A Guide To Termite Inspection And Management For Homes on the Gold Coast

Here’s an educational guide which focuses on termite management. It gives tips on how to invest in the right termite management device for your home.

Who’s at risk of termite infestation?

Every home is a potential site for termites to breed and invade.

A study undertaken by the CSIRO has concluded that masonry and steel construction are equally susceptible to termite infestation as timber houses.

There have been minimal cases of permanent property damage observed in an infestation. Some common household items known to attract termites include clothing, fit-out timbers, plasterboard, artwork, carpets and books, etc.

Location is another factoring variable which plays an elementary role in putting a home at risk. Homes on the Gold Coast get exposed to environmental conditions which could influence a termite infestation.

A homeowner should consult a certified pest management company if they’re suspicious of termites invading their house. It’s advisable to have a building contractor and architect on board too.

Top 5 termite control barriers

Here’s a list which highlights some common treatments recommended during an inspection.

1. Sheet capping or simply “cap” is a sheet material (metal) which serves either as a continuous or isolated subfloor barrier.
2. Chemical treatment is often introduced in the process to kill or repel termites. A professional pest control specialist uses different concentration of chemicals to treat the affected areas, under or around a building.
3. Concrete slab commonly called “Slab” is a widely used application. It’s made of solid concrete which a pest management specialist often uses as a preventive application. This treatment offers temporary protection against termites tunnelling their way into a building.
4. Crushed stone or “Stone” is another best-in-class instrument used in termite control and prevention. It’s characterised by large stone particles layered together which are placed on suspected termite sites to prevent termites penetrating.
5. Stainless-steel mesh or “Mesh” is another treatment used in designing a continuous or isolated barrier to stop termites entering the house.

Inspection and maintenance

A homeowner should speak with a termite control manager in their area about regular inspections.

It’s the best preventive measure to add an extra layer of protection against re-infestation. Building code regulations based on the Australian Standard-AS3660.2 suggest an annual inspection for homes. They strongly encourage more frequent checks if possible.

A word-of-caution to homeowners is to avoid undoing barriers put in place by a builder and/or termite manager.

There have been cases which point to poor maintenance of barriers. It’s imperative to take care not to undo the application when engaging in landscaping works around the house.

It’s a common problem seen in gardening, paving and mulching in treated areas.

A solution which has proved effective is to do a collaboration of landscaping works and termite management before adding termite barriers. Termite pest managers suggest putting off other maintenance concerns until the move-in.

Tips on how to treat high-risk termite sites

• Experts suggest designing well-ventilated or open subfloors as a preventive measure.

• It’s imperative to schedule routine inspections and have unobstructed access to crawl spaces.

• An efficient drainage system has proved reliable to keep subfloor areas dry and termite-free.

• Treated timber framing are the least susceptible to a termite infestation.

• It’s best to isolate building structures, including balconies and deck from the main construction; if it’s impractical to install an efficient termite barrier system.

• Australian Standard-AS3660.2 suggest scheduling an inspection for termites every 12 months or earlier.

• Homeowners should invest in termite protective insurance. This program offers routine inspections, financial coverage against property damage and monitoring of potential sites.

• The Yellow Pages has a roster of certified pest management specialists which a homeowner can reach for a detailed consultation. It’s imperative to ask a pest manager about professional indemnity insurance. It’s a needed product in events of them treating a timber framed house after an inspection. Another precaution is to investigate into their background as an inspector and pest management specialist. It takes up to two years of training to study termite behaviour. The termite management system should fit the house based on a set of demographic variables, including environment and age among other conditions.

• Those erecting new constructions should consult a pest manager for a scheduled inspection for termites.

• Without routine inspection and maintenance, termite barriers are the least effective.

A homeowner should take care of inspection and maintenance in their home. It’s nonsensical to blame other conditions of nature, including a tree or a hole for termites invading a home. A homeowner has the responsibility to schedule an inspection and treatment for any suspicious grounds or properties around the house.

“We’re-about-to-move-in – What-do-we-need-to-know-about-managing-termites?”

Inspect…Inspect…Inspect!

There’s no termite barrier or system which guarantees 100% protection against termites. Their colony commonly tunnel into houses from underground.

The variety of products invented are not designed to stop termites tunnelling their way into homes but to prevent undetectable entry. These instruments make it easier to detect termite entry and find colony sites.

Homeowners should check a termite management specialist for the best-in-class treatment. It’s expensive to control a pre-existing termite infestation which has gone untreated for many years let alone decades.

For this reason, it’s imperative that homeowners in Australia invest in routine inspections to prevent this happening. It’s not something which home insurance can cover and there have been instances where building warranties and coverage become invalidated.

Which homes risk an infestation?

Timber framed houses and other constructions in Australia are equally susceptible to a termite infestation. Homeowners should take this into account as a CSIRO study has reported that masonry and steel framed houses are no safer.

How do homeowners check for the barrier system installed in their home?

Each home should have a “Notice-of-Treatment” reference tagged to the electrical meter-panel system in their home. It gives detailed information about a home’s barrier system, if there’s a setup. In some homes, it’s tagged on the access door to the subfloor.

Popular types of termite barriers

1. Specialised Council-certified barriers.
2. Custom barrier systems.

About termite inspections

How often is an inspection for termites in the home needed?

The “Notice-of-treatment” label provides guidance on termite inspection protocols and intervals. The “Australian standard-AS3660.2” policy suggests a yearly cycle for termite inspection. It’s advisable to schedule frequent inspections for potential high-risk areas.

What defines a high-risk location?

A set of demographic variables play a role in classifying a location. These include the isolation capabilities, effectiveness of the barrier system and exposure to potential elements of threat.