There are many DIY products available in retail outlets which are cheap and easy to apply, making them ideal.
Termites litter their paths with their droppings too. If you notice termite droppings, damaged wood, or hollow sound on tapping wood, it may indicate an attack by termites.
Whether you will need a professional or prefer DIY termite treatment will depend on several things, listed below.
Level of infestation. If the colony is mature and advanced, its best left to the professionals.
Species of termite. Some are very destructive, create robust living structures and long dig tunnels.
Where you live. Some areas are more prone to infestations than others requiring a more elaborate termite treatment than a simple DIY treatment.
Technical know-how. If you don't know how to handle the equipment and chemicals to remove termite threats, the do it yourself options will not work. Look for a professional solution.
House maintenance is an essential responsibility. Termites are a natural threat to the durability and aesthetics of houses. They burrow the ground and invade wooden parts of the structure. The effects of termite damage is structural weakness or direct visible damage. The repair bill to replace damage caused by termites can be astronomical.
There are many DIY products available in retail outlets - they are cheap and easy to apply, making them ideal. Most of them are sprayed on the ground and the areas surrounding the house using hand sprayers. They are formulated to work as repellents to deter the presence of termites and pests, not to kill them.
Applying repellent insecticides might halt an infestation but termite control is not straightforward. When termites experience interference, they change course and seek an alternative path. To eradicate the menace of termites, the technical use of termiticides and a termite barrier is necessary.Pest control chemicals used by pest controllers attack the termites and kill the entire colony. Others create a barrier deterring the termites from reaching the house. The quantities required and treatment plan developed by the professionals helps achieve maximum effect.
Professionals use a barrier rig to pressurise the termite chemical into the ground so that the termiticides reach termite tunnels.
Those who live in areas infested with termites may need to use chemical treatments alongside natural ways to termite prevention. Natural preventative methods are also ideal before complete termite infestation. Below are some ideas for termite protection without using of harsh chemicals.
Boric acid is a naturally occurring fatty acid and is a potent pesticide against a range of insects. It is also a wood preservative. It is fatal to termites. Dissolve boric acid powder with water and apply regularly to surfaces or areas frequented by termites.
A mix of lemon juice with vinegar is also an effective termite killer. A mixture of half a cup of vinegar and juice from 2 lemons works fine. Pour the solution into a hand spray and squirt it on the termite entry point, crack or other places where the termites attempt entry to the house. Apply for a few days and check.
This method yields the best results if the orange oil is applied at the early stages of infestation. Apply orange oil extracted from the peels or buy orange oil from a store. Apply to the surfaces numerous times to attain desired results.
Using cardboard is an easy way to reinforce other approaches. Cardboard contains cellulose, which is the same chemical termites look for in wood. When damp, place the cardboard in termite-infested areas or their pathway. After the termite build-up, remove the cardboard and burn. Repeat multiple times to depopulate the termite numbers rapidly.
The white ant is an aggressive, highly destructive timber pest. The worker will scout for places to nest or find food. One way to stop them before they attack is to set up termite monitors. The termite monitor entices and intercepts the scouting termites. You can add termite baits to the monitors. Additionally, you can control white ants by using termite bait to kill entire colonies. The chemicals in the bait do not kill the termites immediately. It slowly poisons the worker termites and all those around them. When the workers take the bait back to the nest for food, they feed the rest of the colony, including the queen. Bait can also be fed to the ants by mixing it with bottled water (not tap water) and placing it in an area infested with termites. With wood already attacked, you can drill pencil size hole on the wood. Place the bait bag over the hole. The termites will eat it out and carry it to the nest, infecting the others.
Where a mound is identifiable, the professional cost of digging up the nest if it’s in the ground or a tree will cost approximately $600 for two termite treatments.
Where termites have been identified and the location of the nest is unclear, the whole process including the initial treatment can cost anywhere between $1,200 and $3,500. Application of a termite barrier will set you back $65 per metre, with a full job costing between $1,500 and $5,000 depending on the size of the house. Irrespective of the manufacturer’s replenishment indications have a regular termite inspection. It can make a huge cost difference in case the termites may have survived past treatments.