Termites can cause serious damage to your property if they are left untreated, and because they like dark, humid environments, you’ll likely see the damage appear before you see any sign of the termites. If you are already unlucky enough to have termites and damage in your home the most crucial step is to find a suitable termite treatment.
Signs of termites
However, if you think you may have termites and aren’t sure how to identify them, there are a few tell tell signs to keep any eye out for:
- Hollow sounding wood or timber
- Faint clicking noises coming from your wood
- Tunnels in wood
- Warped windows or doors
- Termite droppings – Small black powder
- Flying ants
If you think you have spotted any of this type of damage or symptoms or you are still under sure you can find more here.
Types of damage to the property
If you see a termite nest in your property, contact a pest specialise immediately, and avoid disturbing it all costs. If disturbed termites will usually leave the nest and head to a new area to avoid being found. Things like age, excessive rain and humidity can increase termite activity and depending on the severity of the termite damage you will likely see the following types of damage indicating termite damage.
- Swollen floorboards
- Buckled ceilings
- Blistering or bulging timber such as floorboards or window frames
- Damp walls
- Masses of earth
What to do once you’ve identified termites
First and foremost remember not to disturb the termites as you will risk them leaving that area and finding a new area. Then, contact a pest controller straight away, with the aim to get someone to inspect the property as soon as possible. You will want a pest specialist to come into the property with as much available information as possible.
An inspection should cost between $250-350, however this may vary depending on the size of your property. During this inspection a pest controller will check all timber structures in the property and surrounding area.
The output of the inspection if termites are found is a termite management plan. This plan includes the type of treatment, and costs.
Termite damage repairs
The type and cost of the repairs will depend on the type and severity of damage. If the termite damage has not damaged the structure of the property the repairs will be easier to treat. However, if the structure of the property has been compromised by the termite damage, you will need to consult an registered engineer to assess the property from a structural perspective before any work is carried out.
The main objective will be to remove the damaged timber from around the property. To do this effectively you will need to instruct a licensed carpenter or builder. Once you have engaged a professional, a staged approach to the removal of the damaged timbers should be discussed and implemented. The removal should be designed to keep as much undamaged materials in the property as humanly possible, and the repairs to be only as invasive as are required.
After the damaged wood has been remove, this should be replaced with a treated timber. The treatment of the timber is designed to prevent further pests from eating away at the wood. Once all damage is completely repaired, it is critical that the prevent method outlined in the termite management plan are implemented, to ensure that the property is protected from infestations in the future. It is also wise to have regularly years inspections to your property if your in a high termite area.
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