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 Central.  When 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

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

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

This was what was written in the article that appeared in the Quests Newspapers throughout Brisbane, November 2011.

“Warm weather doesn’t mean more dips in the pool – it also means more termites and cockroaches around the house.

But while these pint-size pest can cause massive property destruction, Conquer Termites manage Rowan Bate said effective treatments were at hand, including chemical protection. “Clearly and honestly, the most important thing a homeowner can do is ensure they have appropriate protection” Mr Bate said.

For newer homes, typically on a concrete base, he said chemical protection was particularly beneficial, costing about $3000 for an average-size house and lasting up to 10 years.”  November 2011

Click one of these buttons for a special deal or services

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

Termites Brisbane

Termite Treatments Brisbane

Termite Detection Brisbane

Pest Control Brisbane

Termite Inspection Brisbane

Termite Myths 

Termite Facts

Pest Inspection Brisbane

The Carina Leagues CJ Swim Club holds an annual swim carnival which attracts more than 400 swimmers. It is regarded as one of the most enjoyable carnivals on the Brisbane swim calendar. This year the Swim Club decided to offer over $4,000 in prize money to be split between a men’s and women’s 50 metre freestyle race. Eight Olympic swimmers attended, making it the most competitive outdoor race in Queensland this year.

Winners and their record times

First: Richardson, Kyle 23.19. Second: Callus, Ash 23.39. Third: Kerswell, Luke  24.09

First: Campbell, Cate 25.43 Second: Campbell, Bronte 25.74 Third: Trickett, Libby 25.82

But the most satisfying thing for Conquer Termites to be associated with CJ’s Swim Club carnival was the enthusiastic swims from all the younger swimmers trying to emulate the feats of their idols in the Dash for Cash. It is great to be associated with an event that strives for participation and excellence.

Most termites you’d be familiar with are quite pale in colour, almost transparent and are wingless.  They are also blind. Swarming termites however, or Alates are specially produced reproductives with black pigment, wings and eyes, and their sole task is to find a mate of the opposite sex and set up a home in a decayed log or stump where the female can lay a couple of dozen eggs, raise the babies and then allow the new brood to take over the care and maintenance of the new colony. The queen then goes about producing literally millions of eggs for the next 20 to 30 years.

It’s very common from November to February or March to find these, especially in South East Queensland. The humidity is very attractive (indeed necessary) to them.  All termite species operate a caste system (in fact, their only real commonality with ants). One of their castes is the winged reproductive alates – or flying termites. They can be mistaken for flying ants, but it is relatively easy to spot the difference.

Clear differences between ant and termite alates

At this time of year, they leave the nests (trees, tree stumps, bushland, even your home) to fly and begin new colonies. It has been incredibly humid in Brisbane this past week, so you may have noticed them yourself.  This is what they look like (although they can vary somewhat in colour).

When a termite colony reaches a certain size and maturity several thousand reproductive termites will start growing wings, preparing for a once in a life time flight.  It can take a few months to get them ready for their big flight and during this time they’ll be given the best of the foods and will be taken care of.  When they are ready, and when weather conditions are right (some of them swarm after rains, most when the weather is very humid. Most swarm at dusk), thousands and thousands of them can take flight from nests is the area, preparing to start new ones.

You’ll often see these winged or flying termites swarming around lights, whether street lights, or your outdoor light, if it’s left on. It’s there that they meet other termites of the same species, also swarming from their own colonies. After this, the fertilised alates shed their wings and go in search of a spot to make a nest and begin a colony of their own.

Reproductive termite shedding it's wings, ready to start it's colony

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?

It can be disconcerting, to say the least for a home owner to suddenly find themselves surrounded by thousands of winged termites. You may fear that your home is about to come under attack and turn into mulch overnight.  Don’t panic though. The first thing to remember – alates are terrible flyers.  They really can only fly a couple of hundred metres from their original nest. Secondly, they can’t actually do any harm to your property (although the amount of Mortein you may find yourself tempted to spray at them is a whole other story It won’t actually help though).

