Termites

[SAW]

Yeah Goonie, water is critical as the use it to create a unique humid climate.
They love under slabs so I hope the builder had good barriers in place around the slab.
Elevated is easy to check as they absolutely need the mud tunnel to stop light and create their preferred climate. They don’t wander around in light or outside their preferred and created environment (like how you all strive to create on in a tent). Look for mud tubes going up your footings.
Tap you walls like a termite inspector for dummy hollow sounds (light hammer etc). Often a timber wall looks perfect but is really just a thin layer like paper after being eaten.
They love pine, Oregon, dress Timbers (jambs, windows, door frames, dress pieces like between wall and floor).
They’ll come through the slab in expansion joints.
You can make detection places using cardboard based traps so research organic termite control.
I’ve chased them for 3 years in my sisters federation house in Sydney. Found the nest eventually in the compost heap. They’d go full suicide mission eating and dying in masses to get through waterproof flooring (was toxic to them) in a bathroom to consume the Oregon wall studs.
They are controlled in my place but I still find them within 10m of the structure at times, they are an environmental constant up here.
Boxes of newspapers are a good example of a trap, well more like a detection point.

 

[Goonie Goat]

Yeah Goonie, water is critical as the use it to create a unique humid climate.
They love under slabs so I hope the builder had good barriers in place around the slab.
Elevated is easy to check as they absolutely need the mud tunnel to stop light and create their preferred climate. They don’t wander around in light or outside their preferred and created environment (like how you all strive to create on in a tent). Look for mud tubes going up your footings.
Tap you walls like a termite inspector for dummy hollow sounds (light hammer etc).
They love pine, Oregon, dress Timbers (jambs, windows, door frames, dress pieces like between wall and floor).
They’ll come through the slab in expansion joints.
You can make detection places using cardboard based traps so research organic termite control.
I’ve chased them for 3 years in my sisters federation house in Sydney. Found the nest eventually in the compost heap. They’d go full suicide mission eating and dying in masses to get through waterproof flooring (was toxic to them) in a bathroom to consume the Oregon wall studs.
They are controlled in my place but I still find them within 10m of the structure at times, they are an environmental constant up here.
Boxes of newspapers are a good example of a trap, well more like a detection point.

I've done some more digging in other areas today, I have found wet rot but no signs of termites yet, now I have to confront the neighbour about this issue as there's also a bush tobacco plant and other weed which have turned into small trees now, rails and posts completely rotted around these trees which are protruding into the roof/guttering, and are right next to my shitter and shower, ceramic pipes smelling like musty soil.

 

[Goonie Goat]

Just thought I'd post an update,

Caught the neighbours outside today and confronted them, told them there was a nest of termites and that we needed to do something about it.

Luckily got to talk to the blokes misses first before he came out, which worked out fucking perfect, as soon as I mentioned termites she was onboard with my plans.

Gonna fuck the trees off first, spray the fence line and house with SC200 Fipronyl and sprinkle the granules over the top for the icing on the cake and then piss the fence off hopefully in a few weeks.

Got 2.5kg of the fipronyl granules with 2 bottles of the heavy duty sc200, $350 all up with postage.

Don't give a shit what fence they want to get just want this termite infested shit gone for my peace of mind.

I still think I'll call in a specialist a few months down the track to look under the house just to be 100% sure it's alright.

Got the chainsaw file out and sharpened the fuck out of my chain till it sliced me fingers, god I can't fucking wait to cut this shit down. @Indy @afghan bob @SAW

Thanks a lot for all the advice, especially Indy for saving me a good chunk of cash

 

[Indy]

I still think I'll call in a specialist a few months down the track to look under the house just to be 100% sure it's alright.

Not a bad way to go still. It wouldn't hurt to get them to put a barrier down around the house, and watch 'n learn how they do it, then get the gear and do it yourself thereafter. Probably cost around 3k for a cash job on average to put a barrier down, if you drill the holes.

If they've got to drill through concrete, be sure they do it every 200mm apart. It used to be 300mm, but the regulations have since changed.

I'm in the process of putting a double barrier down around the perimeter here on the main house. Intial one (that's already done) drilled around the edge of the brickwork/footings. Then I'm yet to lay a second one off the edge of the concrete verandahs using a system called a termite replenishment system Term-X. I've already got the kit, just need to lay it down.

That said, a double barrier is still not a perfect system because statistically 80% of infestation enter around ground level. The other 20% via the ones that take flight on the occasional hot humid early evenings, after some good rain during the day. Those nights when they swarm around the the property. It's lights off, and I keep a wet active barrier (Vista SC200) at the base of the brickwork for the first couple of hours of the evening. It doesn't happen often here. But it can occur 2-3 nights a year during the Summer months.

EDIT: Picture of a barrier around the perimeter of the brickwork/footings drilled through concrete slab.



EDIT 2: While I'm rambling.. If you do need to sink a series of holes down through concrete. Don't piss around with your normal drill that has a hammer function, whilst using normal concrete drill bits. You'll be there all day doing it, and flog out your drill 'n bits doing so. Spend a bit of money and get a Rotary Hammer Drill and use these Quad Tip Drill Bits. It goes through concrete like butter. I bought a shitty Ozito one for a $100, and two 12mm Drill bits for $50. Best investment in recent times..

 

[afghan bob]

Our house done the same as Indy
Drilled through concrete slab, mind u 400 mm deep
This guy does contract work for all real estates so knows his stuff
U can’t be blasé with these little farks they will eat u out of house and home

 

[Goonie Goat]

Not a bad way to go still. It wouldn't hurt to get them to put a barrier down around the house, and watch 'n learn how they do it, then get the gear and do it yourself thereafter. Probably cost around 3k for a cash job on average to put a barrier down, if you drill the holes.

If they've got to drill through concrete, be sure they do it every 200mm apart. It used to be 300mm, but the regulations have since changed.

I'm in the process of putting a double barrier down around the perimeter here on the main house. Intial one (that's already done) drilled around the edge of the brickwork/footings. Then I'm yet to lay a second one off the edge of the concrete verandahs using a system called a termite replenishment system Term-X. I've already got the kit, just need to lay it down.

That said, a double barrier is still not a perfect system because statistically 80% of infestation enter around ground level. The other 20% via the ones that take flight on the occasional hot humid early evenings, after some good rain during the day. Those nights when they swarm around the the property. It's lights off, and I keep a wet active barrier (Vista SC200) at the base of the brickwork for the first couple of hours of the evening. It doesn't happen often here. But it can occur 2-3 nights a year during the Summer months.

EDIT: Picture of a barrier around the perimeter of the brickwork/footings drilled through concrete slab.

View attachment 56144

EDIT 2: While I'm rambling.. If you do need to sink a series of holes down through concrete. Don't piss around with your normal drill that has a hammer function, whilst using normal concrete drill bits. You'll be there all day doing it, and flog out your drill 'n bits doing so. Spend a bit of money and get a Rotary Hammer Drill and use these Quad Tip Drill Bits. It goes through concrete like butter. I bought a shitty Ozito one for a $100, and two 12mm Drill bits for $50. Best investment in recent times..

Didn't know termites could be such a pain under concrete even... I'm gonna get under the house and check shit out as best as I can..

I am hopeful that these termites are just up in the back fence for now. Glad I found them when I did..

 

[Mellow oldfark]

https://www.rentokil.com/au/blog/species/termite-species