May 20, 2012

Brisbane North : 07 3356 8801 - Brisbane South : 07 3399 1226

Termite Treatment – Runcorn – Possum Man Finds Termites In Roof

Termite damage in roof void

The moral of this story is “we recommend regular termite inspections”.

It was just before Christmas 2011 when we had a worried customer ring asking us for a free quote and some well needed professional advice from a qualified technician, she had contacted the right people Conquer Termites South CentralWhen arriving at the home in Runcorn it was soon discovered this lovely home-owner had significant termite damage to one side of her house.  Unfortunately for the home-owner termites had damaged the whole of the bottom plates, studs and even the top plates of the house (please see photo below).

Nick Wood explained that the bottom plates are what the walls sit on, studs are vertical supports to hold Gyprock or Plasterboard and top plates support the roof.  As you can see in the photo, the top plate has been eaten to a point where it has fallen away.  When termites have eaten their way to the top plate this is when the house can become structurally unsafe and a qualified builder is needed.  This can become a very costly situation to be in when the bottom plates, top plates and studs need to be replaced, possibly well in excess of $10,000.

As our technician proceeded to do a very thorough inspection of the whole house using all the tools of the trade, a tapper, termatrac, moisture meter, thermal camera and boroscope the home-owner was informed that there was significant damage behind the walls and a qualified builder would be required.  It is quite amazing how this sort of situation can come about, if this particular home-owner did not hire a possum man to remove a troublesome possum from her roof, the termite damage would have been significantly worse or not noticed at all until it was too late.

Home-owners can do their very best to keep termites out of their house but it is always recommended to hire a professional termite inspector to conduct a full termite inspection.  Don’t let them in, call Conquer Termites South Central and save your house today.

Please ring Nick on 07 3343 3934 or directly on 0432 721 715

Termite Inspection – Algester – High Risk House

Thermal imaging picture of behind a leaking shower

Recently a customer who owned an investment property in Algester received our flyer in her letterbox and rang Nick from Conquer Termites South Central to book in a full termite inspection.  The home was a typical house in Algester, three bedroom, lowset brick and established gardens.  On further inspection it was also noted that the footings of the house was embedded into the soil which unfortunately conceals the termite entry point into the house structure.

While inspecting the gardens our Termite Technician Nick noticed two large palm stumps with termite activity, it is highly recommended that all tree stumps should be stump ground as it can entice termites to nest or forage towards them which makes it very easy for them to make their way into your home.  This particular house in Algester also had old wooden sleepers lying on the ground that also had live termites. It is not uncommon that most gardens and timber, treated or not, will have termites at some stage.

After a very thorough inspection using his Thermal Imaging Camera there was no evidence of live termites in the house structure but there was significant moisture around the main shower (please see thermal picture below).  The darker pattern on the lower wall indicates moisture or lower surface temperature from water leakage.  Due to the excess moisture in the walls around the shower the house is at high risk of subterranean termite attack as termites can detect moisture up to 100 metres away (75% of termite attack is found in the shower & bathroom). It was explained to the customer that since live termites had been found  in the garden and excess moisture around the shower, we strongly recommend to install a chemical treatment using the transfer poison Termidor.

So, if you are looking for a pest control, termite inspection or termite treatment, give Conquer Termites Brisbane a call. We are proud to offer a free half hour consultation to assess your property and give you our recommendations for the treatment that will best suit you.

Please feel free to call Nick on 07 3343 3934 or directly on 0432 721 715

 

Conquer Termites Christmas Picnic 2011

Conquer's Christmas party at Manly 019

It was the time to be merry and jolly at the annual Conquer Termites Christmas picnic held at Pandanus Beach foreshore, Wynnum. Of course, the usual Secret Santa and sweets bags were disbursed to the eager recipients, nibbles consumed and wine and beers drunk. But probably the most anticipated event was the cricket match between the North side and the South side. Who would get the bragging rights and who would have to sing a Christmas carol at the Tuesday breakfast meeting as the payout for the wager?

It was a keenly contested match that had a complicated form of scoring. The pair of batsmen would face 4 overs, regardless of being bowled or caught. Basically, if you hit the ball too hard and you went over the path or road – you were out and recorded a negative score of 5. If you were bowled or caught out, same thing.Most partnerships recorded a negative total after facing 24 balls.

The eventual winner and grinner’s were the ragamuffin North side team. Well done.

