Termite structural damage is the most common type of property damage in Australia, but it can be prevented! The first step you should take towards termite control and termite removal from your house is to read this article.
Do you have termites?
If you have a problem with termites, it’s important to take action as soon as possible. Termites can cause serious damage to your home if they are not treated quickly and properly.
But don’t worry, there are a wide range of termite control products and strategies that be used as part of a pest management plan to help with any termite problems you may have.
In this article we’ll take a look at what causes a termite attack in the first place, as well as termite protection options, termite monitoring and the best ways to treat termites.
What are termites and what do they look like?
Termites (also known as white ants) are tiny insects that live in colonies and feed on wood.
The Schedorhinotermes termite species are the most common termite found infesting South East Queensland homes. These destructive pests are a type of subterranean termites and their nests often survive in dead tree stumps, especially those that have been abandoned by other pests like ants or birds because they prefer to nest near Tallowwoods which contains unpleasant odours for humans but provides food sources such as gum trees!
The Schedorhinotermes termite species appearance is small and brown. They have a soft body, and their wings are not very visible. They are often mistaken for ants, but can be identified by their straight antennae.
These reproductive insects don’t eat anything – they just need a safe place to build a nest and raise their young until they mature into worker termites which will then be able to chew through wood to make room for the queen and king as well as feed their young larvae.
Where do termites like to live?
A common misconception about termites is that they live in dirt, when in reality termite colonies may be located in solid wood. In this sense, termites are wood eaters, but unlike other types of insects not all species of termites can digest cellulose.
They also require a symbiotic bacteria to survive and will take over an area if the habitat becomes unhealthy or too dry.
Termites create powerful acids by mixing their digestive enzymes with symbiotic protozoa and detritus which destroys any organic material including animal remains.
Termites enjoy damp and humid conditions which is why it’s very important to ensure that they’re not being attracted to moisture around your home.
Why do termites destroy wood?
Termites may look small and harmless but they’re actually one of the most destructive pests in Australia.
They feed on cellulose, which makes up more than half their diet which is why they end up consuming wooden objects around your property.
How do you know if you have a termite problem in your home or yard?
Termites are known to eat away at structural wood in buildings and homes, but they can also cause significant damage to the landscape too.
It’s important for property owners to know how termite activity can be detected, because it is often possible to prevent or significantly reduce the amount of damage that will eventually occur by taking action early on.
The following are some common signs that a termite infestation may be present in a home or yard:
- Mud shelter tubes coming up from the ground near the foundation of the home
- Wood that sounds hollow when tapped
- Small piles of wood dust (frass) or pellets near the base of trees or other wooden objects
- Live termites swarming around an area
Sometimes it can be hard to figure out if you have termites or not which is why it’s generally safe to ask a pest control expert to conduct a termite inspection for you.
What is the best way to get rid of termites permanently
If you have engaged pest control services and they have conducted a termite inspection it may end up finding signs of termites.
If this is the case then the pest control company will most likely tell you that the best way to get rid of them permanently is with chemical intervention.
Only some of the insects may be killed using DIY methods like spraying ‘termite spray’ around your house.
This will not solve the problem long-term since it does not treat any hidden termites which could re-infest your house. If this happens, you will need to repeat the termite treatment again in the future.
To permanently solve the problem, you need a pest control professional to find where they are entering your house. Then apply termiticide in those areas.
Termite damage costs Australians more than $1 billion every year. That’s a staggering amount of money, and it’s only going to increase as the years go on.
We know termites travel through these areas daily so putting chemical intervention here will stop them from re-infesting your home. A combination of chemical barriers and sub-terrain soil treatment is also very effective against termites inside your house as well as outside.
You can then be sure that all the termites have been treated correctly with our guaranteed results warranty.
Termite Barriers vs Termite Baiting Systems
There are two ways to protect your house from termites. One is to put up a barrier that will stop termites from getting in.
The other is to bait and kill them before they can do any damage and impact the structural integrity of your property..
Barrier Termite Treatments
The barrier system is just that, it puts up a physical barrier to prevent termites from getting into the home.
This can be in the form of heavy exterior doors with special weather stripping around the edges and gaskets to keep out moisture and/or by putting down a chemical termite treatment along the bottom and sides (and sometimes top) of your foundation.
Termite Baiting Systems
There are several problems with a barrier termite treatment: if not done correctly they can leave gaps or spaces where termites can get through; even when done right they only last for about five years before you have to treat them again; and worst of all, many termite species (especially those in warmer climates like Florida) will find ways around these barriers.
Termite baiting systems on the other hand, work by liquid baits that are filled with a slow acting poison. This poison is taken back to the nest and over time (few months) kills the entire termite colony including the queen.
The termites will even not know they’ve been poisoned as they bury themselves deep in your wood floors and walls where you won’t find them until it’s too late.
Combination Termite Treatments
Pest control experts will likely recommend that the best strategy is to use a combination of both to kill existing termites, and deter additional termites from entering the property.
Is termite removal dangerous to children or pets?
Termite chemicals are not harmful to pets or children.
There is no need to be concerned about toxic chemicals when it comes time for pest control, particularly around your home.
Most termite products are safe around pets and children, but as always it depends heavily on the pest control company being a true expert at treating termites.
When applying the correct amount of control chemicals to ensure that your home is free from termites, always use a professional pest control company.
That way you can ensure that the minimum amount of chemicals are being used to eliminate or deter termites from your property.
