Termite Attacks Hot Up In Drought

High temperatures and the continuing drought is increasing the intensity of termite attacks on Australian homes which is estimated to cost Australian home owners $910 million annually.

Archicentre, the building advisory service of the Australian Institute of Architects said that termites are foraging in greater concentrations in subfloors and eating flooring, and skirting boards more aggressively because the extreme heat build-up in roof voids and wall cavities in hot weather is driving them to relatively cooler parts of the house in larger numbers.

Termites - Sub floor bearer damage (Coptotermes sp)

General Manager of Archicentre David Hallett said Archicentre pest inspectors are finding more houses with water leaks under showers and cracking of pipes due to the drought or lack of maintenance.

"Home owners need to be aware these water leaks and moisture build-up in subfloors and around the home form a magnet for timber pests such as termites and borers. This means damage to flooring materials and structural timbers like joists is more severe than normal.

"Increased humidity will accelerate the development of termite colonies but increased ground moisture will also reduce the possible structural damage to houses caused by drought induced drying. The key to this contradiction is to keep the soil around the outside of the house moist but undertake regular termite inspections.

"In one case recently a home owner had thousands of dollars worth of stored antique furniture completely destroyed by termites."

Mr Hallett said that termites are prone to drying out when they are not safely in their mud tube 'superhighways' that keep them in a comfortable temperature and humidity as they forage through the house.

"But the extreme temperatures reached in roof voids and walls on very hot days are drying these mud tube 'superhighways' and are forcing termites to move down to the cooler areas below.

"Particularly at high risk are houses on slabs because rather than foraging in walls and the roof void where they are more likely to be detected in routine termite inspections, they are concentrating in inaccessible areas of the house like bottom plates above slabs and flooring timbers and are therefore more likely to go undetected, causing thousands of dollars worth of damage in a short space of time."

Mr Hallett said that unfortunately many home owners invite termites into their homes by covering the edge of their slabs with garden beds or paving and stacking firewood against the wall or under homes leading to costly damage.

Cost of Termite Damage in Australia
Archicentre's research indicates that the average cost of pest treatment in 2009 is approximately $2,500 and the average cost of repairs of damage is approximately $4,500. However damage repair figures in particular can vary markedly. The cycle time (from initial termite attack, through awareness by home owner, treatment and confirmation of eradication) is about five years.

Archicentre is conducting FREE SEMINARS for home owners 6.30pm - 8.30pm Wednesday 25th March 2009 Pests - Ten Things You Should Know About Pests in the Home. The seminar will cover a variety of household pests and tell you what to look for, what to do if you find them and what will happen if you don't!
Bookings are essential call Archicentre on 1300 13 45 13. Venue for the Seminar is Hawthorn Reception, 555 Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn.

www.archicentre.com.au

Media Enquiries:
David Hallett General Manager Archicentre (03) 9819 4577 Mobile: 0439 439 115
Ron Smith Corporate Media Communications (03) 9818 5700 Mobile: 0417 329 201

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