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According to CSIRO, 1 in 5 homes are at risk of termite attack and in high-risk areas it may be as high as 1 in 3. And don’t think your new home is safe – termites don’t care about the age of your home! With termite damage not covered by your home insurance, it makes sense for homeowners to take all possible steps to protect their investment. To be sure though you should always request a Brisbane pest inspection.

It’s important to understand that termites need moisture to survive and exploit a food source and so most of the actions you can take as a homeowner are around keeping the areas around and under your home as dry as possible.

Here are our top 5 tips to prevent a termite attack:

Keep area around the perimeter of the building dry

• Make sure there are no leaks from drains, taps, gutters or air-conditioning units
• Don’t use in-ground watering systems next to the building

Avoid building garden beds against perimeter walls

• The plants retain a lot of moisture in the soil (especially if you water them)
• They are a potential food source for termites, especially if there is wood mulch
• Invasive roots can provide a termite highway into your home
• Dense vegetation can prevent termite activity from being identified
• (Far better to use pebbles around the building perimeter and plants in pots)

Ensure good groundwater drainage

• Water should run away from the building (and not pool underneath)

Ensure the sub-floor (if you have one) is dry with good airflow

• Ensure you have sufficient vents, and they are not blocked
• Install fans in the sub-floor if necessary

Don’t store goods in the roof void or sub-floor

• Store goods make it hard to inspect areas for termite activity
• In the sub-floor they can create a bridge from the soil to the flooring timbers
• Obstructions prevents good airflow and therefore increase humidity (which termites just love!)

What the Pest Doctors can do to help?

Regular termite inspections: Professional Brisbane termite inspections are recommended at least once a year. Not only will they pick up termite activity and damage, but they can also pick up the subtle signs of a pending termite attack and spot conditions around the home that could make a termite attack more likely.

Install a termite management system: To protect a building from termite attack, it is necessary to install a Brisbane termite management system – either a chemical treatment to the soil or a termite monitoring and baiting system around the building. We can provide a free quote for your property.