Termite Barriers and Termite Management Programs are an essential part off all residential buildings on the Gold Coast, Brisbane and surrounding suburbs including Ipswich.
If you are Purchasing a Residential Property Constructed after 2002 you are likely to have a Physical Termite Barrier which is installed at construction time.
Physical termite protection is not designed to stop termites. It is designed to make termite attack visible at an early stage so it can be dealt with before major damage occurs. They are designed to force termites to build their mud tubes outside of the structure, where they become visible to a trained pest management professional. Most Physical Termite Barriers are non- toxic and chemical free however there are some on the market that are impregnated with Termiticide. Below is an Installation diagram of a stainless steel mesh Physical Termite Barrier. There are numerous products in to- days market place available and in accordance with Australian Standards.
If you are Purchasing a Home constructed Before 2002 the Building is Likely to have a chemical Barrier installed In two parts (part A & part B) however there are several other methods of termite protection available.
Part A being a Chemical Application Usually spray applied to the sand screed before the under slab Vapour Barrier is laid prior to the pouring of the concrete slab.
Part B Being a Chemical Application after construction is completed fully and cleaned up, cutting or/and filling are all done and before concreting/paving to the perimeter of the building.
The Chemicals used in the termite protection of residential Dwellings were organic chloride which were banned in Qld in 1995.
During the 1970s and 1980s disturbing facts were beginning to emerge regarding the unwanted side effects of these Chlorinated Hydrocarbons(Organic Chlorides) to people and the environment. Widespread use of their use in agriculture and industry were phased out first and slowly during the early 1990s successive pesticides were withdrawn from use in Queensland until in 1995 the last remaining organic chloride chemical was withdrawn for the protection of buildings in Queensland.
The building industry was in unenviable position even if they had the skills to build the older style Queenslander homes the public were demanding the cheaper slab on ground style homes and for a few years(1995 to 2002) the only protection available to homes was the very ineffective Organic Phosphate Chemicals and some newer unproven synthetic pyrethroid chemicals and or a hugely expensive stainless steel mesh to replace the pesticide barrier under the slab.
These homes constructed Between the year of 1995 to 2002 are most a risk of a termite attack today.
When carrying out a Pre Purchase Timber Pest Inspection our trained inspector will be fully aware of the termite barrier or the lack of one installed to the building. The Termite Inspector will provide a thorough assessment and advice to the purchaser in relation to the life expectancy, type of existing termite barrier or if new Termite Management Program required.