Termite Inspections—Spotting Trouble Areas and Identifying the Signs

Regardless of where you live in Australia, you should be aware that your property could be at risk of a termite infestation. Regular inspections should be obligatory for homeowners, as this is the only way of discerning if your property is in jeopardy. Moreover, it is critical to spot an infestation early because failure to do so could translate into expensive repairs and even irreparable damage to your structure.

Admittedly, most people may find carrying out a DIY inspection incredibly daunting. But the reality is, as long as you have a plan in place, you can do this quite thoroughly. If you do suspect that these insects have overrun your property, it is imperative to seek professional help to exterminate the termites and prevent future infestations. So how can you go about a termite inspection?

Spotting the likely trouble areas

To start your termite inspection, you need to know where the potential trouble spots are because it is unlikely that you will notice termites casually walking across your floors. The main areas to focus your inspection on include:

• Infrequently used areas such as the basement or crawlspaces
• Structural timber such as support beams, doorframes, window sills and more
• Areas where wood connects with other construction supplies for instance stairways, trimming and more
• Crevices and gaps in exterior walls as these are likely access points for termites

Identify the symptoms of a potential infestation

The second step to a successful inspection is to know what signs that you should be wary of. Some of the symptoms that are indicative of a termite infestation include:

Telltale mud tubes: While termites will build their colony's nest outdoors, they do need to forage for food. For the facilitation of movement around your property, the subterranean critters will construct makeshift roods that connect the nest to possible sources of food. The roads are referred to as mud tubes as they consist of compacted soil granules that create a tunnel. Any sign of mud tubes is a surefire indicator that termites have breached your home.

Visible damage to timber structures: Cellulose is the primary food source for termites, and this compound is abundant in timber. Hence, when termites start to infest your home, one of the initial symptoms will be unexplained yet visible damage to timber structures. This damage can be on skirting, moulding, door frames and anything else that you can think of. Try to probe the timber with a blunt object, and if the surface crumbles away to reveal a network of holes inside, it is clear that your house has termites. 

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