution in action.

NT

[Mark]

LOL. I think we've got some of those too. Every time I find some I
fill the holes. Next day they're back again. I've tried all sorts
of Ant killer - never seems to work.

Mark.

[The3rd Earl Of Derby]

Reminds me of beetles I had a while back,put petrol down to try and kill
them off...no chance they came out on motorbikes. ;-)

--
Sir Benjamin Middlethwaite

[Guy King]

The message <ynvrg.97925$wl.3...@text.news.blueyonder.co.uk>
from "The3rd Earl Of Derby" <al...@h.co.uk> contains these words:

> Reminds me of beetles I had a while back,put petrol down to try and kill
> them off...no chance they came out on motorbikes. ;-)

I thought that was rockers, not Beatles.

--
Skipweasel
Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain.

[jeffrey]

replying to Ian Davies, jeffrey wrote:
that was a rude response


--
posted from
http://www.homeownershub.com/uk-diy/ants-eating-through-brick-mortar-262379-.htm

[ARW]

"jeffrey" <caedfaa9ed1216d60e...@example.com> wrote in
message news:74ec3$576fea31$cf3aab60$14...@news.flashnewsgroups.com...

> replying to Ian Davies, jeffrey wrote:
> that was a rude response
>
>
>

> posted from
> http://www.homeownershub.com/uk-diy/ants-eating-through-brick-mortar-262379-.htm


Two general elections and one brexit vote later? I doubt anyone will give a
fuck about the ants.

--
Adam

[Fredxxx]

On 26/06/2016 15:44, jeffrey wrote:
> replying to Ian Davies, jeffrey wrote:
> that was a rude response

A rude response is when where the poster can't be arsed to say what
response he was referring to.

[tabb...@gmail.com]

On Sunday, 26 June 2016 15:44:03 UTC+1, jeffrey wrote:
> replying to Ian Davies, jeffrey wrote:
> that was a rude response

> posted from
> http://www.homeownershub.com/uk-diy/ants-eating-through-brick-mortar-262379-.htm

http://wiki.diyfaq.org.uk/index.php/Newsgroup_access_tips

[RayL12]

Mint is good for keeping a few insects at bay. A quick look produced
several sites giving advice, here is one...

http://www.doityourself.com/stry/mint-a-natural-insect-repellent

Ray.

[Diligent One]

replying to Bill, Diligent One wrote:
I have the same problem but my ants only come out at night. I covered the
brickwork with wood, thinking it was a raccoon tearing up the mortar between
bricks, but when I removed the wood, there was a ton of damage. So to those
who say ants cannot eat cement/motar, you are wrong.

--
for full context, visit http://www.homeownershub.com/uk-diy/ants-eating-through-brick-mortar-262379-.htm

[alan_m]

On 21/08/2016 04:14, Diligent One wrote:
> replying to Bill, Diligent One wrote:
> I have the same problem but my ants only come out at night. I covered the
> brickwork with wood, thinking it was a raccoon tearing up the mortar
> between
> bricks, but when I removed the wood, there was a ton of damage. So to
> those
> who say ants cannot eat cement/motar, you are wrong.
>

Even 10 years ago when the question was first posted in a UK DIY group
we only had Racoons and nocturnal mortar eating ants in the section of
Zoos dedicated to the ex-colonies.

See
http://wiki.diyfaq.org.uk/index.php/Home_owners_hub

--
mailto: news {at} admac {dot] myzen {dot} co {dot} uk

[Gurmukh singh]

replying to Ian Davies, Gurmukh singh wrote:
That's rude. This is not a bad idea to ask for any help.

--
for full context, visit https://www.homeownershub.com/uk-diy/ants-eating-through-brick-mortar-262379-.htm

[Fredxxx]

On 20/01/2017 12:44, Gurmukh singh wrote:
> replying to Ian Davies, Gurmukh singh wrote:
> That's rude. This is not a bad idea to ask for any help.

Give the post you're replying to was in 2006, have you assisted the OP
in any way, or do you like just hearing your own voice?

[Brian Gaff]

Yes but on a similar subject a bit more modern. The ants in my front garden
have apparently eaten their way the front window frame, or rather just
outside of it. Its wood of course but the material filling up the area to
the brick I always thought was some kind of cement, but they still got in.
Its been blocked up now, but I never did figure out what they were after.
Brian

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"Fredxxx" <fre...@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:o5t1cl$sg$1...@dont-email.me...

[harry]

On Sunday, 26 June 2016 15:44:03 UTC+1, jeffrey wrote:

It was ten years ago too.

[Trisha]

replying to Bill, Trisha wrote:
Hi Bill, I have the same problem, the bricks pillars on my verandah have ants
crawling up them even though I've had a treatment. My neighbour said cheap
mortar will break down eventually with or without ants so I' m going to try
mortar fill, an adhesive filler.

[Brian Gaff]

posted on July 6, 2006, 7:18 pm

I imagine the whole place has been demolished by now then, either that or
the ants have mutated into giant ones and are as we speak about to eat us
all.

Brian

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"Trisha" <caedfaa9ed1216d60ef...@example.com> wrote in
message news:ucUSB.75755$3X1....@fx28.am4...

[tabb...@gmail.com]

On Monday, 27 November 2017 13:14:05 UTC, Trisha wrote:
> replying to Bill, Trisha wrote:

> Hi Bill, I have the same problem, the bricks pillars on my verandah have ants
> crawling up them even though I've had a treatment.

I hope you enjoyed it.

> My neighbour said cheap
> mortar will break down eventually with or without ants

all mortar does. It's why repointing is needed occasionally.

> so I' m going to try
> mortar fill, an adhesive filler.

