Termites are an ever-present risk to homes across Australia, yet are often not noticed until the damage is extensive and costly. Here’s what to look out for, and how to reduce the likelihood of an invasion in your house.
Termites feed on timber and other cellulose-based plant materials up to 100 metres from their nest and will happily snack on electrical wiring cables and conduits. The damage they’re doing is not always obvious at first glance as they prefer to avoid light, so you might well find they have eaten most of the available timber yet left a thin surface cover as protection.
If that’s not bad enough, consider their capacity for multiplying: just one termite nest can house over a million insects with a queen who might lay up to 2,000 eggs a day.
Then there’s the cost of repair and eradication, which can be as high as $10,000. Termite damage is not covered by insurance, so it is important to take precautions.
– If you’re unsure whether you live in a termite-prone area, contact your local council.
– Avoid storing timber off-cuts beneath the house and remove tree stumps and the roots of old trees in the yard.
– Stack firewood away from the side of the building.
– Speak to an expert if you uncover what you think are termites. Do not disturb the site as that may well result in them beating a retreat to establish a new colony close by, thereby exacerbating the problem.
– Invest in physical or chemical termite barriers when building or extending your home. Chemical treatments last around five years, so have an expert inspect and re-apply the treatment regularly.
– Ensure your home is inspected (at the least) every five years by an expert.
– Maintain existing termite barriers. If you renovate, landscape the garden or experience flooding, your barrier may be compromised, so check with an expert.
