Termite control comes in many forms and it is often difficult to get good independent advice as to what Control measures you should take. As an expert in termite control I am very happy to share my knowledge with anybody who needs it, no strings! Just ask.
Part 1 of a series of videos that shows what happens when a termite inspection is carried out. All of the footage shown here has been captured by Pestec technicians in the course of their daily routines. The images are easy to collect as termites are found on multiple occasions each and every day.
This particular footage deals with some of the areas around the outside of a home that termites find easy to feed upon, nest in and use as "staging points" for their attack on the home.
These examples could happen in any home on the eastern seaboard of Australia, and anecdothttp://www.pestec.com.au/ally happens to up to 20,000 homes across Sydney each and every year.
A termite inspection is a standard part of home maintenance. By ensuring that regular inspections of your home are undertaken you not be faced with crippling damage bills for the repairs that are needed when termites attack. Termites can consume huge quantities of timber particularly in summer when they are at their most active. Science has proven that Coptotermes spp termites have the ability to consume up to 1.5kg of timber per day. Often the timber is consumed without the homeowner having any indication that the destruction is happening right under their noses. By carrying out regular maintenance small signs that termite attack is present can be noted by an expert in the field and recommendations to eliminate the colony can be put in place. A termite inspection is the integral part of any termite control programme, without it most homeowners are just presiding over a home that has a decreasing value over time.One piece of advice, inspect, inspect, inspect. To ensure that your investment is not eroding, take action now, inspect, treat, prevent, inspect and repeat.
Termites in Sydney have been the focus of my business life for the last 20 years. I have been able to experience many different species of termites in vastly different situations through Greater Sydney. One theme has consistently shone through. I don't usually have panic stricken calls from people who have made it their business to properly maintain their home. The calls I get are from panic stricken people who often don't even know what a termite inspection is. It is no wonder that many of these people suffer great psychological and financial damage when they finally discover by default that termites have decided to make a meal of their homes. Prevention is better than cure, yes I know we cannot all have a Chrystal ball, however when the scientists from the CSIRO have stated repeatedly that all of the Eastern seaboard of Australia is at high risk of termite attack it is up to us the public to take some heed. These warnings are not given lightly. There are some simple steps to take to ensure that either your home is protected from termites.
http://www.pestec.com.au/ Termite inspections are as important in Macarthur as elsewhere in Australia. The CSIRO says that homes on the Eastern seaboard of Australia are at high risk of termite attack. Sydney, Wollongong and the Southern Highlands including areas such as Bowral, Mittagong and Moss Vale all have homes that are equally at risk.The Macarthur area takes in Camden, Narellan and Oran Park along with other suburbs and Campbelltown being on its outskirts.Camden and Narellan are known to have a termite species that is more prevalent locally than elsewhere, that species is Nasutitermes spp. Nasutitermes are found in many areas but high numbers exist in Macarthur. Specialist treatment is required for this species of termite as several different brands of termite control pesticide have been proven to have failed to gain control of them.An appropriate prevention system must be put in place when it is established that Nasutitermes are present. A baiting system is good defence, as is a chemical treated zone when the construction method allows for it.Regular termite inspections are a must for ensuring ongoing control of all termites but particularly Nasutitermes. For detailed footage about termite inspections see http://www.pestec.com.au/termite-inspection-video-series
In general all homes should have a visual timber pest inspection carried out at least every twelve months. A visual inspection is simply an inspection that does not include such things as lifting carpets, moving large furniture or insulation to better enable the inspection. what it does include is the checking of the yard and exterior of the property, underneath (if access available) through each room of the house and finally through the roof void.When carrying out a visual inspection a competent termite control technician will be able to determine if there is a need for further tests or an invasive inspection.Often when carrying out a visual inspection, a technician will find some conditions that give rise to suspicion that termites exist in the are but cannot prove it. During a visual inspection a moisture meter may be used. A moisture meter will detect the presence of moisture in such materials as gyproc and timber. Often when termites are present a high level of moisture will also be present.A thermal imaging camera can be used for special circumstances where non invasive investigation is preferred. A thermal camera detects infra red radiation from the top 1/1000 of an inch of the surface that the camera is being pointed at. Termites use damp mud in their workings and this can show up as a different thermal signature when viewed through the. Thermal camera.Invasive inspection is often a last resort method of determining whether termites are extent. Invasive inspection may include lifting carpets and vinyl, removal of some trimming timbers and even cutting areas of gyproc to reveal the timber wall studs.There is a place in pest management for all of the above however in general the place to start is with a visual inspection. After carefully choosing a termite control company you must then be able to be confident in following the recommendations made by the technician.
Termite inspections are absolutely imperative to ensure that termite incursion does not happen. There is no method of termite treatment that will work without termite inspections being carried out. In Australia we have standards of workmanship that are often dictated by a series of documents named Australian Standards. The Australian standards for termite control, point out that whenever you have installed a termite management system you must have a termite inspection carried out each twelve months or more regularly where the risk is higher.
A termite inspection when carried out properly must include very close inspection of the following.
The exterior of the property
The under floor (sub floor) area
The interior
The roof void
All of these areas need to be inspected thoroughly and in conjunction with each other. To inspect a part of a house only gives a part of a picture. The Australian standard is a very good read when you need to know how best to inspect or what you should expect from a termite inspector.
Termite inspections are a crucial part of the termite management systems built in to every home.even 100 years ago the termite management systems designed into a house were designed in such a way that without human interaction (inspection) they would fail.
An inspection is necessary to enable all functions in termite management
Prevention
Detection
Elimination
Without the initial inspection all of these functions can only blindly be carried out. For a homeowner to believe that they are adequately able to carry out an inspection is a pipe dream. Experienced pest control technicians struggle with termite inspection. It is truly a specialist field. In Sydney, termite inspections are carried out by many levels of technician. It takes only one week to become qualified to carry out termite inspection and treatment, there is no requirement for experience.
Cheap inspections are very readily available, avoid cheap like the plague. There is only one word that fits perfectly with cheap and that, is Nasty. It takes time to carry out a proper termite inspection and the time will vary dependent upon the size of the home and the complexity of its construction.
Ensure that you research any termite inspection or control company and see to it that they are appropriately skilled, qualified, licensed, insured and that the person who proves he is all of the preceding will be the one carrying out the work. For good measure if you require that anyone that you employ is a member of the AEPMA (the relevant industry association) and Pestcert (a body created to raise industry standards) then you will be well on your way to choosing a quality company.
