Termite Treatments & Barriers - Is it worth spending the money?

The risk of termites invading a home, is not something people tend to think about or prioritise. Most people generally focus on home renovation projects or general home maintenance, with little or no consideration for termite prevention.

Home owners often think that they don’t need to worry about termites, unless they live on an acreage property, have large trees in their yard, or own a property that backs onto bushland.... this is not true. 

Termites can travel long distances from neighbouring properties, or from nearby trees or bushland to reach your home. Perimeter Pest Control regularly receive termite related calls from locals living in inner city suburbs of Newcastle, as well as leafy areas such as Lake Macquarie, Maitland and Port Stephens.

 Termite Damage

Unfortunately, it’s rare that home owners contact us to find out how they can protect their homes from termites before an attack…. instead, we generally hear from people after they have noticed substantial visible damage to their property.

This is one of the reasons why we recommend booking an annual termite inspection. An annual inspection allows our inspector to raise any potential hazards they see around the home that could attract termites. We will also check to see if you have an active termite barrier system in place. For older homes, where there is no termite barrier, we can advise the best solution to suit your home.

Left untreated, termites can do considerable damage to the structural timbers in your home.  If you think you may have termites, don’t hesitate to get in touch with a pest control company like ourselves, who specialise in termite treatment.

Termite Barrier Systems

The most effective way to protect your property from termite damage, is to have a professional termite barrier installed around the perimeter of your home.

Termite barriers deter termites from entering your property. Whilst there is a cost associated with installing a new termite barrier system, it will give you peace of mind knowing that your home has a termite management system in place.

When people ask, ‘is it worth spending money on a termite barrier system’, we ask them to consider what a builder would charge them to repair substantial damage caused by termites. The quote from a builder to undertake major structural repairs, in most cases would be considerably more expensive than the cost of a termite barrier system.

 Termite Treatment

When we are contacted to carry out a termite treatment, our senior termite specialist attends the property to carry out a free on-site assessment to determine if termites are active, what species they are and to see if a termite management system is in place. Our termite specialist will then conduct a thorough inspection of your home and advise the best solution to treat the termites at your property.

These days termite treatments are non-toxic and safe to be around humans and pets. The treatments that Perimeter Pest Control use are water based termiticides, that in most cases will work for up to 7 years. Annual follow up termite inspections are necessary to ensure that your property remains well protected.

Perimeter Pest Control can carry out termite treatments and termite inspections for you in Newcastle, Port Stephens, Lake Macquarie and the Hunter Valley. 

Termite Damage Repair Costs

When it comes to termite damage, you might be surprised to learn that many insurance companies don’t cover damage caused by insects, vermin or rodents. Termites are insects and insects are considered ‘preventable’, which means that the owner is responsible for protecting and maintaining their home from any damage caused by insects. It’s always best to check with your own insurer to see what’s in your policy, so that you understand what you’re covered for.

Building repairs relating to termite damage can be very expensive. If termite activity has gone unnoticed for a while, you may even find that the building is unsafe to occupy if structural timbers have been damaged.

So, when it comes to deciding whether, ‘it’s worth spending money on termite treatments or termite barrier systems’, most people will agree that the answer is YES…. preventing termites is the best option.

Thanks for reading our blog article, if you live within our service region and would like to know more about protecting your home from termites, call us on 0427 571 447.

Shane Turner – Perimeter Pest Control, Newcastle, Port Stephens & The Hunter

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Our pest control service region includes Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Port Stephens & Maitland

*This article is intended as general information only, always seek professional advice from a licensed pest controller to determine the best outcome for your individual situation. If you live within our service region, we're happy to help!

 NSW Pesticide Licence No. 5074698