Tips To Help Protect Your Property From Termites

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Tips To Help Protect Your Property From Termites
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• A large percentage of termites are mainly
  subterranean, which means they dwell in the
  ground. These insects create tunnel systems in
  the soil which may extend to a maximum depth of
  three feet. Here they make mud tubes that will
  connect their colonies located underground to
  food sources above such as wood material in your
  homes.

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• There are also some termites who 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 populate.
• Lastly, termites prefer to invade wood or any
  types of material that have cellulose.

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• Waste
• Do not bury scrap wood or waste lumber in
  your yard. If it is in the soil termites will be
  attracted to it.
• Decaying Vegetation
• Clear downed branches or decaying twigs and
  plants before they submerge into the soil.

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• Mulch
• Mulch provides a useful purpose but is best
  placed in areas of your garden that arent
  directly adjacent to the walls of your home. It
  can provide a food source and water source in the
  form of moisture and irrigation.

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• Wood
• Termites will consume any material that
  contains cellulose. Some of the more obvious
  signs 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.

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• Limit wood to ground contact. Home
  improvement centers now offer concrete supports
  that raise the wooden support beams for decks and
  patios off the ground.
• Water
• Termites cannot survive without a source of
  water present.

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• 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.

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• The most common example of leaks around I see
  on a daily basis 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.

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• Landscaping Considerations
• Avoid gardens alongside your home especially
  if you have a chemical barrier at the perimeter.
  Normal gardening or use of topsoil may ruin the
  barrier and void your warrantee.
• If you must have gardens alongside your home
  do not raise the beds above the existing ground
  level especially with slab-on-ground
  construction.

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• The ground level or finished paving level must
  be at least 75mm below the damp-proof course line
  or the bottom of the weepholes. Never cover up
  the weepholes.
• Dont plant flower or shrubs that will hide
  weepholes, vents in the walls with timber floors
  or the exposed edge of concrete floor slabs.

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• Areas under suspended floor should be well
  ventilated and dry. Dont close off sources of
  ventilation.
• Be aware that the later construction of
  unprotected additions such as carports, pergolas,
  porches, access ramps and steps to your home may
  allow termites to bridge an existing termite
  barrier.

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• Even installing something like a new water
  heater on the outside of your home could damage
  the termite barrier or make it difficult to
  detect any future termite activity.
• Take care when selecting trees to plants. 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.

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• Dont affix wooden trellises to exterior walls
• Keep all shrubs, bushes and other dense
  greenery away from the foundation of your home.
• Remove infested trees and stumps
• Dont allow leaves to accumulate in gutters and
  drains.

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• Home Inspections
• I generally recommend an annual inspection,
  whether it is done by a Licensed Inspector
  qualified in the area of Timber and Pest
  Inspection, or by yourself (but you need to know
  what to look for).
• Inspection of all potential entry points to
  timber structures

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• Inspection of all termite barriers for any
  bridging or breaching by termites, building
  trails of mud or galleries across those barriers.
• Inspection 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.

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