Termites cause more damage to Australian houses
than fire, floods and storms combined
Concealed in locations that often go undetected, termites destroy timber internally, leaving only a very thin layer to protect them from the outside environment. There is no predictable pattern to termite damage.
If you are building, extending or renovating within an area your local council has designated to be subjected to termite infestation, you must have some form of management against termite attack. Check with your council.
Identifying termite activity
Termite activity usually occurs in concealed areas and is often difficult to detect. We recommend regularly looking in and around your home or business to try and stay ahead of termite activity.
Things to look for include:
- weak timber that breaks easily revealing wafer-thin layers – skirting boards are often the first point of damage
- changes in corner fascia under gutters, as termites are attracted to damp or moist areas
- mud-like tubes or material around external footings/brickwork, or internal fittings like service pipes and electrical plugs
- cracks or holes in timber or plaster with a fine dust residue.
Look at surrounding trees, wood piles and garden beds (up to a 50 metres radius around the home) for signs of an active colony nearby.
Book an appointment with our experts to conduct a full inspection if you suspect any termite activity.
Termite Management
At the design stage
If you are building a new home or extension, our expert team can advise on a treatment plan barrier to be installed during construction. Barriers will require ongoing inspections, maintenance or replenishment of chemicals.
During construction
The risk of termites can be minimised by removing tree stumps, roots and off-cuts, and by properly consolidating the soil to minimise cracks in concrete slabs.
Buying a house
We strongly recommended that before you buy a house, you have our expert team inspect it for termite activity.
Pest termites
It is important to correctly identify the type of pest termite before beginning treatment. This will help us understand the habits of the colony, locate the nest and indicate the most appropriate method of control.
Termite species are best identified by their soldier termites, which have the most prominent features.
Coptotermes
These termites are widely distributed throughout Victoria and are responsible for more than 80 per cent of termite damage to buildings.
Nasutitermes
Nasutitermes are found throughout Australia; however, the species are less problematic in Victoria.
Porotermes adamsoni
This is Victoria’s largest species of termite, sometimes called damp wood termite. They are usually found nesting in large pieces of timber (particularly older trees) and are most common in wet, mountainous areas. They may, however, also be found in the dry foothills of Melbourne.
Schedorhinotermes
These termites are found throughout Australia, but only in the north of Victoria.
