Termites are dreaded the world over; these minute creatures are attracted to damp and moist places where they breed at a steady pace and expand their colonies. They burrow through tunnels and wreak havoc on the wooden features of a building or home. What makes the problem worse is that these creatures are very silent and elusive and you won’t really notice their presence as they slowly eat through various timber features.
Most people realise they have a termite problem only when some wooden structure in their home gives way, they detect hollowness in the wood or they find timber furniture, columns and beams eaten-through and damaged by termites. But by this time the harm has already been done and the termite infestation would have spread to several sections of your home or commercial structure.
The other concern is that most home insurance companies don’t cover termite damage and that means you end up paying for all the subsequent repairs etc. which can become a major financial burden. If you have an existing property, the one way to prevent termites from causing this kind of damage is to get regular preventative termite control treatments done. But if you are planning on building a new home, you should consider getting pre-construction termite treatment done.
What’s involved in the pre-construction termite treatment?
#1 Treating the foundation
This is the very first step in the process. During the construction phase, the foundation is treated with special anti-termite solutions referred to as termiticides. Termites live in underground and they gain entry into a building via cracks in the foundation; in some cases, they may build mud tunnels over wall surfaces to enter a structure. This is why the underside and sides of the foundation are treated with specially-formulated termiticides that act as a repellent and keep termites away from the structure.
#2 Treating the soil
In this stage the soil around the foundation will be treated using a liquid termiticide; this forms a chemical barrier and prevents the termites from venturing near the building’s foundation. Not only does this protect the foundation from termite attacks but also helps prevent future infestations.
#3 Treating plinth walls
This comprehensive treatment is applied once the plinth and adjacent walls have been constructed. Liquid termiticide is injected into these areas; in conjunction with the soil and foundation treatments, it forms a seamless barrier to keep these pests at bay.
#4 Treating soil around plumbing systems
This is the final step of the treatment in which the soil all around the water and drain pipes as well as storm water drains and other utility lines is treated with a specific termiticide.
Pre-construction termite treatment benefits
The upfront cost of these treatments may seem a little high compared to post-construction treatments. And since homeowners have a certain budget for building their home, many find this additional expense to be a burden and may choose not to get pre-construction termite treatment done. However, the benefits of pre-construction termite treatment significantly outweigh the costs such as:
- Pre-construction termite protection is comprehensive and creates a barrier that termites can’t penetrate and this means your home is less likely to be attacked by termites in the first place.
- You won’t have to get regular post-construction treatments done and that will save you a considerable amount of money in the long term.
- You have peace of mind that your home isn’t at risk of termite attacks.
- Pre-construction termite treatments also increase the resale value of your home.
If you want to know more about Inspect It First‘s building and pest inspection services, don’t hesitate to call us at 1300 557 047 or contact us through our contact form.
Thanks for reading,
Inspect It First Team
1300 557 047