Unless you actually find these alates flying out of holes in your walls, cracks in your ceiling or from under your house etc, relax. Be on alert of course. But your house isn’t going to fall down tomorrow.  If you can, collect a couple of samples and put them in something like a ziplock bag, stored in the freezer.  Then book a termite inspection so that a qualified technician can come to your home and see if a nest has been set up somewhere in your property.  If you are concerned, Conquer Termites Brisbane offers a free half hour check, for peace of mind and will happily give you advice on the safety of your property. You will have time to consider your options, without having to rush into a decision or feel pressured.

If you do notice the alates actually emerging from your home, it is a cause of concern. It means there is almost certainly already an active, large colony of termites at work on your house. If that’s the case, it’s vital that you book in a full termite inspection so that a qualified technician can advise you on the extent of the infestation and give you an idea of how to proceed from here.  If termite alates are swarming from your home, time really is of the essence.

Link one of these buttons for a special deal or service

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

We often see and hear so many false theories about termites, that we thought it about time to address some of the most common termite myths. You may have heard and trusted a few of these yourself.

1. Termites, or as they are often referred to in Australia-”White Ants” are a part of the ant family.

This is in fact, not true. The term ‘white ants’ is a misnomer. The only thing that termites really have in common with ants is that they operate in a caste system. In truth, they are much more closely related to cockroaches and are classified in the cockroach family. They exist as a suborder of the Blattodea order, which includes cockroaches. The famous Great Northern Termite, or Mastotermes gives us an idea of the resemblance to the cockroach family.

We can see from the Mastotermes Darwiniensis the physical similarities between cockroaches and termites.

 

2. When forests are leveled and trees are removed to make room for development, termites are destroyed or removed also.

Sub Terranean termites nest in tree stumps and in live trees. When termite colonies lose their food supply to developers, they can seek out new food sources – usually wood from newly built homes on the site.

3.  A brick house on a concrete slab is safe from termites.

In fact, virtually all homes have a wood frame, so no matter how the wood is separated from the soil, termites can work their way to it from the ground underneath. Similarly, a concrete slab does not eliminate wood-to-ground contact. Termites can construct tunnels through cracks in concrete.

 

Having said that though, we sometimes hear this one:

4. Termites can eat through concrete

This one is simply not true. What’s really happening is that termites are able to access even the tiniest cracks in the concrete, and as more and more of them pass through it (remember, a colony can have hundreds of thousands of termites in it), the crack can become a little larger. These original cracks are usually too small to be noticeable to us upon quick inspection, so it’s easy to see why someone might believe this one.

 

5. My house is built from Hardwood, so it is safe from termite attack.

Actually, the  Termite’s natural food is the gum tree, and  that is a hardwood. While there are a lot of hardwoods with natural resistance to termites, not all hardwood is resistant. Also any resistance is normally found in old growth timbers and may not apply to new growth timber.

Gum Trees such as the Eucalyptus are a termite's favourite food source, so assuming that your home is safe from termites because it is made of hardwood is a dangerous assumption to make.

 

 6.I have had a baiting system put around my home I now have a barrier that will keep termites out of my house.

Baiting systems certainly are an option you can use, and we install them ourselves. But in all honesty, they’re not our preferred method. They can, if the termites find them and take the bait back to the colony, be effective at wiping the colony out. But they’re not going to stop any termites found in your home.  Again, while we do use them for customers that request them (and in some instances, they are sufficient), we believe that a full chemical barrier treatment, such as the ones we install using Termidor, when installed correctly are the most efficient way of dealing with a termite problem.

 

7. My neighbour had termites and you did a treatment and now I have termites! You pushed them over to our home!

Termite colonies can be huge. Several houses in a neighbourhood may, indeed share a termite colony and treating one house among them, thereby making it off limits to the termites, can make them more active in the other infested homes. But you can’t cause a termite infestation in one house by treating another. Termites feeding at both House A and House B can be affected by bait brought into the colony from House A and activity suddenly dies off at the second home. But termites aren’t going to safely cross a chemical barrier (a poison to them) and then set up a colony in your home. That chemical is still going to do it’s job and kill them.