To see the Christmas carol sung by the losers: Click here

 

Shailer Park Pest Inspection – Just in the nick of time.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

 

Another quick post about Conquer Termites South Central. Nick was doing a termite inspection recently on a property at Shailer Park and very quickly confirmed the presence of active termites in one of the bedrooms.  As he made his way around the home, speaking to the homeowner he discovered that the entire family was just weeks away from an extended trip to Malaysia. Obviously, weeks before an overseas trip is a less than ideal time to have to worry about the added expense of a Termite Management System, though obviously, it is not something that can be left.

 

Outside the home he came across a beautiful old Redgum that clearly had a lot of termite damage. It was apparent that this was the source of the initial termite nest. 100 metres away, at the garage he found extensive damage to the external weatherboard. The termites (schedorhinotermes, the most prolific termites in South East Queensland) had managed to travel the 100 metres to the garage and then further into the home to do their damage.  Clearly, the nest had been in place for quite some time.

 

There was really very little choice but for the Home Owner to agree to an immediate Termite Management Treatment Plan. As soon as they understood the extent of the damage already done to the home, and more importantly, the potential for much, much more they agreed. We straight away treated the home and the detached garage with Termidor.  In addition, Nick drilled 5 holes deep into the redgum (each one of these meeting giant cavities in the tree, more evidence that this was the source of the trouble)  and injected 2L of Termidor into each of them.  This should take care of the original colony and the nest, adding further protection to this home.

 

Shailer Park, while being a lovely area, is very leafy and most properties are surrounded by wonderful huge trees – perfect places for subterranean termites to nest and start making thier way to your homes.  In areas such as this, regular checks are absolutely vital to the safety of your home. Had the Shailer Park home owner been having regular checks done, this tree would have been noticed by a qualified pest inspector long ago, probably before the termites made it any where near the home.

 

Remember, if you have ANY concerns at all, give Conquer Termites a call for a free termite check.

Find us here on our booking page, on Facebook or on Twitter (@ConquerTermites). Or call us direct –Southside – Rowan : 3399 1226/0408 016 090; North Side – Alan: 3356 8801/0437 655 801 or South Central – Nick: 3343 3934/0432 721 715

 

Pest Inspection Shailer Park

Termite Inspection Shailer Park

Termite Treatment Shailer Park

Termidor Shailer Park

Termites Shailer Park

Termite Inspection – Kingston – Why it pays to have our free half hour check

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Nick from Conquer Termites South Central popped over to do a free half hour check at 4pm on afternoon last week. The Kingston home owner had some concerns about termites and just wanted Conquer Termites to have a quick look to see if indeed she did have any on her property.

It took a matter of minutes for us to see that this property did in fact, have active termite workings. So, at her request the decision was made to do a full, comprehensive termite inspection on her property immediately. Understandably, she had no desire to wait, she was anxious that Nick get started as soon as possible.

We could see right away that there were active termite leads on the ground and leading all of the way up to the second floor. Over the next 3 hours, we were to learn the incredible extent of the damage.

As a rule, in an inspection, we start with our tapper, to try to find any suspect spots (there will be a different sound in the wood if termites have been eating it) before moving on to any other tools. When finished with the tapper, Nick used his moisture meter and when he reached the master bedroom, the moisture meter detected an extremely high level of moisture in the gyprock. He got his thermal imaging camera (we are beginning to suspect this is Nick Woods’ favourite toy J) and it showed this:

The large ball of red you see in the centre of the picture is a large grouping of termites in one area and the other circle is soldier termites attempting (they move quickly!) to repair the hole I had made with my screwdriver in the gyprock!

The homeowner agreed to an immediate treatment of all active termites in the home so I foamed all areas with active termites with Termidor Foam.  As the homeowner booked in a full chemical treatment for her property on the spot, she was able to take advantage of our Conquer Termites South Central Brisbane special deal. She saved herself $240 for the inspection and $250 for the foaming.

We left her home at 7pm and were able to return the very next day to complete the rest of the treatment. Another very happy customer in Kingston, and a Pest Control Tech pretty satisfied with having hunted the termites down and protected someone’s property.

 

The following is a testimonial written by the customer.

I have just had my home treated for termites today by Nick Wood. His professionalism is outstanding.
He provided 1/2 hour free check, followed by a full inspection and because of the degree of infestation, began the treatment immediately inside the house last night. He returned today and has worked for more than 10 hours to complete the exterior treatment. He is not only extremely professional, but polite and respectful.

What a wonderful service Conquer Termites Pest Management provides. Thanks again Nick.

Gail Morris – Kingston – October 2011

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Parkinson Termite Treatment – NO job too hard for Conquer Termites

The end result - cleaned up, hosed down, you can barely tell there's been major work done on this deck!

