Termites

Termites are regarded as one of the most destructive pests to have in your home or business. Sometimes referred to as ‘white ants’, termites can cause substantial damage to the structure of a building if they are not managed or controlled by qualified pest professionals.

Termite damage

Termites thrive in an environment that is dark, humid and protected, which is what makes them so hard to find, until it’s too late. Since termites are a species of wood-boring insect, they attack any wood in your property, which weakens the structure of your home. 

Termites do - however- leave signs indicating their presence and often it’s the termite damage that is seen, rather than the actual termites themselves. 

How to spot the signs of termite damage: 

• Mud tubes: look for termite mud tubes (tubes built from dirt and other materials) in the sub-floor area, foundations, skirting boards, cornices, moldings and roof timbers. 

• Bits of dried mud falling from wall joints when tapped. 

• Tight fitting doors or windows that are hard to open: termites devour timber, their excrement or ‘mud’ creates a protective environment that traps heat and moisture. This causes timber to swell, making it harder to open a window or close a door. 

• Soft floor boards, bulging, staining or rippling of painted timbers: when termites consume timber, they eat from the inside out, leaving a thin veneer of timber or paint. When you knock or tap on an area that has termite damage, it will sound hollow or papery due to parts (or all) of the timber having been eaten away. 

• Brittle skirting boards and door jams: As termites have eaten away the structural integrity of the timber, such as a skirting board, door frame or architrave, bumps or pressure will easily cause damage. This will also lead to cracks in the cornice or door jams. 

• Clicking noises: Some species of termites make a “clicking” noise, which is usually heard at night time. 

If you have seen the above signs of termite damage, contact Rentokil immediately to book a termite inspection.

Termite Prevention tips: ensure you get rid of termites before they become a problem

Your first step in getting rid of termites should be to arrange a thorough inspection of your property to confirm their presence.

• Termites need wood and moisture to survive 
  If you are able to minimise termites’ access to wood and reduce moisture in your home, you will be protecting your property from the risk of termite damage and the need for a potentially costly termite control solution. 

  Be sure to do the following to minimise termite activity: 
  • Stack firewood at the far end of the garden 
  • Make sure that leaves and garden waste aren’t stored next to your house 
  • Perform regular maintenance of taps and pipes to prevent leaks and drips 
  • Provide good ventilation in crawl spaces

• Wood that directly comes into contact with soil gives termites easy access 
  Regular inspection of the following may help to spot early signs of termites: 

  • Fence posts, trellises or landscaping ties 
  • Firewood stacked up against the house 
  • Mulch that touches the house 
  • Structural supports 
  • Wood debris (often from building) buried in the soil 
  To get rid of termites before they become a problem, be sure to remove any excess timber in and around your property as it proves an attractive food source and nesting site for subterranean termites. It can also hide evidence of termites invading your home.

• A small leak can create perfect moisture conditions for termites
  Whenever possible, try to fix the following, which may discourage termite activity around your property: 

  • Leaky taps 
  • Leaky gutters and downspouts that leave water near the foundation 
  • Ground sloping toward the foundation 
  • Insufficient ventilation in basements and crawl spaces that increases the humidity levels

Professional solutions for termite control and treatment

If termites become a problem on your property, Rentokil’s termite control services can help you to deal with the problem effectively. We’ll help you decide on the most suitable termite treatment depending on your current situation and help you deal with your termite infestation quickly and efficiently. 

We provide the following steps to effectively get rid of termites: 

• Termite inspection: We will conduct an initial termite inspection of your property to determine the level of infestation and recommend a suitable termite control solution for your premises. 
• Termite Treatment: Our pest control specialists will implement fast and efficient termite treatment solutions using approved materials and products (sometimes chemical methods) with no disruption to your daily operations. 
• Our termite control solution involves applying a chemical barrier to soil, under flooring or around your perimeter of your building’s foundations to create an effective barrier against termites. 
• Frequent termite inspections: To give you peace of mind, we perform inspections before and after construction, to get rid of termites before they cause serious implications. We also provide annual termite inspections to ensure that the best protection against termites is provided, and to prevent long term termite damage to your property. 

Contact us today for an effective termite control solution, and we will arrange for a Rentokil pest control technician to conduct a free termite survey for your premises.