8. Termites serve no useful purpose. They are nothing but destructive pests.

Actually the truth is, termites are an incredibly useful and necessary part of our eco system. They provide a valuable service by breaking down dead wood in forests into soil. Termites were one of the earth’s first recyclers. Really, the only place you don’t want them is in your home.

9. “Twelve monthly termite control treatments are necessary to protect my home against termites.”

That’s not true. Today’s chemical termiticides last between 5 and 10 years. You won’t need to re-do your chemical treatment unless there is a breach in the system (for a chemical barrier to be effective, there needs to a complete line of checical termiticide around your home. If you renovate, wash away the treatment (Don’t panic though. Normal, even heavy rain is not going to wash away your termiticide. It would take, for example the severe Brisbane flooding of January 2011 to be enough to do that kind of damage, if at all) or anything similar, you will need to get that new area treated to keep an unbroken barrier around the property).  What you will need is a Termite Inspection every 12 months, to make sure there have been no breaches in the protective barrier around your home.

10. All termite companies are the same, so you may as well go with the cheapest.

Not true.  Different companies use different chemcials, and sometimes even different amounts of the same chemical. They may approach warranty situations differently, conduct check ups differently, or be watering down their solution. Termiticides, whichever you use, must always be used to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Shop around. Ask for testimonials. The best way to find out about a termite company is ideally, to speak to former customers, find out what they think of the service they’ve received. Or ask your friends who they have used, and whether they have been satisfied with their service.

 

Click one of these buttons for a special deal or services

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

 

Termites Brisbane

Termite Treatments Brisbane

Termite Detection Brisbane

Pest Control Brisbane

Termite Inspection Brisbane

Termite Myths 

Termite Facts

Pest Inspection Brisbane

 

 

 

 

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

Good morning Brisbane! Happy Monday.  A busy day in the office today as our phones run hot and more and more people getting inspections and treatments done. We’re certainly heading into our busiest time of year, when termites are at their most active – they do love this heat and humidity.

It’s lovely to have positive feedback from our customers. It helps us to know where we are going right, and, where necessary what needs work.

A couple of wonderful testimonials to share with you this morning for two of our North Side techs, Joel and Andy.

Wendy from Chapel Hill recently had a Termite inspection performed by Joel.  She stated:

Joel was a very kind, patient and systematic technician who went about the house inspection extremely thoroughly. He explained everything in a way that was easy to 

understand. He was very punctual, courteous and thorough.

It’s very important, when anyone is doing work on your home, that they take the time to properly explain to you what they’re doing. It’s easy for experts to forget that not every homeowner is going to be familiar with the technical terms they are using, the tools, the chemicals or even what your treatment plan really entails. If they haven’t explained it to you in a way that makes it crystal clear to you – Stop them. Ask them to be more clear. YOU are the customer. It is YOUR home, so you, above all else need to be comfortable and confident in what is happening, and the technician doing the job.  Happily, in Wendy’s case, Joel was able to provide her with all of the information she needed to make informed decisions and be confident going ahead with the job.

Les and Sandy from Stafford Heights had Andy out to do a chemical and physical termite treatment installed in their home recently.  They were thrilled with Andy and his team, and the work they did.

Andy and the team were extremely punctual, courteous and explained everything in a way that was easily understood. The work was carried out quickly with minimal disruption to the exterior of the house and the are was left clean and tidy.  The work people were polite and very professional.

Again, when you are letting a team of professionals into your home, you should expect that they act in exactly that manner – as professionals.  How many times have you seen tradesmen or teams acting in a less than professional manner, messy, late, poor people skills? All technicians at Conquer Termite Brisbane are expected to be extremely punctual, courteous and professional, at all times.

And it is a condition of the job that we leave your home as we found it, wherever possible.  We want to leave your home protected, but without leaving an unsightly mess that you are left to clean up. You should expect nothing less from the people you choose to allow to work on your biggest investment.

We thank you so much for your feedback and testimonials.  If a Conquer Team works on your home and leaves you with the quick questionnaire (there are only 4 questions on it, it takes just a minute or two), please consider filling it out.  It can only help us improve our service to you and future customers.

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

is:

The world’s most destructive termite, mastotermes darwiensisis or the Giant Northern Termite is almost never seen below the Tropic of Capricorn. It is considered the most aggressive and destructive termite in the world and is also the largest.  It is generally limited to the Northern Territory and the northern parts of Western Australia and Queensland.

