Termites - Your Treatment Choices:

Chemicals:

Pros: Can reduce (not eliminate) risk of termite attack on the building

Cons: Difficult to apply. Limited soil penetration. Short term very biodegradable. Very expensive. Average job (limited chance) of success $1500. Cut out concrete and trenching job $3000. Full job as above with reticulation $4000 - $5000. Uneconomic to protect (Spend $20,000 to fix $2000 problem)

Physical Barriers:

Pros: Very long lasting.

Cons: DO NOT reduce risk of termite attack. Inspection aid only. Can not be used for exiting buildings effectively. Can be damaged by other trades. Must be 100% or is of no use (especially joins and corners). Must be regularly inspected.

Baiting:

Pros: Can kill a few termite nests in grounds.

Cons: No evidence in tropical and sub-tropical environment that destroying nests in yard reduces risk to building of termite attack. Expensive ($2000/year) because very labour intensive (inspection every 4-6 weeks).

Inspections:

Pros: Can provide early warning or early detection of termite attack

Cons: Once a year is not enough. At least 6 monthly required however best 3 monthly. Can get expensive if your paying professional

Things For You to Do:

Remove garden beds from beside house. Improve drainage around house. Attend to water leaks and drips promptly. Cut off any timbers connecting the building to the ground. Trim off timber fence battens and cut back vegetation on and over timber fences. If bottom of fence in embedded in soil or mulch...dig it out. Caress your building every 3 months your house will love it and you'll feel better. Learn all you can about termites. Knowledge will protect you.

When the Worst Happens:

Don't disturb termites.

Get 3 quotes from termite specialists

Eradicate colony using arsenic dust. (alternative is available but very slow and expensive.)

Find and fix termite point of entry(s)

Modify environment around building to reduce risk and increase effectiveness of inspections.

Inspect regularly and methodically.

For further advice and service contact John De Costa on 1800-816-205

Biology | Detection | Baiting

Facts & Fiction | Treatment Choices

What do you do when you find Termites??