A SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT TO ELIMINATE TERMITES
THE MORE people you talk to about this subject - the more information you will obtain about what to do - the more information you get about what to do - probably the more CONFUSED YOU WILL GET
SUCCESSFUL TERMITE MANAGEMENT IS SIMPLE
PESTMASTER attends your property and does a thorough and complete Termite Inspection and Assessment of your Termite infestation.
It will reveal the Termite entry points, where they travelled, the visible and probable damage they did. Importantly, it will show Termite feeding areas suitable for baiting. Once feeding commences on bait, Termite colony elimination will follow, which means:
NO MORE TERMITE PROBLEM - IT'S THAT SIMPLE
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
If you want to stop it happening again, there are some things you should consider doing.
They have been disclosed during the Inspection and Assessment of your property.
You will receive documentation of the Inspection and Assessment of your property outlining
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO
CONDUCIVE CONDITIONS
There will be recommendations to remove conducive conditions, meaning conditions that may attract Termite infestation to your property in the future.
You can minimise Termite attractive conditions by :
• Removing any loose timber, rubbish and areas of direct wood to soil contact around your property.
• Fixing faulty plumbing, leaks, or dampness caused by poor drainage.
• Removing any dead trees and stumps since they are nesting sites for subterranean Termites.
• Increasing subfloor ventilation to the equivalent of 7,300 sg. mm per lineal metre or more. Ensure that all ventilators are positioned to allow a free flowing cross flow of air in all directions. This will assist in reducing moisture levels in subfloor areas.
• Removing garden beds, concrete and pavers etc away from structures to expose weep holes and the edge of concrete slabs.
• Replacing timber garden surrounds and retaining walls with Termite resistant materials.
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GAIN ACCESS TO CONCEALED AREAS
Any inaccessible areas that cannot be inspected should if possible have access made to that area for Inspection purposes. It may conceal evidence of Termite activity and damage.
Typical areas of no access are patios, verandahs and steps, they are also possible wet areas in subfloors, under laundries, bathrooms and kitchens.
In some constructions the foundation walls will be continuous under these areas and have concrete in-fill slabs on top with no entry available for Inspection.
When a small Inspection opening is made through these walls the area will be either filled with soil, broken concrete or similar materials to support the concrete above, or it will be empty, with the opening enlarged it may be accessible for Inspection.
These types of areas can have wooden formwork left in place after completion of the building, also off-cuts of wood left in the soil or fill. Moisture is usually present, the wood is decaying, any Termites entering this area have shelter and protection from predators, food and moisture. From these areas they attack the rest of the timber in a building.
IDEAL CONDITIONS FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A TERMITE COLONY WITHIN THE BUILDING.
TEST DRILL AND INSPECT TREES, STUMPS, TIMBER RETAINING WALLS etc
Many species of Termites have the colonies nest below the surface of the ground.
The existence of such nests are often very difficult to establish and have been made possible by the covering of tree stumps, roots and waste timber at the time of building.
It provides Termites with decaying wood in moist conditions which has been mentioned above in the section ‘Gain Access to Concealed Areas.'
NESTS IN ROOT CROWNS & TRUNKS OF TREES
Trees are a favourite nesting and feeding site of most of the destructive species of Termites. Their presence in trees with a visual Inspection can be very difficult to establish.
Dead trees still standing, stumps and root systems left in the ground after felling a tree, are also favourite nesting and feeding sites for Termites.
A dead tree or stump and root system left in the ground in and around Sydney seldom escapes attack by Termites.
Root systems left in the ground can provide Termites with access to buildings.
TO INSPECT TREE or STUMP
It is usually only necessary to drill about 3 to 4 holes of 12 mm diameter into the basal area of the tree and the trunk. This will show if the wood is solid or decaying and if hollow areas are present where Termites may be nesting.
Evidence of nesting material or live Termites may be on the drill bit or live Termites may come from the drill hole. Wooden dowels are inserted and left in the holes. Inspected regularly they may show evidence of Termite activity.
When there is evidence that a nest may be present it can be verified by inserting a digital temperature sensor probe into the drill holes, it shows inside and outside temperatures, if a nest is present it will show a temperature range of 30 to 35 degrees Celsius inside the tree. Test only on days or at times when the outside temperatures are lower.
CHEMICAL / SOIL BARRIERS
There will be recommendations that your building may be further protected by the installation of a complete and continuous Chemical / Soil Barrier System around all parts of the building in contact with the ground.
The purpose of Termite barriers is to IMPEDE, meaning to interfere with the progress of Termites, gaining concealed entry into buildings or structures.
Termites can build around barriers, which will make evidence of Termite activity more easily detected during RECOMMENDED REGULAR TERMITE INSPECTIONS.
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TERMITE IN-GROUND MONITORING STATIONS & REGULAR TERMITE INSPECTIONS
IMPORTANT INFORMATION - AS 3660 SERIES STATES
A Termite Barrier System constructed in accordance with this Standard cannot prevent Termite attack as barriers may be bridged or breached. Where Termites bridge barriers, the evidence may be detected during RECOMMENDED REGULAR TERMITE INSPECTIONS.
Termites may gain undetected entry to buildings and structures if you do not take basic steps to minimise the risk of Termite infestation into the building or structure.
The basic steps put in place to protect the building or structure must be regularly inspected and maintained.
RECOMMENDED BASIC STEPS
Do REGULAR TERMITE INSPECTIONS of your property as recommended by the Australian Standards.
The Australian Standard recommends at least annually, but in high risk areas and situations as determined by your SPECIALIST TERMITE MANAGER , the recommended Inspections may be every 3 months or 6 months.
REGULAR INSPECTIONS WILL NOT PREVENT TERMITE ATTACK, but they will minimise the amount of damage caused before the Termites are found and can be eliminated.
The purpose of REGULAR TERMITE INSPECTIONS is to find Termite infestations before they can do a lot of damage to your building or structure.
Even with approved TERMITE PROTECTION SYSTEMS in place Termites may still infest the building or structure.
This is why you must do REGULAR TERMITE INSPECTIONS.
INSTALL TERMITE MONITORING / BAITING STATIONS within the grounds of your property to monitor for Termite activity.
These are an important part of the REGULAR TERMITE INSPECTION process. They remain in place monitoring for Termite activity 24 hours a day, 7 days per week for as long as they are there.
When Termites are found in the Stations, the bait which is highly palatable to Termites and non-hazardous to humans and our pets, is added.
Termites readily consume the bait in preference to timber
Australian studies show that once Termites start feeding on the bait, shortly after they stop feeding on timbers in your building or structure, preferring to eat the bait.
Termites feed on the bait and it is replaced as required.
The bait is taken back to the Termite colonies usually concealed nest where it is fed slowly throughout the entire colony.
The Termites die gradually and they do not associate its members dying with the consumption of the bait.
This ensures that the entire colony is eliminated.
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PROTECTING BY DETECTING
HAVE REGULAR TERMITE INSPECTIONS
