Termite Problems
Termites are an invasive pest who can do extraordinary damage to a person’s home or business. Worker termites feed on wood and cellulose material, burrowing tunnel’s in wood. This weakens the structure of a home or business significantly. Most regions in Australia are infested with termites.
To be safe, properties should have an annual inspection to prevent termite infestation. Insurance coverage does not extend to termite damage, thus making annual checks even more important. Here in Australia, inspections are the law. A business or home owner must have inspections every year because of the large number of termite species in Australia.
Steps You Can Take
As a home or business owner, some steps can be taken to help prevent termite damage. Limiting loose wood or timber on the outside of a home or business, can limit nest building. Dryness does not attract termites, so having good ventilation systems under your home is an added protective measure. When building a new home or business, concrete slabs instead of wood, make an excellent preventative measure. Most methods to safely exterminate these pests differ from case to case, so professional help is recommended.
Finding An Infestation
The first piece of the puzzle, as previously mentioned regarding termite infestations, is inspection. Only experienced professionals should be sought to complete this step. Choose a company that has a proven successful record against termites. Proper qualifications and insurance provided by any exterminator are great boons to any consumer.
A proper inspection determines the extent of the infestation, damage to property, species identification, and the entry point of the pests. Inspectors search the inside and outside of a property, thoroughly checking for any signs of termites. Most inspectors also provide the consumer a report detailing their findings.
The species of the termites, location of infestation and recommendations for a proper extermination plan come from this report. Therefore, a good inspection gives the professional the information needed to plan a proper method of extermination for any customer.
Elimination
To prevent even more damage to your property, nests must be completely eradicated to prevent re-infestation. Chemicals and dust compounds sprayed on nearby affected areas are definite ways to kill termites. Termites carry these poisons back to the nest quickly spreading this poison to the entire colony. This is one of the most effective ways to eradicate termites. Eradicating the nest does not guarantee prevention.
Chemical and dust barriers around entry sites discourages re-infestation. These barriers prevent termites from re-entering the home or business. Most of these chemicals involve soil treatment. Sunlight breaks down these chemicals over time. Yearly re-application is essential for prevention. Physical barriers are also available for protection. Physical barriers like Homeguard are placed usually during construction.
Chemically coated plastic that can be molded to fit almost any surface help provide long-term reliability. This long-term coverage is another important factor in getting quality prevention services. Only licensed technicians can install most of these chemical and physical barriers, so seeking out professional help is a must.
