Termites

 

Termites cause an estimate $1 billion worth of damage across Australia every single year.  This number is climbing at a startling rate as more homes are destroyed by these little silent invaders.  The reasons for the influx in termites vary but some of the key reasons we have found are:

1. The extremely toxic, yet effective organochlorine chemicals that were banned over 20 years ago now do not last forever.  Many homes where damage has been found is because the homeowner believed that they were still protected by these toxic chemicals.  They do have a lifespan and any home that was previously protected by these chemicals now needs to have another form of termite protection. 
2. The obvious one - more homes have been built and it only stands to reason that more damage will occur.
3. Chemicals used today are all biodegradable, meaning that the active (which is what protects your home) does break down over time and therefore more regular treatments are necessary.  Some independant studies have shown that the chemicals do not last as long as the chemical companies state due to our hot and dry Australian climate.
4. After having conducted thousands of inspections across Perth, we can honestly say that over 90% of the homes that have been treated are not fully protected from a termite attack.  Most properties have been treated outside of the Australian Standards and/or product label specifications and therefore the home is still at risk of attack.  In fact, the majority of the homes where we have found significant damage inside the home, were ones that had a termite treatment previously and should have still been protected.  The most signficant factor of why so many homes are still vulnerable would be that the wrong chemical has been used for a particular homes construction.  Unfortunately, smooth talking salespersons who do not have any technical knowledge in termites will sell unsuspecting clients treatments that produce the highest profits for the company, not necessarily provide the necessary protection for a home.  There are dozens of different termite chemical options available and each has it's place in the market and are designed for specific situations - not every situation. 

Termites are blind, meaning that they can not tell the difference between a fallen tree limb in your back gardens or a tasty major structural beam in your roof - to them it's just food.  Just as humans require many different food types to keep us going, so does the termite.  Termites require a large dose of carbohydrates (wood/timber, paper, cardboard, books, mulch, etc) protein (fungus, mould, urine, etc) and moisture.  As long as they have these key three ingrediants they will be content.

Termites typically will travel as much as 50 metres from their nest, meaning that one colony can cover an area of approximately 5 acres.  That is a lot of land in which to find their dietary requirements.  Keep in mind that this is just a basic rule of thumb as we've heard stories of termites travelling up to 120 metres from their main nest in search of food. 

Within a termite colony, you will find high levels of moisture.  It's estimated that their ideal environment is at 96% humidity.  You will not typically find termites crawling on the ground unless their termite lead has been broken.  Termites travel in mud tunnels (leads) and within those leads is their ideal climate of 96% humidity.  Considering how dry our Australia climate is, it's important to consider the significant role that moisture plays in a termites environment.  When understanding that termites require moisture for their environment, we can use this information to our advantage when trying to reduce our risk of exposure of a termite attack.

Taking some of the basic knowledge we know about termites we can make the following recommendations for any home.

• Keep all timber structures and/or loose timbers up off the ground surface.  Termites forage through soil in search of food and anytime you place a food source within easy striking distance for termites - you risk attracting termites to your property.  Keep in mind that even if you store timber off the ground, temites can still access it by building their mud tunnels up to the timber.  The advantage is that you do not make it easy for them, you expose them to the elimates and you make it so that they are easier to locate.
• Remove all fallen tree branches from your property.  Whilst trees are alive, the leaves absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen, but once that tree is removed from the ground, the timber will release carbon dioxide through it's natural decaying process.  That carbon dioxide and decay provides termites with necessary protein for their diet and will further attract termites to your property.  
• Remove all tree stumps from your property.  Tree stumps provide termites with an ideal breeding/nesting ground.  Plenty of carbohydrates, protein and moisture all in one area, making it a perfect termite nesting area.
• Do not store cardboard boxes in your shed.  Cardboard is an excellent food source for termites, and it easily absorbs moisture making it a further attractant for termites.
• Ventilate your home as much as possible.  Many homes across Perth have inadequate ventilation which can create all kinds of problems for many pests including termites.  Whirlybirds on the roof not only extract hot air from the ceiling void, but also will remove any stuffy moist air trapped in the roof void.  Many homes have exhaust fans in the bathroom, but unless the fan is ducted so that it excretes all hot moist timber out of the roof, you are in fact creating an even greater problem for yourselves.  If the hot moist air is not ventilated out of the roof void, it will settle on the roof timbers further attracting termites to your home.     
• Fix any leaking taps found anywhere on your property.  Any excess moisture will give termites that necessary moisture requirement for their environment and greatly increase your chances of a termite attack.   Need help finding a professional, qualified and friendly plumber?  Why not give our friends at Plumb-Dog Plumbing and Gas a call on 9313 6662 as they specialise in fixing leaks.
• Ensure that all your downpipes are plumbed either into a drain system, a soak well or away from the property.  Any excess moisture that falls onto the ground surface against a home is going to further attract termites to your home.  As termites need that moisture, the less moisture you can have against your home the better.
• Have a qualified roof plumber investigate your roof to ensure there are no leaks as well as to ensure there is adequate flow of rain water off of your roof.  Many homes across Perth have rusting gutters and/or downpipes and this pours additional moisture onto the ground against homes.  Any leak in the roof, is going to allow water to enter the roof creating all kinds of potential problems including attracting termites to your roof.
• Remove any timber that has been effected by fungal decay or wood rot.  That double food source of carbohydrates and protein in one will further attract termites to your property, so it's best to remove it from your property all together and replace it with non-susceptible materials. 
• Remove any and all fungus/mould that may be growing on the external walls and/or paving/concrete around your home.  Timber and other carbohydrates are usually pretty easy for termites to find, but protein is not always easily accessible for termites.  By having fungus growing around your home, it creates an ideal environment for termites and you are literally inviting them into your home.  There are several different products that can be used to clean off any fungus found around your home but it's important to realise that there are reasons why it is growing there in the first place.  Many times clients will pressure clean the area, which certainly removes the fungus on the surface, however this does nothing for the fungus that has been released into the soil under the pavers (which is where the termites forage for food).  SWATAPEST has a specially designed product that not only kills the fungus growing on the surface, but also in between the pavers and underneath as well.  It is a 100% natural product and it continues to kill the fungus for up to 10 years.  Give us a call today on 9313 8484 or 0411 808 383 to learn more.