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Termites are a small pale-bodied insect that can be highly destructive to timber and buildings. Termite damage is no small issue within Australia, in fact approximately 32 percent of all houses in Australia currently have termite activity in or around their home. With so many young people building their first homes under the Federal Government’s home builder grant, we thought there would be no better time to present the preventative measures you can take to control the risk of termites!
- Chemical Barrier
A chemical barrier is a chemically treated zone that surrounds the perimeter of a building or structure. This treatment zone lays beneath the ground, positioned strategically to disrupt the path of termites.
- Reticulation system
Secondly, A reticulation system is like the above barrier type. Except you lay a pipe at the bottom of the trench. Like an irrigation pipe, it has been designed to take high-pressure termiticide and disperse it evenly through tiny holes. The trench is backfilled and drenched as per the above barrier.
- Physical Barrier
A Physical Termite Barrier is installed underneath or around the perimeter of a home’s slab and around pipe penetrations. This will prevent termites, capable of fitting through a gap sized 1.5mm, from entering your property. It offers long-lasting protection for your home without the need to continually top it up with additional chemicals.
- Termite Baiting System
Plastic bait stations containing wood attractive to termites are placed in the ground around the property, intercepting termites before they reach your property. Whilst nothing physically stops the termites from entering your property, research has shown the system virtually eliminate the chance of termites entering your home.
To save yourself from any nasty surprises and organize a pre-purchase building inspection with us please call 131546.
If you are not able to take on such preventative measures, then here are some other tips to avoid termites infiltrating and potentially damaging your home:
1. Use only termite treated timber in garden beds, retaining walls or fence posts – Do not use untreated timbers to form garden beds or retaining walls, as these will attract termites around your property.
2. Remove stored timber, debris, dead trees and cellulose materials from under, in and around the property and under the house – Storing timber against or under your house or property on a soil sub-floor will provide an attractive food source and nesting site for subterranean termites.
3. Ensure vents to subfloor areas are never blocked – Substandard ventilation in the sub-floor areas of your property will result in high humidity, and high moisture levels. Good ventilation and extraction fans where necessary are essential to reduce the risk from subterranean termites.
