Termites are tiny insects that mainly feed on cellulose, which is present in the wood. In nature, they help decayed, dead and rotten wood to decompose faster, making them nature’s recyclers. This amazing quality they possess can, however, prove detrimental to your property’s safety and structural integrity.
The issue of termite infestation in Australia has cost a lot of homeowners and property managers lots of money in repairs and maintenance costs. To safeguard yourself from shelling out a significant amount of money to get rid of termites, here are five Termite Solutions that can help to keep those termites away from your property.
Other Fencing Materials
While timber is a traditional and beautifying material, it provides a prime environment for the proliferation and invasion of termites. To avoid this risk altogether, you can use other materials for your fence instead of wood.
Steel, PVC, bricks, wrought iron, aluminium and stone are some of the materials that can provide privacy while still maintaining your chosen aesthetics. An added benefit is their lack of propensity to attract termites.
Termite-resistant Wood
A wooden fence is a staple in most homes as it has great aesthetic appeal and provides privacy without being expensive. This type of fencing is also the most susceptible to termite invasion.
Woods such as radiata pine are soft and possess no natural resistance to termites, making them a likely target for these insects. Treating your timber with termite-killing chemicals can help keep them away from your home. Paint can also prevent the wood from retaining moisture and attracting termites.
Hardwood species like cedar, red gum and ironbark are more durable and not prone to easy decay, making them ideal options for your fence.
Elevated Fence
Termites usually build colonies inside the soil and look for food sources by burrowing tunnels to a vast distance. Once they find a viable food source, they emerge from the soil and transport food back to their colonies through the built tunnels.
A wooden post inserted directly into the ground is a prime setting for termites to enter the wood from the soil. The best way to prevent this occurrence is to ensure that your fence is elevated from the ground; you can achieve this by:
- Putting a cement or concrete block beneath each post
- Building a concrete foundation and then inserting your fence on top of it
- Using iron or steel frames as the base material for your fence
Good Drainage and Effective Barriers
Moisture is the number one prerequisite for a termite-prone environment. Although these insects love timber, they can also feed on plants and other things that contain cellulose.
Constructing a proper drainage system that directs water away from your house into the appropriate channels is important. Ensure to clean out debris from your gutter regularly and prevent blockages.
Chemical barriers are highly effective in keeping termites away from a dwelling. They are usually installed during the construction of a property, where a deep trench is dug around the perimeter of a building, and the barrier is poured into it.
These chemicals are usually non-repellent, so termites cannot sense them as they walk over them and transmit the poison back to their colonies.
Regular Inspections
Termites usually eat trees and timber from the inside out, making it difficult to detect them until it is too late. A piece of wood can look intact from the outside while the inner structure has been compromised. Hence, you need to be carefully detailed in inspecting your fence for damage caused by termites.
A wooden post that sounds hollow when tapped has most likely succumbed to the destructive power of these insects. There are also several signs that should alert you to the possibility of termites in your fence, some of which include the following:
- Mud tubes: These are long, thin, tunnel-like structures constructed with sand, wood and other elements. Termites build it as a means of getting to their food source when above the soil surface.
- Wings: A cluster of shed wings can signify either termites or winged ants.
- Holes and dust: Termites form holes in wood where they penetrate it, and once they start feasting on it, they usually leave dust residues.
You can choose to do the inspections yourself or hire a professional service that is well-versed in identifying telltale signs of termite activity.