Termites are small, specialised cockroaches that live and flourish in dark humid conditions and are notoriously hard to recognise. The physical termite infestation signs are often mistaken for something else and thus overlooked. Early detection of a termite infestation is crucial in minimising damage and repair costs. This is especially critical as termite damage is not covered by home insurance.
If you are not sure whether you have termites or not, the safest action is to have your property professionally inspected. Contact ASBIR to schedule an immediate or annual termite inspection. Call us on 1300 553 007, request a free quote online or email info@asbir.com.au.
How Can You Recognise a Termite Infestation? – What are Some Termite Infestation Signs?
Here are some probable signs you have termites. Some of them might surprise you.
- Small holes in timbers around the outside of your home. Termites will burrow into wood to enter and exit
- Mud tubes on timbers around the home. Termites create mud tubes for protection.
- Discarded wings on window sills or floors. Flying termites shed their wings after mating.
- Pellets or mounds (droppings) which look like small piles of pepper.
- Hollow wood. Termites eat wood from the inside out leaving it hollow. You can check this by tapping timbers around your home.
- Unidentified flying insects (especially after rain) if they are not cockroachs, flies, mosquitoes or gnat, they are likely termites
- White coloured ants If you see an insect that looks like an ant but is white, it’s not an ant but probably a termite
- Damaged ceilings or walls sagging, blistering, cracking or stains to ceilings or walls could be due to movement, water ingress but most likely signs you have termites and needs further investigation
- Windows that are suddenly hard to open or close. Temites love the timber around windows due to the high moisture in the area
- Buckling or squeaky floors termite activity will cause wooden or laminate floors to buckle and squeak
- Pin holes small pin holes in plaster sheets
The Damage Termites Can Do
We recently inspected a home in an inner Brisbane suburb that looked well maintained and had no termite infestation signs, activity or damage. Whilst in the subfloor the inspector found a mud tube travelling up the concrete stump to the subfloor timbers. The bearers and joists had almost completely been eaten out and evidence showed the termites were making their way through cracks and gaps into the timber framing.
Further investigation found a termite nest high up in a large camphor laurel tree that was over 100 years old. The tree was just inside the property boundary. The termite had made a path from the tree across the subfloor soil up the concrete stumps to the structural timbers.
The owner was distraught as she had fought hard to keep the tree but become inconsolable when she realised the extent of the damage and necessary repairs.
Prevention is the Best Defence
Naturally the best way to combat termites is to prevent their activity in the first place.
The top 10 things that every homeowner should be doing to prevent termite activity:
- Have a qualified and licensed pest management company install a treatment
- Have your property fully inspected for timber pest activity at least every 12 months
- Ensure the visual termite barrier around your home is not breached. A 75mm minimum clearance is recommended from the bottom of a weep hole to the top of the garden bed, concrete, paving or decking.
- Prevent and rectify pooling or leaking water especially outside moisture sources such as dripping taps, hot water and air-conditioning overflows discharges
- Keeping weep holes clean and clear
- Don’t build garden beds up against the house & use only termite resistant mulch
- Remove tree stumps as they are capable of concealing termite colonies.
- Remove stored or loose timber around the property. These are highly attractive to termite attacks and can allow currently concealed termite entry to the building.
- Replace any untreated landscaping timbers with treated timber or a non-timber alternative;
- Modify any timber structures or footings so they are not in direct contact with the ground
Contact ASBIR Now
If you notice any of these termite infestation signs in or around you home, it is important for you to have your home inspected by qualified building inspectors. Make ASBIR your first call to find out if these signs you have termites are false alarms or a real threat to your property and finances. Contact us today by calling 1300 553 007, requesting a free quote or emailing info@asbir.com.au.
