Important Information about Termites that Every Homeowner Should Read.

February 29, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Termite Damage

Termite Damage Photo

Have you ever seen television current affairs programmes showing unfortunate families whose homes were found to be destroyed by termites shortly after they were given the “all clear” by inexperienced or rogue pest controllers? Their homes and their lives have also been destroyed. You watch and wonder how this much damage could have been missed. The reporter pulls off wall sheeting to expose large packs of termite packing where the timber framing used to be and everyone is shocked at what they see……

 

Check our Blogs below where I explain some of the things that could have gone wrong so that you’ll never let it happen to you. If you are a home owner or you are buying a home, here are some things that you should be aware of.

Filed Under: Consumer Information, Mals Termite Tips, Termite Inspection, Termite News

Brisbane Building and Pest Inspection

February 29, 2012 By Leave a Comment

How do I find a competent Brisbane Building and Pest Inspection firm? You could ask local Real Estate agents or check the community newspaper, and you’ll probably find the names of the better known Building Inspectors or Pest Inspectors in your area. Ensure your inspectors are qualified for your new home termite inspection.

Here’s some good advice:- [Read more...]

Filed Under: Mals Termite Tips, Termite Inspection Tagged With: , , , , , ,

There’s no such thing as a ‘Free Termite Inspection’

February 29, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Roof Inspection

A Termite Inspection usually takes around an hour and a half, and may involve, inspecting fences trees and the grounds and crawling under the house and through your roof, and inspecting the walls with expensive equipment such as moisture meters, infra red imagers, borescopes and the provision of a report. If you’ve been offered a ‘Free’ termite inspection, then you can be guaranteed that a ‘sales pitch’ will soon follow. You get what you pay for with termite inspections and termite treatments, so make sure you choose a reputable firm for your termite protection. Termite Solutions have been under the same management since 1996, so you can feel safe that we’ll be there in the future for your  termite protection warranty. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Mals Termite Tips, Termite Inspection

Infrared, Thermal or Heat Imaging for Termite Detection.

February 29, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Termite Resistant timbers

There's no early warning of termites when you have Meranti trims.

There’s no early warning of termites when you have Meranti trims.

Some homes are built with termite resistant skirting boards, architraves and door jambs. That’s Good, Right??? No, that’s bad, because the owners or inexperienced inspectors don’t get early warning of termite attack.

The damage happens inside the walls, and roof timbers are eaten. These are the homes where we see the really serious damage as seen on TV. You see, termites don’t usually touch these decorative timbers when they are made of MDF or Meranti, so usually there are no signs of damage as framing is eaten.

Damaged Pine Trims

Early warning signals in Pine Trims

These photos show a home built with Meranti trims, [Read more...]

Filed Under: Mals Termite Tips, Termite Inspection, Thermal Imaging

Types of Homes and their Level of Termite Risk.

February 29, 2012 By Leave a Comment
High Risk Homes

High Risk Homes

Firstly, some homes are much more susceptible than others to serious undetected termite damage.

Brick veneer homes and homes built on concrete slabs are at much higher risk than homes on stumps such as Queenslanders. Believe it or not, if you live in an original Queenslander style home or timber home on stumps with adequate ant capping, then you are at a much lower risk of serious termite damage than those in Brick veneer homes. As a rule: Brick homes get termites, while Queenslanders get borers.

Brick veneer homes ( most modern homes ) have a brick exterior or façade and an untreated timber frame that supports the roof. As termites eat these homes from the inside out as seen on television, the damage often goes undetected until skirting boards and window frames (insert photo) start to disappear. That’s when you realize you have a problem. Contact Termite Solutions! [Read more...]

Filed Under: Consumer Information, Mals Termite Tips

Mals Termite Tips

February 14, 2012 By Leave a Comment

 Please read through my list of tips and take a few minutes to check around your property for these conducive conditions. It amazes me how many people forget about old tree stumps in their yard which could possibly be the sources of termite problems. If you find termites during your home owners check please feel free to call our ‘Talk to a Tech’ line 0411 222 382 where you can ask a trained Termite Technician for helpful advice. It’s a free service that we provide for home owners. Our quotes are also free and we don’t have any high pressure salesmen to scare you into unwanted treatments. Take a look around your home and grounds for any of these conducive conditions……then do something about it!

Here is my ‘most important’ list.

Termites must have moisture or they will die. Dripping taps, hot water systems and air-con runoff beside walls will attract termites.

  • Plumbers are cheaper than new walls so FIX THE LEAKS! Our inspectors use moisture meters to detect termites in walls.
  • Termites often nest in tree stumps and under old sleepers. Are there any tree stumps and sleepers in your yard. Take a few minutes and have a look!! Remove all stumps by stump grinding.
  • The idea is to keep termites as far away from your home as possible. Dump all loose timbers, logs, untreated sleepers and unnecessary landscaping timbers. Termites love them.
  • With some modern concrete slab homes it is important that you ensure the edge of the slab is left exposed. Weep holes in between the bricks, found immediately above the slab, must also be left exposed. By building up gardens or soil levels over the edge of the slab or termimesh or over the weep holes you may
    allow termites to gain undetected entry into your home and bridge Treated Zones.
  •  Australian Standards recommend at least annual termite inspections.  When was your last inspection? How long could termites have been in your walls?
  •  Take a few minutes to check your skirting boards and architraves for signs of damage. Not sure what to look for? See our Termite damage gallery for examples. Think you have got a problem, then we have a tech waiting for your call or email us your photos for a quick diagnosis. See our contact page.
  •  Poor ventilation and drainage under homes is a major cause of termite issues. Drain storm water away from walls. Install powered vents under your house if necessary. Keep it dry
  •  Thinking of selling your home? Make sure it’s free of problems before the buyers inspectors turn up. A few termites in your yard or home and you can kiss the buyers goodbye. Call us for your pre-purchase or pre-sale inspections.
  • Landscaping timbers look great, especially to Termites! If they’re not treated, consider dumping them, or get them off the ground.

FACT 1: 90 + % of our termite damage jobs are in brick veneer homes, not old timber homes. 

 FACT 2: Termites can destroy hardwood! They’re just a little slower than in pine.

FACT 3: Termites and ants can exist close to each other. Having black ants does not mean you don’t have termites.

                                 

Filed Under: Mals Termite Tips