Recently we were contacted by a home-owner in Parkinson.  He had previously had a treatment done on his property by a well known local franchised Pest Control company.  In their yearly inspection, they had discovered that the termites had returned and had an active nest in the front yard (remember – old sleepers used as garden barriers are a very inviting meal for uninvited house guests).

The Pest Controller gave our customer a very vague ‘plan of action’, with little information, using an inferior generic baiting system, no reassurance to the homeowner that the treatment would be successful (obviously the technician didn’t have a lot of faith in his own system, so how can he expect his customers to?) and a whopping  quote!

Smart man that he is, our homeowner immediately set to work doing his own research. He investigated local Brisbane Termite Management Companies and found our website. He familiarized himself with our preferred Termidor treatment (this is the termiticide we prefer to use, it has at this point proved to be far superior to anything else on the market) and then looked for reviews on both the company and the termidor termite treatment system. (This is a good tip for anyone looking for a termite inspection or termite treatment. Ask around. Look online for recommendations and testimonials. Nothing speaks louder than a satisfied {or dissatisfied} customer).

He called us the next day and Nick from Conquer Termites South Central came out to look at the property. Nick is a termite specialist and offered (as all Conquer Termite Technicians do) a free assessment of the property and consultation with the homeowner on the best course of action for their home. (No two homes are exactly the same, so treatment recommendations will vary).

Nick spent time with the homeowner, answering his questions and addressing his concerns honestly, and straightforwardly (no fear tactics or pressure sales from a Conquer Termites technician – our promise to you). Nick detailed a Termite Management Plan, left the customer and his wife with a DVD about Termidor and how it works, and then left them to make an informed decision on their own.

It didn’t take them long. Impressed by Nick’s obvious expertise in both termites and Termidor, the thoroughness of his assessment and his professionalism, as well as his very reasonable quote; the homeowner was confident enough to call Nick back the very next day.

We were fortunate to be able to get started on the job just 3 days later (always a welcome relief to an anxious homeowner who has termites taking up residence in his property).

Nick started with a full, thorough inspection. Using his thermal imagine camera, as well as his other tools, he conducted a comprehensive search for termite workings. Fortunately there were none yet in the customer’s home.  A full Termite Management Treatment was still the recommended course of action (to prevent an infestation) and the team got started right away.

It was, admittedly, a large, slightly complicated job. There were hot water systems and air conditioning units to work around. And then – there was the deck.

Nick had to remove about 20m of pavers to install the termiticide

To install the Termidor treatment he had to carefully lift up about 20 metres of pavers, dig a trench to remove the crusher dust. Then he applied termiticide to the soil at the bottom of the trench. He added screened soil (it’s best to use a sandy loam), and then applied more termiticide to the soil.

Then we cut a small line in the deck to pull up the existing floorboards, adding soil under the deck. We soaked the area in Termidor, saturating the soil and providing plenty of protection in that area (always be aware of areas like this, that are harder to get access to for inspections. You want to be very thorough with them).

We screwed a new bearer onto the existing one, predrilled the floorboards and nailed them back down. Certainly this was a reasonably labour intensive job but we’re proud to say that Nick and his team left that property as they had found it, you could barely tell that they had been there at all!

The end result - cleaned up, hosed down, you can barely tell there's been major work done on this deck!

Which led to one very satisfied customer, who was moved to email us this glowing testimonial (emails like this make our day, boosting all Conquer Termite Technicians. It is wonderful to feel appreciated when we work so hard to meet an exacting standard of work).

Be assured, all of Conquer Termites technicians are trained, qualified experts in our field. We take a huge amount of pride in both our customer relations and our promise that we will leave your property in the state we found it – just without the unwelcome pests.

So, if you are looking for a pest control, termite inspection or termite treatment, give Conquer Termites Brisbane a call.  We are proud to offer a free half hour consultation to assess your property and give you our recommendations for the treatment that will best suit you.

Find us here on our booking page, on Facebook or on Twitter (@ConquerTermites). Or call us direct – Southside – Rowan : 3399 1226; North Side – Alan: 3356 8801 or South Central – Nick: 3343 3934

Between Pest Inspections – How Bridging can undermine your Termite Treatment

TermiteBridgingStepLadderJoelPost1cropped

There is no question that effective treatment of termites in some homes can be more difficult than in others. Installing Termite treatments to stop termites moving into your home can take time, effort and sometimes a little careful strategy. Of course it goes without saying that, while Termite Control and regular Pest Inspections are an essential investment into the safety of your home, it doesn’t always come without significant cost.

So with all of that on the line, it’s important to us to inform you, the homeowner or occupier that diligence is required to make sure that the Termite Management System is working just as it is designed to. It is good to form a partnership between the Pest Control company and the homeowner to make sure we can control termites.

