Termites, hungry unhelpful Queenslanders

Termites bring alot of pain and cost to Queensland home owners.

Don't let them take your home for lunch. Below is an extract from the Queensland Building Services Authority.

To deter concealed termite entry to the dwelling, regular maintenance is essential. The following list is a guide to what owners should and should not do to protect their home from termites.

❑ Have the building inspected at least annually by a suitably qualified termite management contractor, licensed in Queensland by BSA. A free licence history check can be performed at www.bsa.qld.gov.au. More frequent inspections may be required in high risk areas (such as areas near trees or bush).

❑ Owners should perform their own ongoing inspections between professional inspections.

❑ Owners should be careful not to compromise their termite management system. Termite infestations can occur when a perimeter system has been made ineffective The most frequent cause of termite infestation is where a perimeter system has been bridged or breached, thus rendering it ineffective.

❑ Special care should be taken to protect the ‘weepholes’ (vertical joints between bricks close to ground level that are left open to allow any moisture to escape outside the house). 75mm minimum clearance is recommended from the bottom of any weep hole to the top of the garden bed, concrete or unit paving.

❑ Freestanding structures should be built with a minimum 25mm inspection zone between the structure and the house.

Some common practices that may increase the risk of termite problems include:

❑ Placing turf, paving, concrete paths, bark and garden beds up against the house wall (you may need to re-establish the termite system).

NOTE: Concrete paths or driveways placed against a building may require a chemical reticulation system to be installed in the ground before concreting.

❑ Leaving loose timber stacked up or leaning against the house.

❑ Installing new services involving underground connections to the house (such as pay TV) or Air-conditioning condensate drainage pipes.

❑ Installing new water tanks against the dwelling spanning over the width of the termite management.

❑ Constructing a pergola (75mm minimum clearance is recommended between the finished ground or pavement level and the bottom of the timber posts)

❑ Attaching fences, carports, or garages to the home.

You should ensure the soil surrounding members in contact with the ground is treated.