Dedant Building and Pest

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...

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,...

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...

  Termites in Queensland Termites are small, wood eating pests that cause thousands of dollars in damage to homes across Queensland ever year. While most areas of coastal Australia are at high risk of termite attacks, Queensland is a hotbed for these pests. This is because of the natural conditions of Queensland, such as humidity, alternating periods of dry weather and stormy downpours, as well as the high number of trees. Queenslander style homes are especially at risk, given the amount of wood used in their construction. Thankfully, there are plenty of termite management systems available. There are 10 native species of termites in Queensland and many more that have been introduced over time. Queensland is home to the largest and most aggressive species of termite, the mastotermes darwiniensis. How to recognise termites There are several tell-tale signs that your house has been stricken by a termite infestation. Easily damaged wood: The most obvious sign of termites can be when...

A termite inspection and treatment can cost hundreds of dollars which might tempt you to do it yourself. But it’s worth asking – are DIY Termite Inspections and Treatment a good idea? In this blog, we examine that very question to give you an answer. A DIY inspection is harder than it looks Termites are surprisingly very difficult to spot. Pest inspectors require significant training and experience in order to effectively spot termites. Many building and pest inspectors will have had years of experience in other fields such as construction before they ever inspect a house for termites. This is because termites are experts at entering wooden structures unseen. They burrow into the wooden frames of your home and can go undetected for months. A simple visual inspection by the untrained eye may not be enough to spot them. This is especially true for termite barriers. A trained inspector knows what an ineffective barrier looks like, while a layperson may not. Proper equipment is very expens...

Knowing what termites sound like can be the difference between detecting an infestation early and letting it go unabated for years. This is because termites are often hard to spot visually. As such, one of the first signs termites are in your home is in the sounds coming from your walls. In this blog, we will break down the different sounds that termites make. Rustling Termites destroy wood by eating away at it using a powerful set of mandibles. As termites eat away at the wood of your home, they make a rustling noise. This is the result of an entire colony moving and chewing on the wood inside your walls. The closer termites tunnel to the surface of your wood, the louder this sound will be. Clicking Termites make a clicking sound to communicate with the rest of the colony. They do this by rapidly banging their heads against the timber. Generally, they do this in response to danger, to warn the rest of the colony. While they cannot hear audible sounds, termites respond to the vibration...

Termites or white ants in garden beds are a very real threat to your home. Before you know it, they move from your garden bed into your home. If you have a garden, you should get a termite inspection annually. In this blog, we look at the risks of termites in your garden and how to protect yourself. Termites and white ants – what is the difference? Many people wonder about the difference between white ants and termites. In truth, termites and white ants are the same thing. If someone points out white ants in garden areas around their home, those are actually termites. The name “white ant” is a misnomer. Termites are not ants at all and are more closely related to cockroaches. Many people often mistake termites for ants because of their similar appearance and small size. However, there are several characteristics you can use to identify termites. Recognising termites Termites do resemble ants, however, there are a few key differences. For one thing, termites are much lighter in appearan...

 Many homeowners understand the dangers of termites, but few know how to get termite protection for their properties. In this blog, we will examine DIY and professional solutions that you can use to protect your home from termites. DIY Termite Protection You can use DIY termite prevention methods around your property to ensure that your home is well protected against termites. Being proactive and taking these steps yourself is a great way to prevent termite infestations before they happen. Keep wood away from the ground It is no secret that termites feed on wood. But they also eat cardboard, paper and other substances that have cellulose. If your home has wooden posts or other structures that go into the ground, termites will eat away at the inside and create tunnels into your home. When building or renovating your home, make sure no wood is touching the ground. Even wood that's not attached to your dwelling can be a hazard. For example, piles of timber laying on the ground c...