The correct thing for filling holes in mortar is mortar, and that doesn't contain adhesive. The age/type of property sometimes affects the required mortar mix too.


NT

[Bob]

replying to Trisha, Bob wrote:
Bill's colony is probably dead, since that was ELEVEN YEARS ago.

[Brian Gaff]

Did nobody read my post?

Brian

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"Bob" <caedfaa9ed1216d60ef...@example.com> wrote in message
news:RBYSB.134379$E01....@fx09.am4...

[Rod Speed]

Brian Gaff <bri...@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote

> Did nobody read my post?

Nope, no one. No one read this one either.

[FMurtz]

Bob wrote:
> replying to Trisha, Bob wrote:
> Bill's colony is probably dead, since that was ELEVEN YEARS ago.
>

And any way do the ants actually eat the mortar or just move it around?

[Roger Hayter]

I am sure the latter, given the lack of biological pathways for breaking
down silica, but the effect is the same.

--

Roger Hayter

[Ofelia Fernandez]

replying to Bill, Ofelia Fernandez wrote:
How wii it cost on a brick 2 story homr4

[tabb...@gmail.com]

On Wednesday, 2 May 2018 13:14:06 UTC+1, Ofelia Fernandez wrote:
> replying to Bill, Ofelia Fernandez wrote:
> How wii it cost on a brick 2 story homr4

'it'?

[Brian Gaff]

Yerwot?
However they have made a path into my front living room under the window
sill. Not quite sure whyt though, there is nothing in there to eat.
brian

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<tabb...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:c4b773c4-3061-4617...@googlegroups.com...

[The Natural Philosopher]

On 02/05/18 13:14, Ofelia Fernandez wrote:
> replying to Bill, Ofelia Fernandez wrote:
> How wii it cost on a brick 2 story homr4
>

I am afraid a 2 story homr4 will be in the reagion of 3.4 trillion
zimbabwean dollars


--
No Apple devices were knowingly used in the preparation of this post.

[gopalan...@gmail.com]

On Friday, July 7, 2006 at 6:04:59 AM UTC+10, Phil L wrote:
> Bill wrote:

> > Hello all,

> >
> > Any remedy for the problem of ants eating through brick mortar? I

> > know I should have put down ant powder to stop the ants getting
> > established. But is there something I can treat the existing mortar
> > with so they leave it alone in future, e.g. spray?
> >
> > At the moment they seem to be nesting in the wall cavity, and if i
> > fill up the holes they just drill a hole through the wet cement. I
> > guess I need to wait until the colony is dead.
> >
> > Any advice welcome,
> >
> > Bill.

>
> Repoint the brickwork with a fairly strong mix of sand and cement, don't
> just try to fill in visible holes...and BTW, ants can neither drill holes
> nor eat mortar, they simply walk in through holes.

Makes sense very good sense. Them mortor eating ants I salute !

[Tammy]

replying to Bill, Tammy wrote:
Thank you. I am looking for this answer

[Harry Bloomfield]

on 05/06/2018, Tammy supposed :

> replying to Bill, Tammy wrote:
> Thank you. I am looking for this answer

You will not get a sensible answer via that very broken portal.

[tabb...@gmail.com]

No. We have no idea what 'this answer' means. This is news:uk.d-i-y. Please get here via a sensible portal. That website is so broken that most here block it.


NT

[Stourleyk]

replying to jeffrey, Stourleyk wrote:
I agree. I’m looking to fix the root cause of the infestation. Davies’
answer is a quick fix only.

[lynett...@googlemail.com]

Oh no they don't just walk in thru holes. Have you not seen the amount of powder/dry mortar they drill out 7n order to claim their home with a queen. !!!

[Andy Burns]

lynett...@googlemail.com wrote:

> Oh no they don't

They're behind you!

[Andrew]

the flying variety took up residence inside my cavity wall
insulation once. One hot day, my bedroom was full of flying ants that
had squeezed through the gap between reveal and window cill.

[alan_m]

On 21/06/2020 18:40, lynett...@googlemail.com wrote:
> Oh no they don't just walk in thru holes. Have you not seen the amount of powder/dry mortar they drill out 7n order to claim their home with a queen. !!!
>

Google seems to be worse than the banter web portal

This thread is from 2006

[Brian Gaff (Sofa)]

Yes I got some in through the corner of a window where hthe slight void had
been made from cement but not any longer. Maybe they use formic acid to do
it.
Brian

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<lynett...@googlemail.com> wrote in message
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[Vir Campestris]

On 21/06/2020 19:22, Andrew wrote:
>
> the flying variety took up residence inside my cavity wall
> insulation once. One hot day, my bedroom was full of flying ants that
> had squeezed through the gap between reveal and window cill.

The flying variety are called wasps. Or bees.

What you had is a regular ant colony. Usually once a year when the
weather is just right they produce a brood of winged male and females.
This is how the colony reproduces.

The males have a day or so, a quick one or two with the females, and
then they are dead.

The females break their wings off and found a new colony. The workers
are all sterile females.

<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuptial_flight>

Andy

[RayL12]

On 21/06/2020 19:22, Andrew wrote:

There are various plants that deter various insects. Look into the
testimony of others for outside and inside the home.

[RayL12]

On 21/06/2020 19:36, alan_m wrote:
> On 21/06/2020 18:40, lynett...@googlemail.com wrote:
>> Oh no they don't just walk in thru holes. Have you not seen the amount
>> of powder/dry mortar they drill out 7n order to claim their home with
>> a queen. !!!
>>
>
> Google seems to be worse than the banter web portal
>
> This thread is from 2006
>

I might be replying to the dead? Uncanny.