Our Termite Treatment Process
All our termite treatments are carried out according to Australian Standards 3660.2-2017 and follow the AEPMA Termite Treatment Industry Code of Practice.
The treatment follows 4 key steps:
- Carry out a comprehensive termite inspection
- Propose and agree to a termite treatment plan based on the inspection results
- Eliminate active termites from the building
- Install a termite management system to protect the home into the future
Following this robust process ensures the successful elimination of termite problems as quickly as possible, giving our customers the peace of mind that their homes are safe and protected from termites.
Comprehensive Termite Treatments for Mount Gambier and Surrounds
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The Process
- Determine the areas and scale of the termite activity/damage
- Pinpoint all the termite entry points
- Try and locate the termite nest(s) attacking your home (not always possible)
- Determine which termite species is causing the problem
- Identify construction faults that may have allowed the termites to enter
- List any environmental conditions that may have contributed to the termite attack
This information is vital so we can determine the correct treatment process and select the most appropriate products. It allows us to eliminate the termites as quickly as possible and protect your home.
It will contain all the information required for you to make a decision on your preferred treatment.
- The termite treatment proposal we present will be based on
- The nature of the termite infestation
- The construction of the building
- Any environmental factors at play
- Your preferences
- Budget considerations
We will tend to have a preferred option for your situation, but sometimes there may be more than one option. We can start the treatment once the termite treatment plan has been agreed upon.
- Find and destroy any termite nests on the property
- Eliminate active termites from inside the building
Although every effort is made to find and destroy termite nests on your property, they are often very hard to locate (as they are typically underground or in trees). Even if nests are located and destroyed, there is no guarantee that those are the nests that are attacking your home. As such, the termites inside the building have to be treated directly.
Eliminating termites from inside the property normally takes between 2 weeks and 3 months, depending on the products used and the nature of the infestation.
Once the termites have been eliminated, we can install a termite management system to provide long-term protection for your property.
There are two types of termite management systems.
- Liquid termiticide treatments to the soil
- Termite monitoring and baiting systems
Whereas we normally recommend soil treatments as the best option for buildings in regional SA, sometimes termite monitoring and baiting systems are a better option for the building construction or soil type found on your property.
Termite Product Information
Spiderman SE is accredited to apply a wide range of high-quality, specialist termite products to deal with termite infestations. The choice of product will very much depend on the situation we find on your property.
Treating Active Termites
When we treat active termites in your home, we may use one of two products
- Termite foams
- Termite baits
Foams kill the termites that come into contact with them and can be transferred to other termites, magnifying their effect. As long as enough termites come into contact with the treatment, foam treatments can be very successful and very quick.
However, in other situations, termite bait will be the better option. A termite bait is an attractive termite food containing a slow-acting insecticide. Termites feed on the bait, taking it back to the nest, where it is fed to the queen and other termites. In addition to eliminating active termites from the building, it will also kill the colony. However, it will take longer to work (typically 1-3 months).
Protecting Your Home From Termites
Termiticide Soil Treatments
Liquid termiticides are applied to the soil around your property, creating a treated zone or “barrier”. Termites are either repelled by the chemical or killed when they try to enter the treated soil.
Our preferred product for soil treatments is Termidor. As accredited Termidor installers, we can offer a $2 million treatment assurance warranty on qualifying treatments.
Although liquid soil treatments are often our preferred termite management system, termite monitoring and baiting systems are a better option for certain construction types, rocky soils, or sloping blocks.
Termite Monitoring and Baiting Systems
Termite monitoring and baiting systems consist of plastic housing installed in the ground around your home. Traditional monitoring systems contain samples of wood. If termites are active in the area, they will start feeding on this wood. This activity is picked up in the regular inspections (every 6-12 weeks), and then a termite bait is added, which the termites feed on, ultimately killing the colony.
Spiderman SE uses Sentricon AlwaysActive which is the latest in termite baiting systems. It is different from traditional termite monitoring and baiting systems in that it does not use wood and then replace it with bait – it simply contains termite bait from the point of installation, meaning it is always active, protecting your home.
FAQs
Prevention is the best cure, but if you have already found termites in your property, read through the following important information before you do anything.
Termite infestations are usually discovered by accident. Termites travel in what is called "mud tubes" and keep themselves concealed between walls, in roof and subfloor voids and occasionally in furniture. Signs of termites may include mud tubes, discoloured, flaking or bubbling paint, soft spots in the wall or door/window frames, swollen timbers, electrical connection problems and sometimes small piles of dirt, often hidden in the corners of cupboards.
Termites are often (incorrectly) called "white ants" because of their appearance. If you have found an area with the above signs and the presence of small white-looking 'ants', unfortunately, you may have found termites on your property.
