PROTECT YOUR VALUABLE HOME AND PROPERTY FROM THE SILENT DESTROYER– TERMITE
The construction of a house is a long term investment and it has become a timely need to protect your beautiful house or building from termites. It is essential to pay your attention towards the treatment process against termites during the period of your house building because there is the likelihood of causing damage to all timber structures and other wood base material in the newly built house.
Be aware of Termites and the damage they cause
Termites – What sort of creatures are they?
Termites are social insects live in colonies underneath the soil (Subterranean). Some occasions they can be seen in above ground structures too. Different castes of termites (the Queen, the king, workers, soldiers and alates or swarming adult – commonly known as “Meru” or Christmas flies) can be seen within colonies. Each caste has specific duty within the colony, and together they assure the colony’s continued well-being. The queen can lay thousands of eggs per day and produce worker termites who feed on cellulose or wood base material in your house or building. Unfortunately, all homes, regardless of their construction type, have sufficient amount of cellulose for termite infestation.
How do the termites destroy your house and property?
Termites are often called as the silent destroyer because they may be secretly hiding and thriving in your home or home yard without any immediate signs of damage. Most of the time there is no visible indication that the home is infested because termite infestations can go undetected for years, hidden behind walls, floor coverings, insulation, and also other obstructions. Feeding and damage by termite scan progress even undetected in wood as the outer surface of the wood is usually left intact. The tiny worker termites only measure 1 cm to a few millimeters in length and they can infest house foundations, furniture, shelves and even books. Termites can cause serious structural damage to your home because they live in colonies of several hundred thousand to several million of individuals.
Subterranean termite homes (mounds) are usually formed in soil. Within these mounds, termites build mud tunnels and elaborate tunnel systems. Termites use these tunnels to access above-ground food sources usually founding your homes and home yards. The earthen tubes seen behind cupboards or wet and undisturbed places are the evidence of the presence of termites. It is noteworthy to realize that a mature subterranean termite colony can destroy about five tons of timber in a year and a termite queen can live about 10- 30 years.
Most of the house builders are not aware of the danger of this silent enemy. They perceive that a concrete layer can prevent soil termite attacks. In more common cases the thin gap between the floor concrete and the wall provides the path for the termite to invade into the buildings. The thin cracks in walls provide entry passages for the termites to invade your home and then to valuable properties.“Meru” or “Christmas flies” that swarm during certain seasons of the year are the signs of termite colonies in your vicinity.
How can we help you to protect your home from Termites
As an essential item of building planning, modern day architects, designers, engineers and construction experts recommend Anti Termite Treatments to prevent termite infestations in buildings and incorporate them in BOQs. John piper International offers you both effective termite preventive methods and four types of effective termite treatment methods according to the nature of the infestation and attack.
Anti-Termite Treatment
The anti-termite treatment method includes making soil chemical barriers against termites. John Piper International provides effective and safer termite soil treatment solutions according to the nature of termite infestation. Also termite colony control by ‘Baiting’ techniques and use of non-chemical method such as mechanical barriers are provided.
Pre-Construction Soil Treatment
Pre-construction soil treatment is carried out at the beginning of building construction, usually at foundation level. Simply, this is explained as making chemical barriers in soil against subterranean termite to prevent them entering into new buildings. The complexity of the treatment varies upon the type of building, type of foundation, the usage of the mechanical barriers and various other factors such as soil type etc.
Post Construction Soil Treatment
If an existing building is infested with subterranean termites, post construction soil treatment is performed to control and prevent the further infestations. Post construction treatment is also recommended for the buildings where floor concrete is laid without applying Termiticide. The only way to apply the Termiticide is by injecting the Termiticide to the soil under the floor slab through a set of drilled holes on floor, closer to foundation footings (Wall-floor Junction area). This chemical will be dispersed under the floor slab and make barrier against termites. This process is relatively expensive than pre construction treatment since it consumes much time and chemicals.
Other Post construction treatment options
Termite Baiting systems are also used as a part of termite management system. Termite baits are used to attract worker termites and feed them with poisonous baits to destroy termite colonies. John Piper International provides termite baiting system for controlling of termites especially in buildings with repeated applications if necessary.
John Piper International is an authorized installer in Sri Lanka for X’term Termite baiting system of Sumitomo Chemicals, Japan