Contact a termite inspection specialist at the first sign of termites.
One of the most challenging issues property owners and managers face is termite infestation. Termites are hard to detect with the ordinary eye, and often, you don’t realise their presence until they completely cause damage to your walls and floors. Fortunately, you have termite inspection specialists to help you deal with it.
How to identify termite infestations in your building
Compared to mosquito bites, termite infestation is not apparent until your building has incurred severe damage. This is because they live in darker and more humid places, making it difficult to see them until it is too late.
Although it is challenging to see termites crawling through the wood from the inside, some common signs can show a strong possibility of termite infestation on the property. Here are some of them:
Damaged wood
Termites love to devour wood, which is why damaged wood is the most common sign of termite infestation on any business premises. Damaged wood is extremely dangerous and can lead to the weakening of your building structure. That said, if you have wooden walls with damage, there can be no doubt that termites have already infiltrated your wall.
Hallow sounds of an infested area
Termites, as we all know, love to consume wood from the inside out. Therefore, when you knock on any area already eaten by termites, you can hear a papery or hollow-sounding timber. In that case, you must be alerted as such sounds can indicate damages in the infested area of your building.
Sighting of swarmers
Another tell-tale sign of termite infestation is the presence of swarmers. While it is true that termites quickly go away after finding their mating partner, the remnants of discarded wings are a sure sign of a termite infestation. You can usually spot them on the floors or windows of your office or building. It is also visible in residential areas.
Harder to open doors or windows
Another typical indication of swarmers is a tight-fitting door or windows. When termites eat timber, their excrement mud leaves a secure environment that traps moisture. As a result, doors or windows will be harder to open or close.
Termite droppings
Aside from trapping moisture in an infested area, termites also leave behind a grainy or brown-coloured faecal mount after consuming wood. You can spot these faecal beneath the damaged timber.
Wood tunnels
Compared to the signs above of a termite infestation, tunnels in the wood are harder to identify from the outside. Usually, termite tunnels can be seen in window frames, home foundations, subfloors, porches, and basement walls.
How to eradicate termite infestations
Now that you know the common signs of termite infestation in buildings, it’s time to find out the practical ways you can eradicate them. Take note that the effectiveness of the following tips depends on the infestation’s severity. You may follow one or two of these, but seeking professional help is highly recommended.
Prevent termites from inhabiting your building.
Undoubtedly, one of the best ways to keep termites from devouring your business premise is to prevent their colony from inhabiting the timber.
If plan to move into another location, make sure to inspect the property first before handing in your lease. For instance, check any hollow spots in the wood using a screwdriver or a similar tool. By doing this, you can identify possible timber pest infestation.
You can also check for the appearance of disembodied wings in your doors or windows. This will help you assess the level of termite infestation before the damage become severe in that spot.
Make the office not enticing to termites.
Use a concrete foundation during the construction of your office to make it less enticing for pests. Aside from that, it is also important to leave enough space between the soil and the wood. This is an effective way to prevent moisture from getting trapped inside.
Of course, remember to cover wood surfaces with a metal termite barrier. This can keep the termites from consuming the wood in that area.
Have a termite prevention plan.
Prevention is the key to eliminating any pest in your business premises. Some of the things you can include in your prevention plan are as follows:
- Keep your gutters or downspouts dry by covering the base foundation properly.
- Check for any leaks and fix them as soon as possible.
- Cover any openings that can attract the presence of termites by filling in the cracks with cement. Remember to include those surfaces where they can pass quickly, like the walls and floors.
- Make sure that trees and shrubs do not grow close to your structure. Doing so can help eliminate the potential entry of termites into your building.
- Purchase faux plants instead of real ones. This will make your office cosier whilst refusing access to termites.
- Inspect your building for any termite infestation. The experts can help you identify their existence without exerting too much effort. Aside from that, they can also give insights on how to eliminate the pest so you can avoid costly repairs in the future.
Ensuring that your office is clean and free from a termite infestation is an essential part of business operations. Fortunately, you can hire a building inspector in Newcastle to assist you with this issue. By hiring a timber pest inspector, you can focus on more critical matters in your company and avoid the headache of costly repairs.
Contact EBI for professional building inspections in Newcastle.
Have you seen any termite infestation in your workplace or wanted to know if they exist somewhere in your building? Whether you are just about to purchase or lease an establishment or you are already occupying a commercial building, you can contact EBI for expert building inspection and get a thorough report on your building with a 24-hour turnaround guarantee!
What are you waiting for? Call us on 4950 4197 or 0412 188 199 to speak with one of our representatives.