Bridging or Breaching of Termite Treatment Systems is relatively easy for termites and if we’re not following some basic steps, it can be done long before you’ve even realised it.

What is Breaching?

Termites can easily breach a termite treatment or barrier if we have for some reason removed soil that was treated with termiticide(we use Termidor but others include Biflex or Premise); or moved a physical(such as ant capping) or physical/chemical barrier (Such as Kordon or our preferred treatment – Homeguard)

What is Bridging?

Termites can bridge a termite barrier by finding a way to create a pathway (usually with their telltale mud shelter tubes) across a termite prevention system. We found the perfect example of this on Brisbane’s north side recently.

We were doing a Pest Inspection in a Chermside home recently and came across this. The picture above was taken in a subfloor, where the ladder was kept under a hatch the homeowner used to access the subfloor. As seen in the photo, there are significant termite workings (mud shelter tubes) on the ladder. This is a good example of the potential bridging of a termite management system. Had the stepladder been only a few centimentres taller, the termites would have had easy access to the housing timbers.

Homeowners need to be careful to avoid making it easy for termites to bridge the termite treatment systems. Taking note of where we store items is an imperative step. Things to watch out for and avoid:

*Timbers, stored items, bricks or tiles stored next to the walls of your home.

*Concrete or brick structures that are built next to the house.

*Timber decks attached to the home.

*Stored items, boxes and any timber/cardboard products in subfloors that are in contact with the flooring.

So, to make sure that the termite management system chosen to protect your house remains effective, be aware of potential bridging spots. Maintain regular inspections with professional termite management technicians and keep a regular eye on your own home.

Don’t forget – for your home’s safety, regular pest inspections are a must. Head over to our Contact Page to arrange one with Conquer Termites Brisbane now.

Termites – not a happy surprise for an Underwood Renovator

source: www.squidoo.com

source: www.squidoo.com

I received a phone call from a new customer in Underwood last week, who had found probably the last thing that a renovator wants to find.  He and his builders had been cutting a hole in his brickwork and found live termites! Obviously, we organised a thorough termite inspection to be done as soon as possible.

A lot of people with brick homes tend to think they are safe from termite infestation, when in fact they are just as susceptible as anyone else.  A lot of homes are simply brick veneer, and these can be some of the worst, as the termites can crawl behind the veneer and remain undetected for a long time.  Did you know that termites can actually be eating your house, undetected for up to 10 years?  This alone seems a good reason to have regular inspections if there ever was one.

Even double brick homes with steel frames can come under attack from these determined little creatures. A CSIRO termite specialist says “They just get in and start eating the architraves or the paper on plasterboard, that sort of thing. Just because your house doesn’t have timber framing doesn’t mean they won’t get you.”

In fact, termites can squeeze through a crack as small as 2mms.  There are very few homes that can claim that they wouldn’t have an entry that small somewhere in their home or foundation.

Obviously, this Underwood home had been under attack for quite some time. Not only did we confirm the live activity his builders had found, but with the help of a thorough inspection and our thermal imaging camera (more about that in another post) we were able to detect other areas of live activity that they  may never have found. One of these was so extensive that the entire hardwood stud had been eaten through all the way to the roof. The damage to this stud was completely concealed! Termites  by their very nature are sneaky. They prefer to eat their food (this Underwood home, in this case) from the inside out.  They do this to protect the virtually blind colony from predators (and detection) and control the humidity and moisture that they need to survive.

We also found termite damage and live activity up in the roof void. Obviously, our Underwood customer booked in a chemical treatment on the spot.  And since he booked in September, he was able to take advantage of our Spring/Summer deal and we deducted the price of his inspection and we threw in the foaming treatment (which is an excellent short term way of dealing with the live termites found. A complete chemical treatment is usually strongly recommended). So the only good piece of news our poor homeowner got that day was a handy $400 saving.  He was very relieved, however at the thoroughness of the inspection and the areas we were able to detect that they may not otherwise have done.

Remember, if you are extending your home, it’s vital that you also extend any chemical treatments you have in place, to make sure that your entire home is still protected. Even if you haven’t detected any termite activity yourself, to be safe you should book a termite inspection at least every 6-12 months.  And if you DO find any termites, be careful not to disturb them. This is only going to encourage them to move to an even harder to detect area.

For a free half hour check, or a termite inspection, please give Conquer Termites a call.  You can find us covering just about all of Brisbane.