You may be tempted to spray them with insect or surface spray and clean up the dirt and damage. Don't! Our aim is to eradicate termites from your home, and the best results are achieved by treating them by applying special products directly to the live termites and their workings. By disturbing them, they may retreat and block off the area from their tunnel network that leads back to the nest. This makes treatment much more difficult and much less successful.
Secondly, don't panic! If you have found termites, they are likely to have been there for some time and will not cause significant damage in a few days. Your first step is to have the property inspected by a technician who is qualified and experienced in termite work. At Spiderman SE, our technicians are qualified and accredited and have extensive experience in all types of termite applications.
Don't disturb them further and arrange an inspection as soon as possible. There are still treatment options available if you have disturbed the termites, and we will be able to provide information on the suitable treatment options.
Finding termites is a good thing, as you can now take steps to eradicate them. Imagine the damage they could continue to cause if you had not found them.
Effective termite treatment consists of 4 key steps:
1. Carry out a comprehensive termite inspection.
2. Propose and agree to a termite treatment plan based on the inspection results.
3. Eliminate active termites from the building.
4. Install a termite management system to protect the home into the future.
Termite inspections can vary significantly in cost, and it's essential to understand what you're paying for. At Spiderman SE Eco Pest Management, we pride ourselves on providing thorough, professional Standard Timber Pest Inspections, which go far beyond the basic visual termite inspections many other companies offer. Here's what sets us apart:
Our Comprehensive Inspection Process:
1. Detailed Room-by-Room Inspection: We meticulously inspect every room in your home, tapping walls and wooden elements and scanning wet areas for leaks.
2. Roof Void Examination: We enter the roof void and carefully check every timber to ensure no hidden termite threats.
3. Sub-Floor Inspection: For homes with sub-floors, we examine all the flooring timbers to identify any potential issues.
4. Exterior Building Inspection: We don't just stop at the interior; we also thoroughly inspect the exterior of your home.
5. Outbuilding and Property Assessment: Any outbuildings and the property up to 50 meters from the main building are also checked, including fences, trees, and other structures.
Time and Effort:
This comprehensive approach naturally takes time. A detailed inspection of a standard 3-4 bedroom home should take at least 2 hours. Add to this the travel time to and from your property and a couple of hours to write a thorough report, and you can see that a professional termite inspection is a significant undertaking—at least a 4-hour exercise.
Why Quality Matters:
Choosing a company that rushes through the job or offers a suspiciously low price may initially seem like a bargain. However, you could end up wasting your money and, worse, putting your home at risk. A quick, cheap inspection often misses crucial details that can lead to significant problems.
A termite treatment normally consists of two stages:
Part 1: Eliminate active termites from the house.
Part 2: Install a termite management system around the property.
The price of Part 1 will depend on the product used, the size of the infestation and the species present. However, part 2 of the treatment is the biggest cost component of a termite job.
Here are some factors that come into play:
* Size of the house - the larger the house, the higher the cost (more area to treat).
* Construction type - Is the home on a concrete slab, or does it have a subfloor? Homes with a subfloor have a larger area to treat.
* What type of soil is around the home? (Poor quality / rocky soils may need to be replaced before applying the soil termiticide).
* Does the area surrounding the house consist of soil, pavers, or concrete? Soil has to be dug up, pavers have to be lifted and replaced, and concrete has to be drilled and injected.
* What type of soil is around the home? If the soil is of poor quality and has a large number of stones, it will need to be replaced by quality loam soil before the treatment can be applied.
* How deep do you need to dig to reach the foundations? Proper treatment requires digging 50 mm below the top of the footing.
Although soil-applied termiticides are the most common method of protecting buildings, termite monitoring and baiting systems are a brilliant alternative. This is particularly the case with construction types or soil conditions where soil-applied termiticides are not appropriate. Of course, sometimes a customer will want a termite monitoring and baiting system from an environmental point of view – there is no need for chemical spraying.
Under-slab sprays were once a common solution for termite protection, involving the application of chemicals under the slab during construction. However, these chemicals break down over time, and once they do, they can’t be replenished. That means your termite barrier loses its effectiveness, leaving the building vulnerable to termite attack down the track.
The Building Code of Australia (BCA) now requires that chemical systems in concealed or hard-to-access areas must be replenishable, as per the 2014 revision of AS 3660.1. Under-slab sprays, by their nature, don’t allow for this replenishment without significant disruption to the structure.
Please visit https://www.spidermanse.com/post/why-spiderman-se-eco-pest-management-doesnt-do-underslab-sprays-for-builders for further information.