It’s not a Termite that we see very often here at Conquer Termites, as most of our customers are in Brisbane. But just last week a large, active colony of mastotermes was found on the Gold Coast! Certainly, of all species of termite, this is the very last one we want moving into South East Queensland!

Mastotermes probably most closely resembles a cockroach (compared to other termite species). The scientific classification of termites has recently been changed to actually place termites under the order of Blattodea (Cockroaches). Previously they had been classified as their own order, Isoptera but recent studies have seen a change and they are now accepted as the epifamily Termitoidae, of the cockroach order Blattodea.  While in Australia termites have long been known by the term ‘white ants’, this is actually a misnomer as they are really only an extremely distant relative of ants.

Mastotermes have the most voracious appetites of all termite species.  They have been known to destroy crops (sugar cane, vegetables and fruit), eat through electrical wiring, tractor and car tires (!) and rubber trees!  And while most termites are actually good for the environment (as long as they’re not in your home), mastotermes is incredibly ruthless, often ring-barking trees and destroying bushes and shrubs.

Mastotermes are known to be able to split into separate colonies once their numbers reach about 100 000, and move the second colony into another area, spreading themselves over a wide area. It sounds like it would take a long time for a termite colony to reach 100 000, but bearing in mind that the queen is capable of laying over 2000 eggs a day, a termite colony can become enormous very quickly. When a colony gets into a home it has been known to cause an incredible amount of damage in less than 12 weeks!

Like the termites we usually deal with here in Brisbane, Mastotermes are a subterranean termite, and build their nests in trunks and root crowns of trees and stumps.  Most termite species galleries are found in the first 30cm of soil, but the mastotermes can go as deep as 70cms.

Unfortunately, termites eat their timber from the inside out. So generally by the time they are detected, they have left little but paint holding up your house. Most termites would take a number of years to do this kind of damage. But Mastotermes Darwiniensis are approximately 3 times larger and stronger than most subterranean termites, and can do this damage in a matter of months.

This is not the first time that this dangerous species has been found out of it’s northern borders. It is, at least the third time that Mastotermes has been found on the Gold Coast. Let’s hope they are able to eradicate yet another colony and that we don’t have to face them in our own homes.

Remember, the most important thing you can do to protect your home is have regular thorough termite inspections. Call a professional pest control company, preferably one that specialises in termites. All of the technicians at Conquer Termites are Termite Specialists and are able to answer any questions or concerns you have. (Joel Mitchell, one of our most experienced techs, once dragged his family on a ‘holiday’ from their home in the Whitsundays to Townsville, in the hope of finding some Mastotermes and bringing home samples.  He thought it would be ‘fun’.Apparently living in the Whitsundays for a year and a half without having spotted these giant termites was unacceptable and it was time to go find some… Yes folks, that’s the kind of err….. dedication our techs show!) Don’t forget to take advantage of our free half hour check if you are worried you may have termites on your property.

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

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

After having completed an annual pest treatment on my property in Parkinson by a franchised pest control company it was bought to my attention my property had an active termite nest in front yard (little buggers decided to get stuck into some aged sleepers acting as one of my garden barriers).  I received a quotation from the pest fumigator for a no-name baiting system with an estimate ranging between $4k and $5k with no real assurances or confidence in that it would stop the spread or contain my current infestation.

Conscious of time and not wanting to leave it to chance I began some online research (trusty Google) and came across Conquer Termites and the Termidor chemical injection system.  After checking some reviews of this system I was confident enough to place a call to Nick, Conquer Termites Brisbane Southside specialist who was to happy to answer my questions and provide a free consultation at my property and assess the situation.  The next day Nick reviewed my property and provided a no BS assessment of the situation without the scare tactics (i.e. Told it how it was and didn’t use the element of fear to push a sale).  That evening my wife and I reviewed the information and called Nick to approve the Job (i.e. On site assessment was fantastic, leading quotation, useful product information on Termidor system including DVD and Nick provided me with confidence in his ability and the effectiveness of product).

