Termites - Choice - Australia’s leading consumer advocacy group i

Please read the 2020 Choice Magazine article about termites. Very comprehensive and factual.

Link to the Choice Mag - Online

Termites

Finding a qualified, experienced pest manager isn’t as easy as you’d think. Our special report brings you up to date with the current issues and practices in termite treatment and helps you protect yourself from ineffective, expensive or harmful treatment. Here’s a summary of the full report.

What are termites?

Often called ‘white ants’, the subterranean termites that can damage your home usually nest in soil or trees and can travel up to 100m to find food in the bush, or your home. They generally eat cellulose-containing materials, especially timber. Termites can chomp through the structural timbers of a house - the frames, walls, roof and floors - making it unsafe and costly to repair. They can do a lot of damage before you even notice them.

Who’s at risk?

It’s estimated one in five homes in Australia has been treated for termite damage at some stage of its life. Brick and steel-framed houses, as well as timber, are at risk.

Do not disturb

Found a nest? Get a pest manager onto the job straight away. If you disturb the nest, the termites may move on and find a hidden place from which to attack your home.

Finding a pest manager

With newer, less toxic termite treatments and protection now available, it’s important to find a pest manager with up-to-date knowledge and experience. As treatment costs, an estimated average of $1500, it’s certainly worth getting familiar with the subject before committing yourself to a management plan.

• Ring around - there are several different termite management strategies, so make sure you are comparing like with like. A cheaper option may work now, but leave you vulnerable to future termite attacks.
• Be sure to ask the right questions about their treatment methods, company, previous experience, qualifications and skills.
• You’ll get the best value for money if you’re present at the inspection. Check they have the right tools to do a thorough job.

Protect yourself

• Licensing requirements vary from state to state, and the professional accreditation scheme aimed at raising standards in the industry has not been endorsed by all pest managers.
• Membership in an industry association gives you some protection if things go wrong, but make sure there’s a good complaint-handling procedure.
• Insist on professional indemnity and public liability insurance and ask to see proof. Up to half of the industry is likely to be uninsured.

An integrated approach to termite management

There are several strategies - often used together - that can reduce the risk of termite infestation.

• Termites love moisture, so it is essential to improve the environment around your house.
• If you’re building a new home or extension, you can use certain construction methods and materials that considerably reduce termite risk. A physical barrier will stop termites from gaining concealed access to your home - it’s also non-toxic, permanent and requires little maintenance.
• Chemical barrier and dusting treatments have been used in a variety of ways over the years to repel and destroy termites. Recent developments in insecticides - like insect growth regulators - are very effective and less toxic than older treatments like carcinogenic arsenic trioxide dust.
• The latest trend in termite treatment is monitoring and baiting stations - a far less toxic but more costly long-term management strategy.