Buying a Home? Ten Facts You Must Know About Termites

Australia has a problem with termites, especially the Sydney area. You may be unaware of the fact that there are residential areas in Sydney that are termite-prone and if you have a house in such an area, then you need to be having inspections done on a regular basis. Another thing, if you are purchasing a new home in Sydney, then you need to make sure the previous owners were combating any problems with termites or you may be faced with an even larger problem.

The fact of the matter is that you need to have pest control in your home in Sydney no matter if you own a home or if you are paying rent. Here are 10 termite facts that you must know, especially if you think you don’t need to take any precautionary action.

1. Australia is seeing an increase in the termite menace and the financial damages are astronomical. Millions of dollars are lost by Australians every year due to damage by termites.

2. An average 20% of homes in Australia received damage due to termites. There are an estimated 130,000 new termite attacks on an annual basis.

3. Flood, fire and storms are bad, however the loss realized from termite damage is 5 times that of the other three hazards combined.

4. Coptotermes Acinaciformis (subterranean) and Kolatermes (dry wood termites) are the most common termite species in Sydney. These termites are well known for attacking structures that are brick and steel as well as those that are timber framed.

5. Termites are known to adapt and they tend to develop a taste for materials that are commonly used in the construction of homes.

6. One averaged sized termite colony can chew up a room’s floor in just 3 months - yes, termites have quite an irrepressible appetite.

7. Once termites get inside, they do not stop at chomping just building materials - they begin feasting on furniture, clothing material, footwear and even electrical wiring.

8. If you find termites in your home and attempt to destroy them or their colony, they will come back with more brute force. This is because they live in the soil and can easily dig their way to safer places inside the earth and come back again because they know their source of food is in your home. It is best you leave the job to experts.

9. You may know that you can detect termites yourself by tapping on wood with a screwdriver handle. But you sure don’t know that even a mere tapping by a screwdriver handle on infested wood can break the wood. This also disturbs the termites, thus limiting your treatment options.

10. You should only use an expert who is experienced and specially trained as they are the only ones qualified to treat termite related issues.

If you intend on purchasing a home in Sydney or if you already have one then you need to hire a pest control agency with termite specialists who knows these destructive creatures like the back of their hands. If you don’t then you are only placing your home and health in peril.