Termite Control & Management

Termite Control Facts

Subterranean Termites

Subterranean termites are commonly know as white ants. However, they are distinctly different in their lifestyle and appearance.

In nature, termites have an important role in recycling rotten timber in the forest and returning nutrients to the soil. When they get into our homes they are then declared pests and the damage they can cause to a home is substantial.

Termites are social insects and have a cast structure which differentiates soldiers from reproductive and worker termites.

The reproductive termites, when sexually mature, are winged. In the warmer, more humid months, they swarm and can often be seen in early evening, flying out of bush land to colonise new areas, sometimes your home. The Queen lays eggs and once the nest is established, does nothing else. She can lay up to 2000 eggs per day. These eggs develop into workers, soldiers and reproductive termites.

The workers are the ones who do all the damage, and demand termite control. They are wingless, blind and sterile and are responsible for foraging for food, constructing tunnels, building the nest and feeding the colony. They feed on wood and other cellulose materials, but have a preference for some timbers over others. As they feed they hollow out timbers and move from one area to another in small tunnels made from a mud like combination of faeces and saliva.

They make these tunnels to protect themselves from predators, heat and light of the outside environment. The soldiers are responsible for the protection of the nest and in some species have a pair of mandibles on their head to attack predators.

Termites will travel long distances to find food. The nest may be fifty metres away from where the workers are foraging. They will work their way into a house under the floor up the wall cavity or even through cracks in concrete.

The first stage of any termite control program is inspection. This should be carried out by an experience technician. The inspection will determine the extent of the infestation, if present, identification of the termite species, where the termites are entering the building and also what steps need to be carried out to eradicate any termites present and protect the building from any further attack.

Eradication of any existing termite infestation is important to stop the damage spreading. This is usually done by applying an insecticidal dust to the active workings. The termites then take this back to their nest and as they groom themselves, pass through the next. Once the Queen is killed, the nest will quickly die off.

If the nest can be located by the technician, an insecticide can be applied to the nest killing it directly. Once the nest is killed, the infestation within the home should die out quickly. However, the home is not protected against re-infestation especially if other nests are located nearby.

The best termite control protection you home can have is a barrier to prevent the entry of termites into your home. This should be carried out in accordance with Australian Standards AS 3600-1993 for existing building and AS 3660.1-1995 for buildings under construction. The technician should use a termiticide approved by the State Government authorities and be licensed to carry out termite control work.

With new homes built on concrete slabs, the termites can still come around the outside edge of the slab. A perimeter treatment should be carried out on these once construction is completed.

As a homeowner or builder, there are many things that can be done to reduce the risk of termite attack to your home. These include removing all loose construction timbers from around and under the house, don't stack timber or fire wood next to the house, ensure ventilation is adequate beneath suspended floors. If the soil is dry, termites will not be attracted to this area. It is recommended by Australian Standards and the Ministry of Fair Trading, that a termite inspection be carried out by a licensed technician every twelve months.

Termite Control - Taking Precautions Against Termites

When you engage a builder to construct you new home, you will be presented with a range of measures that can be taken as a precaution against damage by termites (white ants).

Modified Standards
In the past, most new homes were protected by spraying the sand pad with organochloring chemicals. However, increased awareness about the effects of these chemicals on you health and the environment resulted in a decision by the Commonwealth Government, whereby organochlorines have not been available since 30 June, 1995.

Pesticides which have replaced organochlorines are now available but may not be so effective in the longer term.

Effective termite control can now be based upon new methods or a combination of options.

Protection Still Required
The incidence of, or potential for, termite damage to homes has not been accurately determined, but both Government and the building industry agree that the continuation of adequate termite control measures is essential to lessen the risk of serious structural damage. The Building Code of Australia requires that the structural components of every new building must be safe from termite attack.

Considerable research and development has been undertaken into a new range of effective alternatives for termite control, other than hand spraying of pesticides. This has resulted in the introduction of some innovative and cost effective solutions.

