Termite Treatments Explained
STAGE 1
Any termite treatment always starts with a full and thorough inspection of the property in accordance with the Australian Standards.
See Termite Inspections for more information about how these are carried out.
After a thorough inspection including thermal imaging, the areas of termite activity are identified and (if conditions are suitable and enough termites are present ) a Termidor dusting or foaming is performed.
Termidor dust is very finely ground cellulose, like talcum powder, with a small amount of the special ingredient, Fipronil, that sticks to termites. Termites love to eat it. Discreet holes are made into the termite workings and Termidor dust or foam is puffed into the galleries where termites are active. Termites in these galleries are coated in this dust, and with Termidors unique ‘Transfer Effect’ the treatment applied to hundreds of termites is transferred to thousands.
Eventually (often within 24hrs) these dusted termites return to the nest and groom and feed other worker termites, soldiers and the queen. The idea behind dusting is primarily to stop all activity inside the house but with a competent Technician and a successful dusting, colony elimination can often be achieved. After the dusting, the holes are usually sealed (with masking tape or something similar) unless the technician has a specific reason to do otherwise. Foaming has a much quicker action and is designed to remove termites quickly but has less chance killing a colony that is located far from the foaming site. Your technician is trained to decide the best treatment for your home.
After a dusting the property is usually left for a few days to allow the dust transfer effect to run its course. Once activity has ceased inside the house, and sufficient time has passed, it is time to perform the perimeter treatment.
STAGE 2
Before this stage it is strongly recommended that plans be provided for the property showing where water, electricity and telephone services enter the property. This can avoid mishaps where drilling or trenching is required.
Perimeter treatments are designed to prevent termite access to the home by creating a treated zone of soil around the house through which the termites can’t pass.
Where there is concrete beside/underneath house the technicians will drill through and then inject liquid termiticide under pressure. The holes are 12mm in diameter (other sizes can be made by specific request, but 12mm holes are strongly recommended) and are 200mm or less apart. Once chemical has been applied, injection holes are filled with similarly coloured concrete or plastic plugs to leave the site looking tidy.
In other areas it may be soil against the external wall of the house. Where this is the case the technician will trench down to the footings and flood with chemical, back fill and flood again. All attempts are made to keep trenches neat and to save gardens but this is not always possible.
FOLLOW UP CHECKS
Complimentary ‘peace of mind’ inspections are included after treatment. The first will be performed roughly six weeks after the completion of stage 2. Repairs can be safely carried out after the six week check.
Annual inspections are recommended by the Australian Standard. These checks are to ensure that all activity has ceased and that the perimeter treatment has not been disturbed.
Termite Solutions offer an initial one year free service period on our perimeter treatments which can be extended, usually up to five years, by you having annual inspection with Termite Solutions.