Watch this video below of extensive Termite damage detected at a Building and Pest Inspection at Burleigh.
Here are some tips from the QBCC, termite prevention is basically maintenance and eliminating water issues. An annual pest inspection is high advisable also.
HOW TO MAINTAIN YOUR HOME
Small issues can quickly turn into major problems if the proper steps are not taken to maintain
your home.
Here are some of the common home maintenance problems you might encounter as a home owner and how to avoid them.
How can you prevent roof leaks?
Although some cases of roof leaks are caused by defective building work, most of the time they are caused by a lack of maintenance and cleaning.
Cleaning regularly (and at least once a year before the wet season) will prevent fallen leaves and other debris from building up on roofs, which can block and corrode gutters and downpipes.
This may cause leaks into the house (ceilings, walls and floors) and dampness may attract termites which cause further damage.
How can you manage termites?
Termites attack building timber, Termites work fast and can cause serious and costly damage to your home, even before anyone is aware of their presence.
Some buildings have physical termite barrier systems installed to help prevent termite penetration. Chemical termite treatments can also be applied periodically to prevent damage.
Tips for preventing termite attacks:
• Have a suitably licensed person inspect your home every 12 months (or every three months if located in a high-risk area).
• Regularly check for early signs of termite activity, including earth tubes, veins or a gallery of tubes running up the side of your home. Check for soil disturbance around cracks or gaps in the area.
• Check surrounding trees, stumps or timber-sleeper walls as termites can nest in these areas.
• Keep wood and garden mulch beds away from the outside of your home. Ensure any ‘weepholes’ (the small ventilation hole in-between two bricks, near the ground) do not end up below soil level.
• Ensure timber floors, pergolas, verandas and steps are not in contact with the ground.
• For stumps or brick piers, regularly inspect ant caps (the metal sheet that protrudes horizontally beyond the sides of the post) for earth tubes that may have been built around the ant cap into the building.
• Check the damp areas around your building, e.g. around taps, hot water systems and air-conditioning units for early signs of termite activity.
Before buying a new home:
Before you make a major investment in a new home, make sure that there aren’t hidden problems such as termite infestations.
Just because a building looks well maintained doesn’t mean it’s free from termites. Also, termite resistant building materials (such as concrete floors) will not always prevent termite attack.
Here are steps for checking termite activity:
• Arrange a building inspection report on the condition of the building, focusing on the termite barrier system and any signs of dampness.
• Arrange a termite inspection report on past or present termite activity.
• Find out when the building was last treated to prevent termite attack and when the next treatment is due.
• Understand the level of risk the building has against termite attack and how to prevent future damage.
Call DR Inspections for your next Building and Pest Inspection in Burleigh on 0421 641 301.
