A Managed Approach System To Termite Management

It is no secret that termites are prevalent in almost all parts of Australia and they cause serious damage to more than 180,000 Australian homes and buildings every year. There are about 350 species of termites in Australia, but Nasutitermes, Heterotermes, Microcerotermes,Coptotermes, Mastotermes, and Schedorhinotermes are some of the common categories of termites that cause maximum destruction.

The current Australian building regulations mainly put emphasis of on the management of termites through barrier systems and inspections. New regulations are not in favour of environmentally harmful methods of the past. Although the risk of major damage is very low, yet all sorts of houses are at risk from termite attack. The best approach to reduce the risk is to:

• Inspect regularly and,
• Maintain termite barriers.

The key focus of the new approach is to offer a system that addresses all structures of the house in a perfect manner. This approach is also related to the construction of a barrier system that can easily help in assisting termite inspections once the house is occupied. There are a number of Australian Standards which relate to termite management:

• AS 3660.1-2000: Termite management (New building work).
• AS 3660.2-2000: Termite management (In and around existing buildings

and structures).

• AS 3660.3-2000: Termite management (Evaluation criteria for termite

management systems).

• AS 4349.3-1998: Inspections of buildings (Timber pest inspections).

The use of DIY termite baits and DIY termite control is also popular as termite controlling methods help in making your homes free from the presence and attack of termites in a convenient manner.

Termites On The Rampage Make Your Home at Risk From A Termite Infestation

There are over 350 species of termites in Australia, and about 2 dozen of them are ever ready to cause potential damage to wooden structures of Aussies. Formosan or subterranean termites are the most harmful and live in the soil in massive nests. Known for causing tremendous structural damage, subterranean termites feast persistently on the wood in homes and surrounding structures as well. A recent report from Archicentre shows that formosan and other termites cause loss $780 million-$1 billion every year.

Termite infestation is a big problem in Australia and it can be simply understood with the fact that every third Australian property is affected by termite infestation. About 180,000 Australian homes and buildings are facing threat from a variety of termite species. Termites on the rampage and Aussies have to adopt some stiff measures to make their homes free from the risk of a termite infestation before it is too late.

Australian regions, such as Perth, Broome, Darwin, Cairns, Port Headland Townsville, Rockhampton, and Brisbane, are very highly exposed to possible subterranean termite infestation threat. Other areas, such as Mount Isa, Narrabn, Dubbo, Adelaide, Mount Gambier, Albury, and, Sydney, Newcastle, and Mildura, are under the high risk of termite infestation threat. In the same manner, Kalgoorlie, Alice Springs, Canberra, Bega, and Charleville, also face threat from termites, but this threat is moderate. So, Aussies need to go for DIY termites baits and DIY termite control in order to detect the presence of termites in and out of their homes and get rid of them completely.

How To Go About DIY termite Treatment For Your Home

If you suddenly find to your utter horror that your house is infested with termites, take action immediately as they chew away wood, which can destroy your foundations, framing, beams and furniture.

You can choose from any of termite treatment options available–even the DIY route. If you do choose to go with DIY termite treatment, you will have to buy a few tools and repellants. Begin by checking out the kind of termites that affect your house–Formosan, drywood or subterranean or any other. This is necessary to know as the treatment type varies according to the type of termite.

With a knowledge of the kind of termite, you can find out the many treatment options available to you. The most common treatment methods include termite baits and liquid treatments.

Termite baits help kill termites, so this method is both safe and effective. Baits are plastic stakes placed in the ground systems near the house. Each stake comes with growth deterrents for termites that cause their eventual death. This method works slowly, so if your house is badly infested with termites, this may not be a good option. However, it is good termite protection DIY.

Liquid treatments comprise using liquid pesticides or termicides. They are the fastest, cheapest and oldest methods of killing termites. But they come with poisonous chemicals, making them dangerous to use. So, they could cause you serious harm if you don’t use them correctly.

Preventing termite infestation:

• Don’t let trees grow near your house. Minimize the amount of trash, timber and loose wood around puddles or soil.
• Get any water leakage or plumbing defects sorted out as they can cause poor drainage and encourage climbing plants to grow and termites to enter your home.

How To Go About Treating Your Home Of Termites

If you’ve just noticed signs of termite infestation in your home, don’t delay termite treatment. You may choose to call in professionals or go it alone. If you choose the latter, here are some important details you should know.

If you’re sure you want to go in for DIY termite treatment, choose a DIY termite extermination method. To begin with, study the various kinds of termites in your home and look for signs of termite infestations and the appropriate treatment method.

How to go about the DIY route: There are a couple of steps for termite protection DIY:

Identify the kind of termite in your home: There are several kinds of termites such as Formosan, drywood and subterranean. You should identify the kind that’s in your home. If they’ve eaten into your woodwork, check if they are subterranean or drywood. It’s important that you check the termite type before you begin treatment.

