Dedant Building and Pest

  Termite Attack in Logan City This tree stump was noticed by one of our staff at a local shopping centre. The tree had been cut down, so he took a closer look. He found the inside of the tree had been eaten away by termites . The termites entered from underground, up through the middle of the tree completely undetected and destroyed the structural integrity of the tree. In a similar way, termites can access your home. If there is timber in contact with the ground and your house, termites can chew their way through the timber and enter your house. They can continue to go unnoticed and cause serious damage to your property. ​This example shows why regular bi-annual or annual inspections are recommended to make sure these little masters of stealth don’t get a chance to destroy your home. It’s the best form of insurance for your home and gives you peace of mind. ​What Is A Termite Inspection? ​A termite inspection is a comprehensive inspection of the property, yard and home building ...

  Coronavirus and building inspections: What you need to know The Coronavirus has brought about many changes. Social distancing, isolation, rigorous hand washing and frequent disinfecting are all a part of life now. Many businesses are also struggling. Industries such as travel agencies, airlines, cafes and restaurants have been devastated. The building and pest inspection industry are in a better position, as it is tied to the property market. Despite COVID-19, houses are still being auctioned across Australia's capital cities. Last weekend alone, 2539 homes went to auction. Onsite and in-person auctions may be prohibited, but virtual property tours, private inspections and digital/online auctions are still happening. Houses are still being auctioned and sold at the present moment. Building and pest inspections are absolutely necessary for anyone looking to buy a house. ​How is DedAnt responding to the Coronavirus Crisis? The work of building and pest inspection requires a certain...

The best way to stop termites Termites pose a major threat to the safety and integrity of your home. It for that reason you should be aware of the best way to stop termites. In short, the best way to stop termites is by contacting a professional. However, it is important to know what treatment options are available. The impact of Termites Termites are seen by some to be very minor pests. In truth, termites can do massive damage to your home – some years they do more damage than floods or storms. Termites seek out and feed on the wood in your property. They love wooden frames but even steel framed houses are not immune. Termites travel up steel to eat wooden roof trusses, furniture and fixtures. If left unchecked, they can even cause some houses to collapse! Know the signs There are several signs that indicate termites have infested your home. If you knock on a wooden wall and it sounds hollow, this can be a sign of termites. Do not wait until your foot goes through a skirting board. W...

At Dedant, we make no secret of the dangers of termites . Given the dangers of these pests, we are sharing our DIY tips for keeping out termites. 1)     Fix leaky plumbing and gutters Termites rely on moist soil to survive and thrive. A leaky pipe can cause water to pool up under and around your house. Termites build colonies in the moist soil near your house and then begin to eat the wooden fixtures of your homes. Get a plumber to ensure your pipes do not leak. Even if you’re not a handyman yourself, keeping your gutters clean and free of leaves will also prevent moisture from building up. This will also stop mould from occurring. 2)     Store excess wood away from your property If you have a building project involving wood, it is not unusual to have excess planks of wood lying around afterward. Do not leave piles of wood near your house. Termites will seek these out and then move from the woodpile to the external walls of your home. Store your e...

Pre-Purchase Building and Pest Inspection Getting a pre-purchase building and pest inspection is a vital step when purchasing an existing home.  A pre-purchase building and pest inspection is a visual inspection of the property, that reports on major issues, minor issues and termite/borer activity or evidence. It is recommended that your purchase contract is reliant on your satisfaction with the outcome of your building and pest inspection. What is a Pre-Purchase Building Inspection? When you have found the perfect home or investment property, you generally love the location, nearby amenities and the 'look' of the property. However, it takes an industry expert to see the full picture. Building inspectors are highly experienced professionals with extensive experience in the construction industry and have further training to become an inspector. There are two parts to the pre-purchase inspection: The building inspection looks at structural issues, hazards and maintenance concerns...

Completing a building project is always a massive achievement, however even after construction is done, you still have to do the handover inspection. This step can confuse many people, so we will be answering your handover inspection questions in this blog. What is a new build handover? When you want to build your dream home from scratch, you need to go through several steps. These include getting the finances in order, finding the right site, choosing the right building contractors and then the construction process itself. After this, mandatory inspections are done which ensure that the house is a livable dwelling with weatherproofing, power and water connected. However, after this, you’re still not done. The new build handover inspection must be conducted. This is the final examination of the house to make sure it’s built up to standard and to your specifications. Why is the handover inspection so important? It is the final step before you make a payment, so it’s important to get it ...

  6 of the most common faults found in building inspections Whether you’re buying or selling, you should look out for the most common faults found in building inspections. These faults can impact price negotiations significantly. If you’re selling you want to address these problems early and if you’re a buyer, you want to use these faults to drop the price of the house. 1) Degraded fencing Wooden fences are a common feature in many homes. However, they are also among the most prominent faults in any property. Over time wooden fences become degraded due to weather and pests like termites. You should consider termite treatment if this is the case. Fences are vital as they offer security and a barrier between your land and the rest of the world. An inspection can reveal the quality of the fence. 2) Concrete roof tile issues Concrete tiles are economical and durable. However, a building inspection can reveal hidden faults with this type of roofing. Mould, fading paint and cracked til...

