A thorough and comprehensive timber pest inspection for a normal residential dwelling can take anywhere from 60 minutes to 2 hours to carry out.

There are some common signs of potential subterranean termite infestation within a house. 

• The presence of mud-like material or mud tubing in an irregular pattern. 
• Termites may excavate the wood so that only a very thin layer of wood or paint is left on the surface of the cavity and the outside. Then this layer is broken; they will cover the holes with mud like material, used to make the tubes. This is a mixture of soil, feces, and saliva. 
• The appearance of a swarm of “flying ants”, especially near light sources, indicating that a termite nest may be near. 
• Swarming occuring during the day, particularly on warm days after rain. Swarmers found outdoors near tree stumps, railroad sleepers and the like are not an indication that your house is infested, but that they are present outside. 
• Termites establish their nests in the ground and build “mud tubes”. These pencil-sized tubes connect the nest to the food source (wood). Mud tubes are proof of termite infestation, but their absence does not necessarily mean that a structure is free of termites. You can break open tubes to determine if termites are still active inside, but if damaged tubes appear ‘rebuilt’ it is an indication of continued activity. 

If one or more of these signs are recognised by you in your home, we strongly recommend that you have your house thoroughly inspected by us immediately.

There are a number of differences between ants and termites. The body shape of an ant is an ‘hourglass’ shape — the bodies of termites however are more cigar-shaped than ants, without having the narrow section between the abdomen and the head. Ants typically have larger, less “veiny” wings than the white ants that have wings. 

Another difference is that ant antennae are jointed (somewhat bent or curved), while the termite antennaes are straighter. Termites will eat the timbers that they tunnel through, whereas ants will just carry away the ‘rubbish’.

Commonly referred to as “white-ants” due to their creamy colour, termites are roughly the shape & color of rice grains. The reproductives, or “alates” (swarmers), have even-sized wings & are mistaken quite often for common flying ants. The workers are smaller, are blind, and lack wings.

Termites have subterranean colonies, made up of 3 very different “castes”, or types of termite; ‘reproductives’, ‘workers’ and ‘soldiers’.

The ‘soldiers’ are the type most professional pest technicians are able to identify. Unlike ants, ‘soldier’ termites have fearsome mandibles, and some species may shoot a white sticky substance from their “pronotums”, or heads, to protect the colony from attack.

Also known as a “termite barrier”, an insecticidal termite treatment is the most effective method of treating subterranean termites when there is enough rocky or non-existant soil available. 

A low-toxic, environmentally safe chemical treatment, “termiticide” may be installed to perimeters of buildings. Accord to the Australian Standard AS 3660, it is applied to the soil 50mm below the tops of the footings to stop termites entering the building. Accredited technicians will either drill or cut through concrete to get to soil, or lift the pavers and trench soil underneath. Either repellant or non-repellant termiticide (our preferred termiticide is Termidor) is then pressure injected or otherwise drenched into the soil, creating a protective barrier around the property.

Yes, absolutely! There may be unknown damage in inaccessible areas. Termites and also termite colonies often avoid detection by avoiding the open-air and light. Determined to stay underground or be hidden within timber products, it becomes very difficult or even impossible to detect, identify, or even locate active termite infestations by simply looking at or tapping surfaces of walls and ceilings. As part of our comprehensive inspection package, we often use ‘Thermal Imaging Cameras’ and electronic moisture-detection equipment in areas with inadequate access to ensure a 100% thorough building examination.

If we find during an inspection that there is evidence of infestation and there is no visual evidence or documentation to indicate past treatment has been carried out, we will let you know what needs to be done to protect your property from termites. it is part of our duty of care to you that we recommend that the buildng is in need of termite treatment, whether live activity was discovered or not, as there could be a high possibility of a future attack.