Drywood termite infestation: This type of termite can be identified by its typical fecal pellets that look like sawdust. You’ll find them near window sills or any wooden furniture, or in attics. They spread fast and cause havoc to your home.

If you see tunnels near the walls of your basement, you can be sure it’s the work of subterranean termites, which are found in damp areas of the home.

Choosing your termite treatment type: Liquid pesticides is good termite treatment as it works fast.

Termite baits is a wise choice as it does not lead to any chemical contamination and is safe and effective. However, it works slowly, so if you want quick results, this treatment type is not for you.

Termite Hazard Affecting Every Nook And Cranny Of Australia

It is proven that every third Australian property is affected by termite infestation. Every year, termites or white ants cause serious damage to more than 180,000 Australian homes and buildings. They are widely prevalent in across all states of Australia. You can divide them in three basic categories: dampwood, drywood and subterranean. The first category of termites lives in damp rotting logs or rot pockets inside living as well as dead trees. The second category of termites called ‘Drywood termites’ obtain water from the wood. And the third and last basic variety of termites, Subterranean termites, are ground-dwelling and they make contact with the soil. This variety of termite poses a threat to timber.

According to a termite hazard map supplied by CSIRO Australia, the coastal belt and northern parts of Australia are regarded as high hazard areas for subterranean termite infestation. That is why all wooden structures in Australia, city or industrial area, are exposed to possible subterranean termite infestation threat.

Very high: Perth, Broome, Darwin, Cairns, Port Headland Townsville, Rockhampton, and Brisbane.

High: Mount Isa, Narrabn, Dubbo, Adelaide, Mount Gambier, Albury, and, Sydney, Newcastle, and Mildura.

Moderate: Kalgoorlie, Alice Springs, Canberra, Bega, and Charleville.

Low: Melbourne.

Very low: Melbourne.

Negligible: Hobart.

Termites in Australia are categorised under the following species names, including Coptotermes, Mastotermes, Schedorhinotermes, Nasutitermes, Heterotermes, and Microcerotermes. No matter which part of Australia you are living in, you can make your home free from the presence of termites by taking service and advice of the companies that deals in the selling and supply of termite controlling and monitoring tools, like DIY termite baits.

Termite Control Options To Get Rid Of The Most Destructive Household Pests

Do you know what is common between borers, silverfish, bed bugs, cockroaches, spiders, bees, fleas, termites, rats, mice and wasps? All of them are common household pests that are found inside or outside common household structures in Australia. Amongst all of them, termites are highly prevalent and most destructive in all corners of Australia. Termites are ground inhabiting (subterranean) social insects that live in colonies. A well established termite colony can make all wooden structures weak and lifeless in the least amount of time.

Aussie home or building owners who are experiencing any sign of termite activity inside their premises can go for various options for a professional protection from termite infestation and timber damage in the building. Here, they can go for various options, such as DIY termite prevention and DIY termite baits.

Initial inspection & report to A.S.3660: It is related to the thorough inspection of buildings and surrounding areas in which a detailed written report is prepared according to Australian Standard 3660. With it, you can know more about termite activity, their entry areas, and possible termite control options and limitations.

Chemical soil treatment: This option is done around the perimeter and sub-floor of a building in order to eradicate termites with highly effective termiticides.

Installation and monitoring of termite baits: This method is useful for killing termites as they find the baits and consume sufficient baits. This method is recommended only in limited circumstances.

Building, modification & maintenance: It is related to the measures for termite risk reduction for improving subfloor ventilation, removing timber in contact with the soil, and improving inspection access areas.

Subsequent inspections to A.S.3660: This method is used after an interval of 3-6 months where the sign of termite activity was traced.

Termite inspection made easy with a termidetector

Every home needs protection from termites. People spend a lot of money for inspecting and treating termites as they are a great threat to the property. They are always in hunt of some more effective diy termite prevention tips because they know that treating these dreadful pests in an early stage is easy. Less effort is required at the beginning stage. But , when the attack gets wide-spread and covers all the areas of the property, then a lot of money, effective treatment and consultation of a professional pest control company is required.

So, the sooner you come to know that there is attack of termites in your property, the better it is for you think of diy termite baits .

Order for a termite detector if you want to inspect early whether there are termites in your property or not. You can check the baits all on your own if you are using a termite detector. It is going to save your annual cost that you may spend on inspection.

Termites never sleep. They work all round the clock. So, if you live in an area where there is more of termite activity, it is better to go for diy termite protection measures. Installing a termite detector is a must. Although you would get an inspection done by a professional once in a year, but you must use the detector in between to analyse the activity of the termites in your property.

Carry your termite inspection smarty with a termite detector