Treatment begin 3 days later and included a full property inspection with heat scope and detailed report (including fumigation of current Termite hive).  The full treatment was completed the next day and regardless of some of the intricacies of my property (i.e. Water tanks, A/C unit and Decks) Nick and the Conquer Termites crew effectively completed treat and returned my property to a prior works state.

Professional service, confidence, support and guarantee of work where promised and delivered and I am happy to give Nick and Conquer Termites at 10/10 for work done.  Pity I can’t find a sparky or plumber with this level of service!

Robert Pearson – Parkinson – September 2011

If you you want professional advise and a no obligation quote to treat your home, contact us now. Or call direct: Brisbane North-side – 3356 8801, Brisbane South-side – 3399 1226  Brisbane South Central – 3343 3934.

Beautiful Jacaranda Trees at the University of Queensland - a sure time that spring has sprung in beautiful Brisbane!

While there’s little doubt that Springtime in Brisbane is perhaps our most beautiful time of year (in a region that is already known for it’s beauty), for some people there can unfortunately be an unpleasant side to spring.

Allergies. Hayfever. Asthma. Sound familiar? The Australian Government Department of  Health and Welfare reports that the prevalence of asthma in children in Australia is close to the highest in the word!

While most of us are aware of our sensitivity to things such as pollen, mould, smoking and pet dander, Missy Henriksen (VP for Public Affairs of the National Pest Management Assocation in the United States) reports that cockroaches are the leading cause of allergens and asthma.

The main issue is their saliva, droppings and their decomposing bodies. These contain allergens that are known to trigger allergies and increase the severity of asthma attacks, especially in the young.

So those of us with allergies and asthma (and those of us that have children who suffer with them) need to look out for any cockroach infestation in their homes (or school & daycare).

Cockroach allergens are often in places hard to see – under appliances and sinks, so make sure that those areas are as clean and dry as possible.

Cockroaches are found all over the world, with over 3500 species. Here in Brisbane and South East Queensland though,we are really dealing with 3 main varieties.

American Cockroach - these are large and a darker brown to black in colour

Oriental Cockroaches - darker and slightly smaller than the American

German cockroaches - the smallest of the 3 species we deal with most in Brisbane. These then to be prolific breeders and a light brown.

American Cockroaches are the largest of the three and are brown to almost black in colour. Oriental Cockroaches are medium sized and a dark brown . The other prolific species found here in Brisbane is the smaller, lighter German Cockroach.

Places cockroaches like to hide are near food preparation areas so they are close to water and food spills. They will hide in kitchen cupboards, under sinks, around water heaters, behind the fridge or pantry, drains and generally anywhere left undisturbed. They also tend to take advantage of cracks in walls.

Keep your house as clean as you can (though the thought that cockroaches only stay in a dirty house is a myth, they will invade anywhere), paying special attention to your kitchen. Regularly clean under the fridge, stove and toaster etc. Take your rubbish out frequently, clean up food spills right away. Also, don’t leave pet food lying around in their bowls.  All of these things will attract the hordes of cockroaches.

For an occasional cockroach sighting, you can attempt to treat them yourself (always follow the manufacturer’s instructions). But if you suspect you have an infestation, please call a licensed professional pest management technician to eliminate the problem for you. Bearing in mind the increase in severity of allergies and asthma cockroaches cause, it’s a small price to pay for keeping our families safer.

Cockroaches are rarely seen in daylight. They prefer to forage in the dark. Head into your kitchen at 2am and you may be in for quite the surprise!  In fact,  seeing a German cockroach in the day time is usually an indication that the infestation is so large that there are no longer any hiding places.

Most of the time, cockroach sightings are an indication that there are more around. They multiply much faster than you may think, especially the small German cockroaches. German cockroaches reach sexual maturity in just 90 days; so a population explosion like that if left unchecked is likely to make your house even more at risk.

Remember cockroaches cause and increase the severity of allergies and asthma attacks. Don’t leave dead cockroaches lying around, their casings could be making your family sick.

For a professional pest inspection or a General Pest control treatment (cockroaches, spiders, silverfish etc), call Conquer Termites. You can contact us now. Or call direct: Brisbane North-side – 3356 8801, Brisbane South-side – 3399 1226 Brisbane South Central – 3343 3934.

