It is only after a flood that the saying “prevention is better than the cure” is truly understood. If you were lucky enough to have sufficient termite controls in place, you might want to revisit those measures to ensure they are still effective.

There’s actually no way of making a building completely termite-proof, but here’s some things you can do to make your place a less inviting location for termites:

Deny, minimize or challenge a termite’s ability to access cellulose-based materials, moisture or shelter – the three things they need to survive

• Ensure there is no timber in direct ground contact around the building – this is a direct path to a major problem

• Timber posts, staircases and door frames should never penetrate concrete floors or be in direct ground contact

• Timber should have at least 75mm ground clearance

• Treat timber with a borate if wood to soil contact is unavoidable

• Remove stumps, weatherboards, fibro, stakes, scrap wood, cardboard boxes, newspapers and books from under and around the building

• Minimise rain seepage, pooling, drainage problems, plumbing leaks, condensation and poor ventilation

• Divert water away from the structure with properly functioning gutters and down pipes. Clean these on a regular basis to prevent blockage.

• Clean weep holes to assist in ventilation

• Keep vents free of leaves, dirt and debris

• Remove dense vegetation such as shrubs, vines, trellises and tall grasses and prevent them from growing against the building

• Ensure mulch is kept away from the building – as it creates moisture in the soil and is a favourable breeding ground for termites

Signs you might have termites:

• A temporary swarm of winged insects in your home or from the soil around your home.
• Any cracked or bubbling paint or frass (termite droppings).
• Wood that sounds hollow when tapped.
• Mud tubes on exterior walls, wooden beams, or in crawl spaces.
• Discarded wings from “alates”.

Find more information on preventing termites, Domestic and Commercial Pest control Gold Coast, termite protection, Building inspections Brisbane, Fleas and White Ants visit https://www.cureallpest.com.au/preventing-a-termite-attack