However, no matter what option is selected, regular inspections of your home are essential.

Development of Options
As a result of the changes to termite preventative measures, building industry associations and local and State Government authorities worked together to address the issue, so that builders are now able to advise clients of a range of available termite control options, the cost of each and their advantages and disadvantages.

In time, the list of alternative options is expected to widen further, due to the introduction and acceptance of new methods, standards and regulations.

Termite Control Options Currently Available
Alternative termite control methods now fall into four broad categories - physical barriers, chemical barriers, resistant materials and design for early detection.

Here are some of the termite control methods currently on the market or due to become available shortly:

Physical Barriers

•	various forms of metal mesh barriers;
•	specially graded granite chips;
•	exposed concrete floor slab constructed as a termite barrier in itself, with the edges, points and pipe openings protected by metal mesh or granite chips. The edges can also be protected by ensuring that the external ground level is below the visible slab edge and slab continuity is maintained, especially under the wet areas of the home.

•	hand spraying of non-organochlorine chemicals where these are shown to have the required effectiveness and are approved by Australian Standards. The chemical must also be sprayed, injected or poured into a trench around the perimeter of the house, after the completion of building works.

Resistant Materials

•	construction features, such as the use of masonry, steel, or termite resistant timber which will prevent termite damage to structural components of the house.

•	building designs featuring raised floors and ant caps to enable inspections under the floor. Your builder can explain further.

A combination of these methods may should be determined before a building contract is signed and before the builder applies for a building licence.

Regular Inspections

Whichever system is selected for the prevention or early detection of termites, it is important that inspections are carried out regularly. You should inspect your property every six months for any obvious signs of infestation. The Ministry of Fair Trading also recommends that you arrange for an inspection by a licensed termite control operator at least once a year. Regular inspections will allow for the detection of an infestation and for any preventative measures to be undertaken if needed.

If the inspection report is "all clear", it is generally not necessary to conduct extensive chemical spraying within the house. If spraying is recommended, the termite control operator should explain why and also advise on any precautions which may need to be taken to protect the health of the family and pets. Some termite control firms now offer non chemical alternatives.

Preventative Housekeeping

You should check your home regularly for anything that may attract termites. This will minimise the risks.

These housekeeping and gardening tips are designed to help you reduce the risk of damage:

•	Plumbing leaks, drainage problems and roof leaks should all be dealt with promptly, as damp conditions attract termites.
•	Garden beds and plants should be kept away from contact with outside walls. Hard paving should be substituted
•	Do not allow soil from garden beds to block drainage or ventilation openings in walls.
•	Nothing should be stored against outside walls. This practice may allow termites to gain easy access to the wall cavity without early detection.
•	Proposed extensions or alterations to the building must not result in the removal of existing termite barriers or access for inspections.
•	Spaces under the floor must be kept well ventilated. Make certain that the air flow through vents is not obstructed.
•	Watch for termite infestation in pile of fire wood or stacks of stored timber. These must be kept well away from the house, raised above the ground and covered to keep to keep them dry.
•	Consider using termite resistant timber for work on your home.
•	Remove dead trees and stumps as soon as possible.
•	Metal stirrups should be used for setting pergola, gate and verandah posts in the ground.
•	Where possible, the use of untreated timber sleepers for retaining walls and garden beds should be avoided.
•	Timber decking around verandahs and swimming pools should be cleaned and inspected regularly.

Termite Control When Buying An Existing Home

When buying an existing home, it is common practice to include a White Ant Certificate clause in the Offer and Acceptance form. The Ministry of Fair Trading favours this practice which is intended to ensure that the home is free of termites and there is no structural damage form any previous infestation.

A Real Estate Note on this subject is available from the Ministry.

We Are Available

Staff at the Housing Branch of the Ministry of Fair Trading can provide information or refer you to the appropriate authority for any queries or problems relating to general home building or renovation work.

You can visit one of our offices or call our Telephone Advice Line on 9222 0666 (Housing), or 1800 199 117 (Housing) for country residents.