We can also be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ConquerTermitesBrisbane & on Twitter at @ConquerTermites.

When carrying out pest inspections not only do we need to find out type of termite we  are dealing with, but also the species. This information lets us decide what course of action, if any that needs to be carried out.

There are 3 types of termites, Subterranean, Drywood, and Dampwood.

Subterranean Termites

Subterranean termites are what we most commonly find in houses in South East Queensland.   They enter your house via the soil, thus their name subterranean termites. Our most destructive species actually live inside living trees, nesting firstly in the root crown of the tree, and working their way up the middle of the tree, completely hidden from view.  Some species make arboreal nests (nests attached to the outside of trees) others can be mound builders. The important thing is though, that despite their different nesting habits, they all access their food sources via subterranean tunnels.

Coptotermes Soldier Termites coming out of a wall. Note the mudding around the hole - a sign of subterranean termites.

Subterranean termites have built their nest in this red gum - eating all the way through the core of the tree.

Drywood Termites

Drywood termites live in timber and trees, mostly in small colonies, and do not make mud shelters or subterranean tunnels.  They are introduced into houses via infested furniture and renovations (rare), and during their annual colonising flights.  Generally the damage caused by Drywood termites is minimal, except when the infestation is of the species known as the West Indian Drywood Termite (Crypotermes Brevis spp.)  Drywood termites are most likely to be found during pest inspections in older houses.

Dampwood Termites

Dampwood termites infest live trees and the only real bother they cause is to millers, as they eat the trees and prevent their timber being useful. They usually live in small colonies and are of no concern to the homeowner.  It is extremely rare to find Dampwood termites in a house, and is normally only found on the outside of a house in timber window frames that are decayed and holding a lot of moisture, and do not dry out.

So while it may be tempting to buy into some DIY termite control products, it’s vital that first of all you know what you’re dealing with. It is worth the small cost and time involved in having a licensed, experienced Termite Management professional come out and have a look at your home.

Conquer Termites offers a free half hour check to all Brisbane homes. If you have any concerns, contact us at the following numbers, or use this web site to arrange a check or a termite inspection in your home right away.

Brisbane North-side – 3356 8801, Brisbane South-side – 3399 1226 Brisbane South Central – 3343 3934

It was a devastating time for the homeowners that were affected by the January flood waters. For many, however, it seems somehow even worse as repair work reveals home after home now infested with termites. Many homeowners were completely unaware that they had termites.

Most of these homeowners were completely unaware that they had termites in their homes. Many had even had prior Termite Management Systems installed on their properties, some as little as a year before. Needless to say, on top of spiraling costs of repairing their homes, having to live elsewhere in the meantime, and replacing what they’d lost, termite damage just seemed almost too cruel.

The sad fact is though, that in many of South East Queensland’s flood stricken areas, soil treated with termiticide would have simply been washed away by those once-in-a-generation floods. Given their utter dependence on moist soil and humidity, and really the only creatures enjoying that summer of rain were the termites.

Even as the flood waters receded and the floods themselves began to fade from the consciousness of most of us, the biggest problem is the residual moisture left in the soil. All of this extra moisture has enabled termites to forage even further from their colonies than they normally would, looking for any cellulose material to feed on (trees, wood, your home…).

The Queen Termite (who can actually lay easily over 1000 eggs a day!) knows that conditions for foraging are ideal and therefore starts laying still more eggs (up to 2ooo a day!), creating extra termites needing to be fed. If that colony of termites is near your home, and has grown so much larger, it is going to do far more damage to your property than a colony would in a ‘normal’ year.

And the floods along with the drawn out clean up have created the perfect storm for termite infestation. Moist soil, high humidity and debris or building materials left up against your home have created the ideal environment for subterranean termites to make their way into your home.

And certainly, due to the skyrocketing reports we are getting, this does seem to have been the case in Brisbane and South East Queensland this year.

Remember, as temperatures start to rise, humidity soars, and experts predicting a reasonably wet summer, NOW is the time to take control and beat the termites. Call a qualified Pest Control Technician out to your home now for a thorough termite inspection. Conquer Termites offers a free half hour check if you are concerned and just need some reassurance.