How termite inspections can stop a termite infestation
Termite inspections can help prevent termite infestation from happening and will no doubt help you save money in the long run.
By scheduling in regular termite inspections with your pest control company you’ll be able to rapidly identify if termites are closing in on your home, and act accordingly.
Generally when a pest control specialist conducts a termite inspection, you’ll be provided with a thorough inspection report which will explain what risks and problem areas have been identified.
You can request a regular inspection and termite assessment of your property each year which is generally the best way to stay on top of termites on the Gold Coast.
How can pest controllers help with termite management
Pest controllers are an important first line of defence against termites.
If you suspect your home is harbouring subterranean termites, the first step should be to contact a pest control company for a termite inspection and treatment recommendations.
Pest control services can provide advice on what action to take if there is evidence that termites are present in your home and strategies for termite management and other prevention methods.
They can offer additional services such as effective termite treatment with insecticide dusts or the installation of baiting systems designed to attract and kill termites around exposed beams or other exposed wood in your property.
Ultimately a pest control expert will aim to establish a regular schedule of termite monitoring to keep a close eye on their activities and plan any additional termite treatments based on observed termite activity in the area.
How much does professional termite control cost
Pest control companies offer a wide range of services, depending on the size of your home, and so prices for termite control will vary depending upon the termite treatment that is needed to remove the infestation.
One of the most common questions is how much is termite control Gold Coast but unfortunately there’s no one-size fits all answer.
Often there are several options available, you can have your home fumigated, treated with liquid chemical applications or powders.
If the infestation is in a critical area of your home, you may have to choose to use a combination of two or more methods for pest control.
The cost of a termite treatment can vary depending upon whether you choose fumigation or liquid chemical termite treatments. Fumigation costs will be higher than that of liquid chemical applications, but it also has advantages such as penetrating hidden areas and for very large buildings where the chemicals may not reach all locations.
Pest control should always be left to experienced professionals for safety reasons.
So if you want comprehensive and thorough pest control services, then hiring a professional will ensure that you get the best possible termite protection.
Ultimately the best way to understand termite treatment cost is to have a pest control professional examine your property, and provide a personalised assessment and quote.
Is it worth the investment to protect your home or property value from termites?
In almost every instance, it will definitely be worth the cost to eradicate termite infestations.
Consider that the value of your home may be several hundred thousand dollars or more.
Then consider the fact that if a termite problem is significant enough to damage the structural timbers, it could ultimately require the total destruction of your home to repair the damage caused by those termites.
When you consider the possibility of losing the entire value of your home due to termites, the cost to hire a pest control expert is insignificant by comparison.
How to prevent termite infestations from occurring
The most effective way to stop termites spread from occurring in the first place is to use a chemical termite barrier as well as termite bait stations.
The chemical termite barrier method involves placing a insect bait station in the ground around the structure and then filling it with a liquid termiticide.
Termites are attracted to the termite bait stations, eat the poison, and share it with the rest of the termite nest.
This creates an effect where all of the insects within the entire colony are killed.
In addition you can also employ other pest control prevention methods to make your property less attractive to termites in general.
Use a concrete foundation and create a ventilation gap between the soil and the wood. This will not allow the termites to gain entry through the ground.
Cover exposed wood surfaces with a sealant or a metal barrier to prevent an easy termite attack.
Keep the soil around the concrete slab dry through proper grading and drainage. Since termites enjoy a humid environment, it is often wise to ensure the area around your property is dry. If you’re unsure you can use a moisture meter to detect the moisture levels in any suspicious areas. A termite inspection will likely provide you with those answers.
Make sure that the area around your hot water services isn’t collecting moisture or dripping water. Leaking pipes in general will be very attractive to termites and can result in a variety of pest problems.
Ensure the moisture pipe from your air conditioning units are draining any water away from the house, and ensure weep holes aren’t covered so that moisture can drain away easily.
Garden beds also need to be looked at carefully, as they are often placed hard up against the side of a house, inadvertently blocking the weep holes which is an attractive place for termites.
Be sure to reduce openings that offer termites access to the structure in your property. A thorough pest inspection will need to check all external walls, retaining walls, as well as exposed or accessible timbers (including your roof void) to make sure they aren’t providing a pathway for termites to gain entry to your property.
All these things need to be considered for effective pest control.
Frequently asked questions about termite control
Can you do termite control yourself?
Professional and experienced pest controllers will do the job properly so you don’t risk having an infestation reoccur in the future.
How much damage can termites do to a home?
The average cost of termite damage is $25,000. However, repairs can be much more expensive when they are not detected in time.
Termites have in some extreme cases caused the entire destruction of a property to the point where it needs to be completed demolished.
What is the best way to control termites?
They can use specialised technology to detect infestations early so that you can eradicate them before they do major damage in your home.
You can ask the termite inspector for advice on how to make your house safe from termites.
Conculsion
To ensure maximum termite protection, it’s often a wise idea to have a full inspection of your home to detect the presence of termites and other household pests.
The inspection will enable your pest controller to offer advice on how to protect your property against termites, as well as the best methods of eradication.
This will ensure that any infestations are dealt with effectively so you don’t have to worry about them anymore.
Your home is something incredibly valuable and it’s worth making sure it’s protected from anything that might damage it.
Contact our team of termite control specialists for some free advice on termite protection for your home or office.
We’ll come to your location and provide a detailed explanation of which pest control services are the best fit for your individual situation.
