Termite Protection for New Homes
Termites can squeeze through gaps as small as 2 mm, so to make sure a building is protected from termites all potential entry points need to be protected.
The key areas of protection are the perimeter walls of the building, pipework entering the building, any joins in the construction, and sub-floor elements if your home is built on piers.
The best strategy is to install a range of physical termite protection products, which are integrated with the physical construction elements of the building to create a physical termite barrier. For example, for homes built on a concrete slab, plastic collars impregnated with insecticide are placed around pipework before the concrete slab foundations are poured, embedding the collar in the slab, thus eliminating any potential gaps around the pipework through which a termite could enter.
Although chemical treatments of sub-floor soils before starting to build used to be a common method for protecting homes, the regulations have changed. It is important to ensure that any termite protection measure for new buildings are designed to last the lifetime of the building. So if chemical treatments are to be used, as they degrade over time, there also needs to be a method to re-treat the soil into the future. In such cases, where a chemical treatment is desired underneath a concrete slab or pathway, a termite reticulation system (a network of pipes containing holes), also needs to be installed. This allows the soil to be re-treated when required.
Rather than carrying out chemical treatments, Rebel Pest Professionals prefer to utilise the Homeguard range of products to provide a physical barrier preventing termite entry. This provides protection for the life-time of the building and is also better from an environmental point of view as no chemicals are used.
Termite Protection for Extensions
The building regulations also apply to extensions, whether carried out by a builder or as part of a DIY project.
The join between an extension and the original building is a weak point in the construction design and needs to be protected to prevent termite entry.
It is critical to consider how to protect this construction join at the planning stage.
Sometimes it makes sense to actually modify the building design to get the best result.
Termite Protection for Renovations
Renovations – building improvements that occur within the existing outline of the building – often don’t need building certification. But this doesn’t mean that termite protection should be ignored! Common renovations include bathroom, kitchen and laundry upgrades, which also happen to be the most common termite entry points.
The main reason these “wet areas” are common entry points for termites, is that there are often leaks in taps, pipework or tiles, which provide an attractive source of moisture for termites. Often these leaks are caused by poor workmanship or poor waterproofing, which are more common when these projects are tackled as a DIY project.
Not only is it important to ensure good waterproofing, plumbing and tiling, it’s vital that any joins in slabs and pipe entry points are protected from termite entry.
It’s especially important for the DIY renovator to consult a termite professional before commencing work. But even if you’re engaging a builder it’s important to know the requirements to make sure they are incorporated into the building plan.
For more information see our blog on renovations and termite protection
Termite Protection for Landscaping
Landscaping work often results in concealed termite attack – management of the area immediately surrounding the building is critical to prevent termite entry. Unfortunately homeowners and most landscapers are unaware of these issues and building regulations and inadvertently carry out work which leads to a costly termite attack.
If you are thinking of installing garden beds, paths, patios or decks adjacent to the building, please give Rebel Pest Professionals a call first, it could save you a lot of heartache and money!
Termite treatments for existing houses
If you have an existing house and need termite protection, you will need a different type of termite treatment, using different products. These termite management systems can be designed for any type of construction.