And of course, there are things that YOU can do to help protect your home. Remove any mulch, tree branches and building materials from up against your home (you ideally want at least a 30 or 40cm gap between your structure and any of these materials). Fix any leaking taps, air conditioning or hot water systems. Don’t make conditions any more appealing for the termites than they already are. Check downstairs and make sure that you don’t have any stored boxes or furniture up against the walls or frames, or blocking access that could be vital in a Pest Inspection.

If you have been affected by flood waters around your home, then we strongly recommend you get a professional inspector to check if your treatment has been disturbed.

If you want professional advice and a no obligation quote to treat your home, then Conquer Termites is your best bet.

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

Let’s use the coming weeks and months to get ready for a wet summer and make sure we make our properties as uninviting to termites as we possibly can!

If you’ve ever wondered what to expect during your termite inspection, we thought now was a good time to introduce you to some of the tools we use on the job.  A termite technician’s tools range from the hi-tech thermal imaging products all the way down to simple screwdrivers and tappers.

A termite tapper is one of the most simple, but valuable pieces of equipment we will use in your pest inspection. It is run along the skirting bards and any exposed timber and a technician is able to hear a change in tone that may alert him to possible signs of timber damage.

A Termite Tapper is one of the most useful tools in a pest & termite inspection

If a difference in tone is detected, a simple screwdriver can be used to examine the wood and see if it is compromised – i.e if the termites have eaten it.

Our Tramex Moisture Meter

Another tool often seen at a Pest Inspection  is a Moisture Meter. As it’s name suggests, a moisture meter is used to detect levels of moisture in internal walls. A higher moisture level than normal can be a good indicator of termite activity, as they require moist, humid conditions for survival. They also leave a moist trail as they work and feed.  The termite tapper and the moisture meter are used in every termite inspection conducted by Conquer Termites Brisbane.

Borescope

A borescope would be used if the moisture meter is not conclusive, we would drill a small hole in the wall and insert the borescope to get a better look at what is going on inside of your walls. It can be used to determine if there is current activity or to get a better picture of how much damage termites have done to your structure.  It’s a great chance for you to get a look at the termites (should you be so inclined) without having to disturb them.

Termatrac

Next in our arsenal is something we blogged about recently – our Termatrac. A termatrac detects motion inside walls and can be a better first step than opening walls and disturbing active termites (thus encouraging them to move to an even less accessible spot in your home). Invented and developed in Australia it uses microwave technology to detect termites hidden below the surface of timber, plaster board, brick or masonry with no interference to the building material or termite activity.
A termatrac is comprised of two parts: a sensor unit that is applied to a surface to pick up any termite activity, and a main control unit which we use to assess the data fed back to us.

Thermal Imaging Camera

We recently used one of these in a job in Sunnybank Hills (Nick’s South Central Territory) just the other day.  Thermal imaging is a technology that will detect differentials in heat energy. If termites have a concentration of activity in a certain area or a nesting inside your walls, the camera will pick up the heat caused by that activity. If there is a lot of activity, it will show up on a Thermal Imagine Camera as hot spots.  In the Sunnybank Hills job last week we had suspected termite infestation in a window frame, but our moisture meter had failed to pick anything up. By using the thermal imaging camera, we were able to detect a few hot spots and by also teaming this up with the borescope, we were able to find a lot more termite activity in the wall cavity and in the timber frame.

It’s a useful tool, but it has it’s limits, particularly here in Brisbane, or in the rest of South East Queensland. If the ambient temperature of the wall is the same as the termite workings (for example over 23 degrees celcius), a thermal camera isn’t necessarily going to pick anything up. As well, just as in our Sunnybank job, if that particular spot only has a small amount of termites, then we are going to need to introduce other tools to get a better picture of what’s going on.

While we all are inclined to feel ‘safer’ and better looked after if we have the latest gadgetry at our disposal, it’s good to remember that sometimes time honoured, simpler methods can be more successful, or should at the very least be used in conjunction with newer methods. They do not replace the tools we have been using successfully for years.

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.

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