Imagine your house falling apart, its wooden structure reduced to a thin hollow shell. You regret not listening to your instincts when they told you to hire professional termite control experts to inspect your house.
Their thorough inspection would have rescued both your property and your money from irreparable loss. Now open you eyes, and take the first step towards shielding your property from these destructive pests using the barriers below.
Physical Barriers
A physical barrier is the simplest form of protection against termites. It consists of a layer of material that is usually placed under the concrete slab of your house prior to its full construction.
This layer works only on subterranean termites who build their nests in the soil and invade your home in search of timber. These colonies are a nightmare of epic proportions.
Their population can reach the million mark, which is absolutely terrifying. They are capable of damaging wooden structures in three months time. Physical barriers can be chemical or non-chemical.
- Non-chemical: stainless steel mesh can be installed beneath concrete slabs and in external walls during construction. This mesh can also be altered for wall cavities of existing structures. Stone barriers made of small granite chips can also be installed below concrete slabs. However, this type of barrier is not suited for northern Australia, home to large Darwin termite species. nChemical: polymer sheeting saturated with termicide gives you double the protection. This plastic barrier also needs to be installed during the construction phase of your property.
Chemical Barriers
The annual cost of termite damage in Australia is around $1 billion dollars. This staggering number should encourage you to be more proactive when it comes to shielding your property from termites.
Chemical barriers are created using a combination of soil and termicide. Termicide is applied to the soil under the slab and around the footings and pipes to create a vertical barrier.
During construction, a horizontal barrier is also created by treating the soil surrounding the house with termicide. In addition, using chemically treated timber in the construction of your property also provides an extra layer of protection.
In order to integrate a termite barrier treatment into your existing property, strategic drilling through concrete slabs, floors, wall footings and porches may be required.
Chemical Baits
Using bait stations to attract termites to a food source such as dry wood is one example of a chemical bait. A single house usually requires around 30 bait stations.
Each station needs to be regularly inspected in order to asses termite activity. According to The Building Commission, inspections should be carried out at least once a year by a licensed pest control operator.
Physical Inspections
Hiring a trained professional to regularly inspect your home for any signs of termite infestation is highly recommended. Nowadays, termites can be detected using thermal imaging.
This infrared technology is the best detective on the market. Better than Sherlock Holmes himself, thermal imaging is used to scan buildings quickly and efficiently for termites and termite-related issues.
Thermal imaging will give you the full picture, uncovering roof leaks, insulation issues and moisture problems. Thermal imaging can detect the slightest differences in wall and surface temperatures in a non-invasive way, making it easier to get rid of termites in a safe and cost-effective manner.
References
- Termites and Your Home
- Thermal Imaging Termite Detection
http://termitesolutions.com/inspections/thermal-imaging-termite-detection/
- What is a Physical Termite Barrier Systems?
http://pests.guru/termites/control/prevention/barrier/physical-systems.html
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