Conquer Termites North Side – 3356 8801

Conquer Termites South Side – 3399 1226

Conquer Termites South Central -0432 721 715

Conquer Termites South Central off to a good start

Conquer Termite South Central Manger Nick Wood

Hello Brisbane, Nick Wood here. Welcome to Spring, one of the best times of the year in beautiful Brisbane!  What a great time to be starting a new franchise with Conquer Termites Brisbane’s South Central branch getting off to a great start.

It’s been an exciting first week as we get a feel for things in the new territory, lovely to be working so close to my own home base. For a brand new franchise, it’s been wonderful to have a steady first week or two of work.

People are obviously becoming more and more aware of the website and our blog as I’ve gotten quite a few calls from the site, particularly from areas like Underwood, Calamvale and Runcorn, which has been encouraging.  As well as the Termite Inspections carried out for those new customers, I’ve been fortunate enough to continue to do work for valued previous customers in my old stomping grounds Sunnybank Hills and Rochedale South (now part of Conquer Termites South Central Territory).  As exciting as it is to be meeting new customers, it’s always lovely to catch up with our ‘regulars’ and continue to help them keep their properties safe from termites and other pests.

For the month of September I’d like to make my customers a special offer. For every Termite Inspection booked, I will include a FREE Internal General Pest Control at the same time. That’s a saving of $125.00!

If you’re not sure where your suburb falls in our new territories, here’s a quick look at Conquer Brisbane South Central’s map. If your suburb falls within that territory, I’d love to hear from you.

Remember, at Conquer Termites we value your peace of mind. We are one of Brisbane’s best and most trusted Termite and Pest Control companies. Give me a call on 0432 721 715.

I would like to thank everyone for their support and encouragement in this exciting new business adventure.

Introducing the new Conquer Termites Brisbane South Central

Conquer Termites South Central Brisbane Manager - Nick Wood

Conquer Termites South Central Brisbane Manager - Nick Wood

It’s an exciting time here at Conquer Termites Brisbane as we continue to grow our business, and we are thrilled to introduce to you our newest franchise – Conquer Termites Brisbane South Central, and its Manager – Nick Wood.
You may have already met Nick as he has been doing inspections and termite treatments as part of the Conquer Termites Brisbane South team for several years.

Nick Wood

Nick has taken the big step of starting up his own Conquer Termites franchise in his local territory, ready to service the needs of South Central Brisbane suburbs. He is excited to be your trusted professional when it comes to protecting your home from termites; and will provide excellent pest control service and advice for your area.
If you’ve been satisfied with your experience with Conquer Termites Brisbane and want to be assured of the same high standards and attention to your concerns, we are proud to recommend Nick Wood to you.
Nick will be concentrating on South Central Brisbane suburbs such as Coopers Plains, Acacia Ridge, Sunnybank, Eight Mile Plains, Runcorn, Slacks Creek, Underwood, Springwood, Logan and Woodridge, as well as all surrounding suburbs. Have a look at our area map to see which territory you fall under.
Nick Wood – My Promise to You
Hello,
I would like to tell you how excited I am to be offered the opportunity to be your ‘Professional Pestie’ in South Central Brisbane Suburbs. My time as part of the Conquer Termites team has taught me that home owners really value a company that appreciates its customers and gives genuine service.
I promise to offer the same professional, friendly service you’ve come to expect from Conquer Termites – and more. I look forward to taking care of the pest management needs of my local area, South Central Brisbane.
Call me on 0432 721 715 if you have any questions or concerns.
A recent testimonial from a very happy customer:
I want to express my appreciation for the work done by Nick Wood in assessing and treating a termite infestation at the above property. Nick exhibited a high level of tradesmanship, professionalism and integrity throughout. At our initial meeting he demonstrated excellent communication and interactive skills. He was clear and accurate in giving an outline of what the assessment and treatment would involve. He was always ready to provide more detail and was happy to answer and explain any questions I raised. During the course of the two day treatment he was always respectful of my furniture and property and took the time to introduce me to his colleague – with whom he seemed to work very well. Nick’s quiet disposition and good sense of humour made the process very easy and offset my initial misgivings at having to open up the house and yard to strangers.
The work was done in an efficient and timely manner and the areas treated were made good and left clean and tidy. The furniture was replaced with care and the part of the deck that had to be accessed bears no trace of having been disturbed.
I would have no hesitation in recommending Nick to others in the management of termite control.
Dr Rita Davies, Rochedale South – 3 August 2011
A big congratulations to Nick for branching out with his own Conquer Termites Brisbane franchise. We wish you continued success and we’re sure that the lucky residents of South Central Brisbane will be just as happy with you as your previous customers have been.
Don’t forget, if you’re in South Central Brisbane, give Nick a call on 0432 721 715

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