What Should You Do if You Discover Termites on Your Property? Is It Possible to Completely Eliminate Termites from Your Home? What Is the Cost of Termite Treatment? What Guarantees or Warranties Are Commonly Offered with Termite Treatments? Is the Cost of Termite Treatment Reimbursed by Insurance?
It’s bad enough that we have to share our house with thousands of creepy crawlies, but with termite treatment prices possibly going into the thousands of dollars, this is one pest we have to get used to. Here’s a brief guide to identifying a termite infestation and how much termite problem treatment could cost you.
Your house is more than just a place to sleep. It is also a significant investment, which makes it worthwhile to keep an eye out for termite prevention. According to the University of Technology Sydney, these wood-loving bugs are a major issue in Australia, generating more than $1 billion in property damage each year.
A single termite colony can have over 10 million workers, all of whom are hungry for your house. Furthermore, the Environmental Pest Managers Association (AEPMA) reports that termites are becoming more of an issue in the long term.
The AEPMA blames current building practices, such as the use of concrete slabs with minimal clearance from the ground in certain dwellings and the use of soft wood timber for framing. So what happens if the roof above your head begins to shrink, literally, as a result of a small, crawling pest?
Termites may conjure up images of decaying homes crumbling as timber crumbles. However, termites in walls are sometimes imperceptible to the human eye. Some frequent warning indicators to look out for. Watch for these key indicators of termites in your home: Mud Tubes: Thin tunnels of soil and saliva along foundations, walls, or cupboards.
Termite Droppings & Wings: Small piles of pellet-like droppings or discarded wings near windows and doors. Wall & Wood Damage: Chipping, flaking, bubbling paint, or hollow-sounding timber. High-Humidity Areas: Bathrooms, laundries, or damp timber attract termites. Early detection can prevent costly structural damage.
When you tap inside timbers, a hollow sound might indicate that termites have eaten away at the wood. According to Rentokil, clicking sounds emanating from the walls or ceiling might indicate the presence of termites (you can put your ear to the wood to listen for them).
This might be termites dining loudly or army termites beating their heads on timber to alert the colony of impending danger from various types of termites. How Do Termites Sneak Into Your Home? Termites are masters of stealth, often entering homes through: Soil-to-Wood Contact – Timber structures near or on soil provide a direct path.
Foundation Cracks – Tiny gaps in slabs or foundations offer easy access. Utility Openings & Expansion Joints – Pipes, conduits, and joints serve as hidden highways. Mud Tubes – Protective tunnels built along walls or subfloors allow safe travel from soil to wood.
Regular inspections around foundations, garden beds, and walls are essential to catch termites before they cause serious damage. How Long Do Termites Live? Just how long can these tiny demolition experts stick around? The answer depends on their role within the colony.
Worker and soldier termites the ones munching through your skirting boards or standing guard typically live for about one to two years.
On the other hand, the real royalty of the termite world, the queen, can keep the colony going for over a decade and sometimes even up to 20 years if conditions are spot on. Environmental factors, species, and even seasonal shifts can influence termite lifespans.
Australian species like the destructive Coptotermes can establish colonies that persist for many years, making fast identification and treatment absolutely vital to protect your home and hip pocket from long-term damage. According to the Australian Museum, Australia has around 300 termite species, however only a few of the wood-damaging species pose a threat to people.
In this example, the Museum states that controlling pest termites entails recognising the species, locating the nest, and selecting appropriate eradication procedures.
