Types Of Termite Protection


What types of termite protection are available when building your home?

The three main ways are:

 Physical Termite Barriers are either:

  • Stainless steel mesh
  • Granulated rock

 Chemical Termite Barriers are:

  • Spraying liquid termiticides under the concrete slab and in trenches around external perimeter of your home
  • Reticulation of liquid termiticides through a piped system under and around your home
  • Chemically impregnated blankets

Physical Termite Barriers

  • Stainless steel mesh is used to block off hidden entry by using the mesh as a flange (Termistops) around the pipes coming through the concrete slab and fitting mesh into the wall cavity of the perimeter of the home.
  • Granulated stone is based on the principle that the granules are too heavy for the termites to move and thus to get through.

 Chemical Termite Barriers
These chemical barriers are applied in different ways:

  • hand sprays
  • reticulation systems, and

They have a finite life 3-5 years around the perimeter and 6-10 years under the slab depending on the chemical used, types of soils and the application rates.

You must re-treat your home from time to time. This means respraying, or filling up the reticulation system.

The blankets or plastic sheeting are impregnated with chemicals.

Termite Resistant Roof or Wall Frames

You can build with steel or treated timber frames which are termite resistant however this does not mean your home is fully protected against termites.

There many items termites can still attack such as cupboards, carpets, timber door frames even electrical cable.

For whole of home termite protection it is critical that an approved form of termite barrier is also installed at the time of construction.All termite barriers are designed to deter concealed access by termites. Termites can bridge barriers and regular inspections are highly recommended.