Drilling & Injecting

Drilling concrete slabs and injecting chemical is one of the ways to protect a property from termites, and then there are obviously variations of those treatment methods depending on the type of construction and requirements of the treatment. However, there have to be a few specifications met to ensure it is done correctly. Here we will highlight a few for you to consider.

Hole Spacings! When holes are drilled to inject termiticide under a concrete slab to treat the footing of a wall, the holes cannot be more than 150mm from the wall. This home had holes exceeding 300mm. Needless to say, the original treatment failed and the home was re infested. 

Injecting Termidor under a slab.

Holes are often drilled around a perimeter to ensure a complete chemical barrier to prevent termites getting in.

Hole spacings on this property exceeded 300mm! Once again, they were beyond specification, holes should be between 150-300mm apart. The greater tolerance is reserved for porous soil types and rarely used in our practice. Ironically this was done on an internal wall that was a 

Once again, hole spacing was beyond specification. More examples below.... 

Timber post severly damaged by wood rot (fungal decay).

This highlights the damaging affect of fungal decay (commonly known as wood rot) on timber.
This post at the bottom of a staircase is severely structurally compromised as the fungus breaks down the timber structure.
This post was very fragile and could easily be broken into pieces by hand.
This was found during a termite inspection, many people do not realise how important it is for timber to be protected against fungal decay by sealing it. Although not as quick to act as termites are, ultimately it is just as destructive as it causes structural failure of the timber. It is also a conducive condition for termites.

Lyctus Borers (powder post beetles)

Our termite inspections involve so much more than just shining a torch around a bashing the odd bit of timber in a house! 

It involves understanding buildings, timber and various timber pests, as well as being thorough in checking for moisture and other conducive conditions.

Here is a classic example of Lyctus timber borer damage we have discovered during routine termite inspections. Though not normally within the scope of a termite inspection (a timber pest inspection is ie. Pre purchase inspection) the damage found during these inspections was noted and communicated to the owner as a courtesy. If you are concerned about termites AND timber pest. Then get a timber pest inspection.

This bearer was peppered with damage from powder post beetles. Found during a routine termite inspection.

This damage was found in a roof void during a termite inspection. 

This is a timber brace that had some damage, it was discovered in a roof void during a termite inspection. 

End grain showing borer damage. 

Formwork left in place - Discovered during a pre-purchase inspection.

A Pre Purchase inspection doesn't just tell you if there are termites or other timber pests in a house. It's important to discover and report on conducive conditions and other potential timber pest problems.

One common problem is that houses are left with timber formwork behind when concrete is poured and not removed once the concrete is set. Often this is because the remaning formwork is either inaccesible or difficult to remove.

This formwork creates not only a great food source for termites but also usually generates a great entry point for them to get into other parts of a building.

Ants found during a termite inspection.

Although we are looking for termites during our inspections, we inform our clients on anything which could be a problem in their home. Here we have an infestation of ants found during an inspection - they were in a cupboard in the subfloor. They were promptly dealt with!