Published Thursday, 01 May, 2008 at 12:52 PM
Minister for Public Works, Housing and Information and Communication Technology
The Honourable Robert Schwarten
DON’T LET TERMITES EAT AWAY YOUR PROFITS
Home owners should regularly check that their termite protection is still working effectively, Housing Minister Robert Schwarten said today.
Mr Schwarten said home owners could help to avoid a costly termite infestation by regularly checking their home’s termite protection system.
“Your home is likely to be your greatest investment, so be vigilant about pest management and don’t let termites eat away your profits,” Mr Schwarten said.
“Termite damage to buildings is a significant problem in Queensland as termites thrive in our state’s warm climate and virtually every area is susceptible to termite attack.”
Mr Schwarten said that while the exact cost of termite damage is unknown, but the Department of Primary Industries estimates it costs Australians in excess of $100 million a year.
“People whose homes are near a park or back on to bushland or national park are at greater risk of termite activity.
“Termite prevention is always better than costly treatment, and home owners should follow simple steps to minimise risk of termite infestation in their home.”
“The Queensland Building Servies Authority also recommends that home owners hire a BSA-licensed pest controller to check for termites every 12 months.”
The BSA also offers this advice to protect your home against termites:
• Have your home inspected every 12 months by a contractor holding a BSA Termite Management – Chemical licence.
• Make sure your home is protected by preventative measures including physical barriers, the use of termite-resistant building materials, chemical barriers, or baiting systems. (These must be installed by a contractor holding a BSA Termite Management licence. Evidence of what type of system is currently protecting your home can be found on a sticker located in the meter box.)
• Be vigilant and check around your house every couple of months for signs of termite activity.
• Learn how to check for early signs of termite activity, which include veins or galleys running up the side of your home and evidence of disturbance around cracks or gaps in the dwelling. Always ensure you thoroughly check damp areas around your dwelling, e.g. around leaking taps, hot water systems and air-conditioning units.
• Ensure timber pergolas, verandahs and steps are not in contact with the ground.
• Be aware that nests in mature eucalypts, tree stumps and hardwood sleeper walls are potential sources of building infestations.
• Do not leave untreated timber lying around your yard or against the walls of your house.
• Do not build garden beds beside the walls of your house, and be extra careful not to have weep holes (small holes between bricks near the ground) below soil level.
• If the floor is on stumps or brick piers, inspect the “ant” caps regularly for breaches, and make sure no flooring timbers are in contact with the ground.
• Don’t buy a new home without a termite report from a BSA-licensed termite inspector.
• After the initial inspection, remember to have a professional pest inspection at least once a year. Don’t rely on an old report – the fact the house was termite-free last year does not mean it still is.
• Don’t rely on luck to protect your home. If your home is built on a concrete slab, it still has a ‘high’ risk of termite attack.
• Don’t assume your home was correctly pre-sprayed for termites when it was built.
Where a building is found to be infested, the infestation can only be chemically treated by a BSA-licensed pest controller. The pest controller will attempt to locate and treat the source nest if possible, or install a chemical soil barrier or baiting system. Bait systems are useful for monitoring and treating infestations.
For more information, consult BSA’s website at www.bsa.qld.gov.au or call BSA’s Customer Contact Centre on 1300 BSA BSA (1300 272 272).
Media contact: Minister’s office – Scott Chandler on (07) 3237 1832
BSA – Justin Coomber on (07) 3404 3027
Mr Schwarten said home owners could help to avoid a costly termite infestation by regularly checking their home’s termite protection system.
“Your home is likely to be your greatest investment, so be vigilant about pest management and don’t let termites eat away your profits,” Mr Schwarten said.
“Termite damage to buildings is a significant problem in Queensland as termites thrive in our state’s warm climate and virtually every area is susceptible to termite attack.”
Mr Schwarten said that while the exact cost of termite damage is unknown, but the Department of Primary Industries estimates it costs Australians in excess of $100 million a year.
“People whose homes are near a park or back on to bushland or national park are at greater risk of termite activity.
“Termite prevention is always better than costly treatment, and home owners should follow simple steps to minimise risk of termite infestation in their home.”
“The Queensland Building Servies Authority also recommends that home owners hire a BSA-licensed pest controller to check for termites every 12 months.”
The BSA also offers this advice to protect your home against termites:
• Have your home inspected every 12 months by a contractor holding a BSA Termite Management – Chemical licence.
• Make sure your home is protected by preventative measures including physical barriers, the use of termite-resistant building materials, chemical barriers, or baiting systems. (These must be installed by a contractor holding a BSA Termite Management licence. Evidence of what type of system is currently protecting your home can be found on a sticker located in the meter box.)
• Be vigilant and check around your house every couple of months for signs of termite activity.
• Learn how to check for early signs of termite activity, which include veins or galleys running up the side of your home and evidence of disturbance around cracks or gaps in the dwelling. Always ensure you thoroughly check damp areas around your dwelling, e.g. around leaking taps, hot water systems and air-conditioning units.
• Ensure timber pergolas, verandahs and steps are not in contact with the ground.
• Be aware that nests in mature eucalypts, tree stumps and hardwood sleeper walls are potential sources of building infestations.
• Do not leave untreated timber lying around your yard or against the walls of your house.
• Do not build garden beds beside the walls of your house, and be extra careful not to have weep holes (small holes between bricks near the ground) below soil level.
• If the floor is on stumps or brick piers, inspect the “ant” caps regularly for breaches, and make sure no flooring timbers are in contact with the ground.
• Don’t buy a new home without a termite report from a BSA-licensed termite inspector.
• After the initial inspection, remember to have a professional pest inspection at least once a year. Don’t rely on an old report – the fact the house was termite-free last year does not mean it still is.
• Don’t rely on luck to protect your home. If your home is built on a concrete slab, it still has a ‘high’ risk of termite attack.
• Don’t assume your home was correctly pre-sprayed for termites when it was built.
Where a building is found to be infested, the infestation can only be chemically treated by a BSA-licensed pest controller. The pest controller will attempt to locate and treat the source nest if possible, or install a chemical soil barrier or baiting system. Bait systems are useful for monitoring and treating infestations.
For more information, consult BSA’s website at www.bsa.qld.gov.au or call BSA’s Customer Contact Centre on 1300 BSA BSA (1300 272 272).
Media contact: Minister’s office – Scott Chandler on (07) 3237 1832
BSA – Justin Coomber on (07) 3404 3027