TERMITE
MANAGEMENT
SUNSHINE COAST
TERMITE INSPECTIONS
& BARRIERS
Did you know?
Australia has the most destructive termites in the world. A recent CSIRO survey revealed more than one in every four homes had termite damage, with an estimated damage bill of more than $100 million dollars every year.
A combination of regular termite inspections and an effective termite management system is the best defence in protecting your home from termites.
STEP ONE
Termite Inspections
A visual termite inspection is carried out to the roof void areas, where access is permitted via a manhole, also to the internal and external areas of your house and all buildings outside using such devices as a moisture metre, thermal imaging camera and a sounding instrument and other associated tools and equipment including borescopes. Other equipment can also be used depending on the findings at the time of the inspection. A written report will be supplied as part of this service.
Combine your annual termite inspection with your general pest control to obtain a discount.
STEP TWO
Termite Treatment – Foaming/Dusting
After a full comprehensive visual termite inspection, if termites are found this is the first and very important stage to get the termites out of your house. Foam does not kill too quickly, allowing time for this method of treatment to affect the termites, also allowing them to transfer it onto other termites within the colony. This is efficient and commonly carried out using insecticidal dusts or foams such as Termidor Dry or Termidor Foam. When applied correctly to a significant number of termites, this initial stage may also offer a shot at eliminating the nest responsible. Just remember though, these types of treatments don’t actually protect your house and are only the first stage of a Termite Management program.
IF YOU FIND TERMITES INSIDE YOUR HOME – DON’T PANIC, DON’T DISTURB AND DON’T SELF TREAT.
If termite activity is found by customer it is very important not to disturb the termites, not to treat the activity with anything, especially when found inside the home or structures. Don’t panic ring us immediately for advice, we will guide you through the process and we will attend as soon as possible. A full comprehensive visual termite inspection must be carried out before any treatment is applied and the inspection may also need to be upgraded to an invasive inspection depending on the amount of activity found and located.
In a lot of cases if termite activity is found inside a home or built-in structure or an out building on your property and once a thorough termite inspection has been performed and completed to find all entry points and damaged areas, a foaming or dusting treatment needs to be applied to all active areas, damaged areas to be sealed off, maintaining the termites inside these areas and for them to commence transferring the foam or dust back to their nest, and a period of 14 – 28 days is required for this treatment to have a maximum effect, in some cases, longer and all activity previously treated has ceased.
Once all areas have been inspected again and no activity exists, we can then look at protecting the outside perimeter and other areas of your home and other structures on your property.
Did you know?
Subterranean termites live in underground nests containing up to two million wood eating termites. That’s a lot of hungry mouths that can travel fifty metres or more, in search of food!
STEP THREE
Termite Barriers
There are many different types of termite barriers that can be installed to protect a home. They all are good if installed correctly and regularly monitored. Remember there is no silver bullet where termites are concerned. We have included an overview of barrier options below and please talk to us to discuss the best option for your home.
We also offer payment plans for termite barriers through Zip Money with options for 6 or 12 months interest free payments. Please note some administration fees apply and are based on the final cost of the installation of the termite barrier.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION TO REDUCE YOUR TERMITE RISK
- Any termite management program still does not guarantee termites will never enter your home or property but will drastically reduce the risk.
- A termite Treated Zone abutting the perimeter walls of your home may be essential to reduce the risk to your home. You must avoid disturbing this Treated Zone. If it is disturbed then entry by subterranean termites is possible. If you have not had this Treated Zone applied yet then your home remains fully exposed to future destruction by termites.
- Any termite management program can be rendered ineffective if building alterations or additions are made. The construction of pergolas, awnings, verandas, etc can provide a route for concealed entry into the property.
- With many concrete slab homes, it is important that you ensure the edge of the slab is left exposed. Weep holes in between the bricks, found immediately above the slab, must also be left exposed. By building up gardens or soil levels over the edge of the slab or over the weep holes you may allow termites to can gain undetected entry into your home and bridge Treated Zones.
- With suspended floor homes, any material that may be conducive to termite infestation, including any form-work, timber, tree stumps and similar materials must be removed from the subfloor and away from the external walls of your home.
- Ensure that termite (ant caps) shielding is not damaged or breached in any way (metal strips around the foundation). Termite shields do not prevent termite entry. They do force termites out into the open so as they can be detected by regular inspection.
- Ensure leaking taps, showers, pipes, etc under the home or adjacent to it are repaired immediately in order to reduce moisture levels in the sub floor.
- Ensure that vents to sub-floor areas are never blocked. These keep the subfloor dry so termites are not attracted to the area.
- Do not use untreated timbers to form garden beds or retaining walls as these will attract termites. Untreated timbers should be removed.