Termite barriers are your main defense against an infestation of these troublesome pests. However, there are many different types of termite barriers and it’s important to know the facts. Types of termite barriers There are two main types of termite barriers – physical and chemical barriers. Both prevent termites from invading your home but do so in very different ways. Physical Barriers Physical barriers are built into the design of the property to prevent termites from entering your home. This barrier generally consists of mesh webbing that is placed underneath the slab of the house. With a correctly built barrier, termites will be unable to get into your property without climbing out into an area of the property that is clearly visible. This gives you the opportunity to call an expert to exterminate them. For information on how to spot a termite infestation, see our previous blog . If you’re buying a home that is newly built, many homes will have a physical termite barrier. However,...

Most people know the dangers of a termite infestation. However, many people still wonder how termites get into a house in the first place. We’re going to explore the many ways termites can enter your home. Piles of wood Piles of lumber or firewood can attract termites. If these piles of wood are close to your home, a termite can easily travel from a piece of wood to your home. Without food, termites cannot travel too far. Make sure to keep piles of wood away from your house, or stored safely somewhere termites cannot get to. Dead trees and foliage Termites love dead and decaying trees because they are easier for the termites to chew through. Leaving dead trees in your yard is a sure-fire way to invite termites into your home. This applies to stumps as well. You should remove any dead trees or stumps from your yard as soon as possible. Tree branches Even living trees pose a risk of housing termites. This is because termites go from tree branches to anything that the branch is touching. ...

More people than ever are embracing green living. If you’re looking to live a greener, cleaner life, you should plan a sustainable garden. With this garden, you can build an edible landscape and literally enjoy the fruits (and vegetables!) of your labour. Why sustainable gardening? Building a sustainable garden where you can grow fruits and vegetables has so many benefits. By growing your own food, you know it is safe and healthy for your family to eat. In the long run, a sustainable garden may even save you money. Eventually, you will find that you recycle your produce into self-made compost and avoid spending hundreds of dollars a week on groceries. Building your sustainable garden Coming up with a plan to build a sustainable garden requires consideration of space, resources and specific plants. Choose a space that has quality soil with good sun exposure and access to plenty of water. Select crops that suit the season and climate. If you don’t choose the right plants, they will not ...

If you think you’ve got a pest infestation in your home, such as termites, you should immediately contact a termite inspector. However, one thing you can’t afford is a dodgy pest inspector. However, knowing which pest inspector to contact can be difficult. Just googling “pest inspector” can give you thousands of pages of results, some legitimate contractors and others who will fleece you out of your money for sub-standard or even no work at all. As such, we've put together a guide that will help you avoid dodgy pest inspectors and find quality contractors. Check for reviews Reviews can often be a good way to determine the quality of a tradies' service. Google can be a handy tool for this – Google will feature the reviews of any business you search up. Many glowing reviews and a high score suggest the business is quality. Request to see licenses If you’re still unsure after checking online reviews, you can ask about the licenses the business has. For building inspections, they ...

The effects of COVID-19 have profoundly impacted industries like real estate, trades, building inspection and pest control. As the lockdown is expected to last for at least a few more months, it is worth asking – what is the link between coronavirus and real estate? To examine what could become of industries like real estate, as well as building and pest control, we must first look at what the current situation is. The current situation The real estate industry is fortunate as compared to other industries, as it has not had to fully shut down. Similarly, businesses closely tied to the real estate industry, like building and pest inspection companies, are still operating also. Many industries have had to change because of coronavirus and real estate is no exception. Agents have taken to using virtual tours to sell homes. In the building and pest inspection industry, businesses are taking careful steps to maintain health and safety such as staff-only inspections. Given the current econo...

We’ve written at length about the major risk that termites pose to your home and the best ways to keep termites out of your house. By the time a homeowner discovers an infestation, termite damage will have already occurred. As such, we’ve put together a helpful guide to help you address termite damage. Can my home recover from termite damage? In short, yes. It is rare that termites will cause enough damage that the house is completely beyond repair. It would take years and years for an infestation to cause a house to be uninhabitable. However, even a short termite infestation that's caught quickly can leave considerable damage – walls and floors can be left warped, doors and cupboards can fall off the hinges, and furniture can be damaged. 1) Make sure all termites have been treated first There is no point in fixing the damage done by termites unless the infestation is completely gone. Otherwise, termites will simply return and continue to eat away at your home. As such, you should...

