First, keep the garden away from the side of the home.
This is a huge, enormous mistake. In the worst situation, the soil in the garden bed would rise over the weep holes, providing termites with a clear path through the brick course and into the wood within. Termites are drawn to areas with a lot of mulch and damp soil. And if your walls are made of weatherboard, even the plants (especially vines) might serve as a hidden passageway for the pests.
Check for water leaks and fix them if you find any.
As I indicated before, water is a major attractant for termites. Their fragile cuticle (think shell) can dry up quickly. Therefore humidity is essential to keeping their systems functional. Termites need water to survive, and if there’s a leak anywhere in your home (a shower recess, a tap, a drain pipe, etc.), that water will seep into the soil, bringing the tannins in the wood that repel termites. A “food this way” sign would serve the same purpose.
3. Ventilation and draining.
What we mean is the wetness that forms under or up against your home’s façade. Termites might be drawn in by anything as simple as an overflowing hot water system or an air conditioning line that drains against an exterior wall. When it rains, water can pool or flow around your home, which can cause problems. The solution could be as simple as putting in an ag-pipe drain or necessitate digging up the ground. Termites thrive in locations with high humidity, such as those found under floors with poor ventilation. You probably need to increase the ventilation if there is a musty odor.
Be wary of lumber and other storage products.
Anything leaning or resting on the exterior of a wall is asking for trouble. At best, it will hide the wall, making locating an entry point for termites impossible. Termites can utilize it as a “runway” or “bridge” to enter your home. Timber is particularly problematic because it not only provides entrance to the house but also attracts termites. It should be stacked on bricks (or other termite-resistant material) regardless of its distance from the home so that it does not serve as an entryway for pests.
5. Additions should be made with caution.
In many do-it-yourself renovations, untreated wood is buried and then joined to the main building. The most common causes are patio additions and underground parking for high-rise buildings. If you can’t afford to hire a skilled builder (see below), having a qualified timber pest technician review your plans is a decent second best. Most businesses are eager to offer cost-free advice and price quotes on termite protection. If you insist on doing it independently, remember never to put wood near your foundation. Termites can invade even if the wood only sits on brick or concrete without protection.
6. Make routine yard checks.
If you know what a termite looks like and take a quick look around any trees, stumps, or lumber, you might receive a heads-up. A giant screwdriver can serve as an effective tool for prodding and poking. If you detect any signs of termites, you should get in touch with a professional right away. Treating them yourself carries the danger of localized termite eradication, with no guarantee that the treatment will be effective against the colony. You could scare them away from their current food source and have them move in with you instead.
Seven, be aware of your home’s wooden components.
Termites might be detected if there are any flaws in your home’s wood structures. Surface bubbles or ripples are a common sign of termite damage. You can stick your finger right through it when you poke it. If you watch for these signs, you can diagnose them early. If you find them and have already damaged the piece of wood they were in, cover the hole with some masking tape or duct tape and call a termite inspector as soon as possible. Again, I’m trying to sell you anything; nevertheless, to my knowledge, there is no foolproof method for removing and preventing their return. All the do-it-yourself techniques I’ve come across are either ineffective or outright fraudulent at the time of writing.
Hire the most excellent contractor you can manage.
At the time of this writing, termite prevention was included in the price of every new home. The barrier could be chemical, physical, or some combination of the two. If placed correctly, these products have the potential to perform admirably. However, we have witnessed these goods broken into, typically in obscure places like the garage or the basement. The completion certificate is the only acceptable proof of work completion for certain contractors. The stress of termite problems can be reduced if you require the services of a company whose work you know to be of excellent quality. Large volumes of timber inside your new home might still be damaged by termites, even if the frame is made of steel.
9. Have routine checks performed.
You’ve finally reached the ad break! The worry of not knowing if termites are present can be significantly reduced by having annual examinations performed. We check for termites, of course, but we also look for the conditions above that invite an attack from termites. Thermal imaging cameras, radar-detecting gear, and years of field experience are just some of the high-priced tools at our disposal. Even if you have termite protection in place, you should still have an annual examination to ensure it is still effective and by the terms of the warranty.
Install a barrier against termites.
Again, it’s a commercial product, but it’s crucial for warding off termites. It’s likely that if your Queensland property was built before 2002, no termite barriers were included. Installing a chemical fence in the soil and under the concrete (paths, patios, etc.) is a practical approach to prevent termites from entering your home. When writing, the cost to protect an average home with a solid, non-repellent solution was close to $2000. The range here is broad, so if you find yourself paying more than that, shop around. If termites did invade, how much woodworking and wall patching could you get for two grand?
Conclusion
At least we covered the fundamentals. I do not doubt that you will all follow my instructions to the letter. You must ask yourself, “How critical is it that my ceiling doesn’t collapse?” It certainly wouldn’t be the first time termites were responsible for a collapsed roof. All joking aside, they are preventive measures for your family’s security. Similar to how it is recommended that skydivers pull the ripcord. I hope these have provoked some thought and provided some pointers for spotting potential red flags.
Contact All Clear Pest Control & Termite Management in Brisbane, Australia (http://www.all-clear.com.au) for termite inspections, treatment, and termite barriers. Please refer to our termite resources and information page if you suspect or wish to confirm the presence of termites.
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