Tips to protect your home from termites

Tips to protect your home from termites

Generally, termites are mainly subterranean, which means they dwell in the ground. These insects create tunnel systems in the soil that can possibly extend to a depth of three feet. Termites create mud tubes that connects their colonies underground to potential food sources above the ground such as wood material surrounding your property.

Some termites live in water sources such a leaky tap or any damp areas produced by rain. They look for a place where there is moisture, so they will be able to survive and thrive and termites prefer to invade wood or any types of material that have cellulose.

Waste

• Do not bury scrap wood or waste lumber in your yard as termites will be attracted to it.

Decaying Vegetation

• Clear downed branches or decaying twigs and plants before they submerge into the soil.

Mulch

• Mulch is best placed in areas of your garden that aren’t directly adjacent to the walls of your home. It can provide a food source and water source in the form of moisture and irrigation

Wood

• Some of the more obvious signs for termites could be small holes in wood, crumbling drywall, sagging doors or floors, insect winds and small shelter tubes
  Minimize excess building materials and scrap wood touching the ground. Concrete slabs or stands can be used to raise the wood off the ground.
• Limit stockpiled timber or firewood near external walls or raise above the ground.
• Limit wood to ground contact.

Leaks

• Identify and fix all water leaks in and around your home. Do not give termites a free water source that is close to your home.
• Any standing or pooling water should be dealt with as well as leaking gutters.
• The most common example of leaks is the hot water service relief valve and air conditioning unit condenser overflow points not being connected. This can easily be remedied by connecting them to the storm water system
• Termites cannot survive without a source of water present.

Landscaping

• Avoid gardens alongside your home especially if you have a chemical barrier at the perimeter.
• Constructing unprotected additions such as carports, pergolas, porches, access ramps and steps to your home may allow termites to bridge an existing termite barrier..
• If you plant the wrong tree too close to your home, its roots may damage the termite barrier under or beside the concrete slab or cause the slab itself to crack.
• Remove infested trees and stumps
• Don’t allow leaves to accumulate in gutters and drains.
• If you have gardens alongside your home do not raise the beds above the existing ground level especially with slab-on-ground construction. The ground level or finished paving level must be at least 75mm below the damp-proof course line or the bottom of the weepholes.
• Don’t affix wooden trellises to exterior walls
• Keep all shrubs, bushes and other dense greenery away from the foundation of your home.
• Areas under suspended floor should be well ventilated and dry. Don’t close off sources of ventilation.

Pest Inspections

• An annual inspection, by a licensed building Inspector qualified in Pest Inspection so you can be provided within 24 hours by Australian Property Building Inspections your pest and termite inspection reporInspection around perimeter weepholes in brick walls just above concrete slabs or just below suspended floors
• Inspection for wood and other possible food for termites around the perimeter of the concrete slab or under timber floors.Inspection of all entry points to timber structures
• Inspection of all termite barriers for any bridging or breaching by termites, building trails of mud or galleries across those barriers.