With Coronavirus keeping us all indoors, everyone has a bit more time on their hands. Having a clean home is more important now than it has ever been. By spending so much time in your home, you might start to notice every little fault. Every stain, every bit of clutter and every odd smell will suddenly become very apparent to you. If you’re looking for something to do that is both productive and helpful, you might consider developing new habits to keep your house neat and spotless. As such, we have come up with four tips you can practice to have a neater, clean home. 1)  Purge the clutter The first thing you should do if you have a messy or cluttered house is get rid of unused items. These take up vital space. It has been said that we only use 20% of the stuff we own and 80% of the stuff we own is either unused or kept for purely sentimental reasons. You don’t need to get rid of every bit of the remaining 80%, but you should definitely start from there. 2)  A place for everyth...

Cockroaches are among the most common and bothersome pests that you will ever find around your home. You’ll want to remove cockroaches as soon as possible as not only are they disgusting but they can also contaminate food and spread bacteria. As such, we have created this blog to inform you of the best way to get rid of cockroaches. 1)     Make sure your house is clean The best thing you can do to ensure a cockroach free home is to make sure you never get cockroaches in the first place. Cockroaches are attracted to grease, food left out of the counter, piles of dirty dishes in the sink and other forms of mess. As such, you should always seek to clean your plates and maintain cleanliness in the kitchen. 2)     Don’t give them any places to hide You should do all that you can to make sure cockroaches have nowhere to hide. Start by reducing the clutter in your home. Cockroaches love to hide in every nook and cranny they can find. Every pile of rubbis...

 Annual termite inspections are a necessary part of protecting your home. However, many people hold off on getting an inspection because they are concerned about the cost. In truth, the cost of an annual termite inspection is nothing compared to the dangers of a termite infestation. We have written this blog so you can better understand what goes into the cost and why it is necessary. Australian Standards recommends every Australian home should get a termite inspection a minimum of every 12 months. Termite inspection information Termite inspections are generally done once a year on the timber of your property. It is conducted in all accessible areas of the property. A report is compiled for you with our findings and if damage from termites is found, we will provide you with treatment options. What influences the annual termite inspection cost The cost of the service starts at $250. However, this cost can be influenced by the size of the property and how accessible the property is. ...

If you're looking to buy or sell, you likely want to know more about the property market and coronavirus. Namely, how is the coronavirus impacting the property market in Brisbane? While there is much to be negative about in the current climate, it is worth looking to the future and seeing that there are several positive signs that point to a strong recovery once the crisis slows down. In this blog, we will go through the short- and long-term implications of the virus on the property market. The short term negatives In the immediate future, times will be tough for anyone involved in the property market. Because of the economic recession, a massive spike in unemployment, the impact of social distancing and restrictions on travel it is clear consumer confidence generally has plummeted. This lack of consumer confidence is also found in the property market. Westpac has recorded the single biggest monthly drop in confidence in its 47-year history. Not only that, but the crisis has seen m...

Rats can be a major household problem if left unchecked. As such, you will want to remove rats as soon as you find them. This is because rats are carriers of disease, can eat your food and damage your home. As such, we’ve put together a list of 4 top tips to help you get rid of rats you find on your property. 1)     Get a cat One way to help get rid of rats and mice is to get a housecat. Cats are carnivores and love to hunt wild prey, such as rats and mice . For thousands of years, humans have used cats to hunt for rodents and they are still great for this purpose. Along with the bonus of 24/7 pest control, adopting a cat also gives you years of companionship. 2)     Rat Traps Traps are a relatively cheap and effective way to catch rats. They can be left in an area for a long time if necessary but should be checked often. This is because a dead, rotting rat can attract bugs and other pests. Traps come in many forms such as snap traps, live traps o...

The coronavirus pandemic and subsequent lockdown restrictions have been difficult, not least for those who work as tradespeople. Our list of coronavirus tips for building and pest inspectors will help you navigate this difficult time. Beyond the economic hardship that is affecting everyone, rules around social distancing and limits on the number of visitors to a house have made it difficult for people in industries like pest and building inspection to do their job. However, we have put together a list of tips to help building and pest inspectors stay afloat during this time. 1)     Keep up to date with current rules One of the most important coronavirus tips we can all follow is to stay informed. It is vitally important to keep up with all the latest information regarding coronavirus and current restrictions. Your best sources are The Australian Government website or your state's government website. For Dedant Building and Pest Inspection, as we are a Queensland-bas...

Spiders are among the most bothersome and disliked pests that you can find in your home. As such, many people often want to know how to remove spiders from their home. In truth, while they may disgust many people, spiders are an important part of the ecosystem. They eat smaller bugs like ants, flies, mosquitoes and moths that can transmit diseases. Regardless, it is completely understandable not to want them around your home. Thus, here are 4 ways you can keep spiders from your home. 1)     Destroy any webs you find Spiders construct webs to catch and eat their prey. These webs become an eyesore and a hindrance in your home. As such, you should take a broom or vacuum and destroy any webs you find around your property. By doing this, you are instinctively warning the spider that the area is not safe, which will force them to move on. 2)     Get rid of hiding places for spiders Spiders love having places that they can hide in. They will take advant...