POST-CONSTRUCTION TERMITE PERIMETER TREATMENT

This article describes the methods used by Amalgamated Pest Control (APC), during the installation of a post-construction termite perimeter treatment around a residential property in Caboolture, Brisbane.

Currently, APC only approve termiticide formulations based on four types of active ingredient. These actives being  Bifenthrin, Imidacloprid, Fipronil, and Chlorantranilioprole.

The Termiticide Formulation.

For this treatment, the product of choice was the minimal odour  EnviroMax® Bifenthrin 100EC Termiticide & Insecticide formulation – sourced from Australasian Wholesale Chemical Technologies® Pty Ltd.

The treated property is described as a single story brick veneer home on a concrete slab, with a colour bond roof. The home is situated in a rural setting with landscaped gardens

Treatment Method

Step 1: A thorough timber pest inspection and report was undertaken 2 weeks prior to the EnviroMax® barrier installation. During inspection, no termite activity or associated damage was found, and we recommended that the client undertake the following actions prior to the EnviroMax® perimeter barrier being installed:

1.1 Gardens: We required the gardens to be trimmed back from the house, and some shrubs removed as they were planted too close to the perimeter of the building. This action is required to ensure the chemical barrier is not bridged or breached.

 

Removal of mulch and foliage from the house’s perimeter.

1.2 Mulch & Rocks: All mulch and rocks were required to be kept 300mm from the perimeter of the structure to ensure the chemical barrier is not bridged or breached.

1.3 Floor & Plumbing plans: The APC technician requested a copy of the floor plan of the structure being treated, to determine that the concrete slab had no joins, and to ensure all external plumbing penetrations could be located prior to treatment.

Step 2: Trenching

 

2. All air-conditioning units were moved

 

2.1The soil areas were excavated as per Australian standards and Amalgamated Policy and Procedure requirements.

 

2.2 All external plumbing penetrations were located and exposed.

2.3 The plumbing penetrations were cleared, then coated and resealed with Term-seal primer and Term-seal multi purpose.

3.1 The trenches were rodded and flooded with termiticide.

3.2 Imported soil was then added to the trenches and further termiticide was applied and mixed with the soil to create a slurry.

4.0 Treatment to concrete areas

In order to form a termiticide chemical barrier beneath the concrete slabs and paths, we needed to undertake concrete drilling. The recommended drill hole spacing is between 150 and 200 mm.

4.1 To enhance chemical-soil distribution we used a lateral dispersion tip on the injector and up to 10L of emulsion per linear meter. To ensure formation of a continuous barrier, holes were drilled no more than 150 mm from walls or expansion joints.

4.3 The concrete drill holes were then capped with mortar

Long-lived protection of vulnerable structures from subterranean termite attack is facilitated by

EnviroMax® Bifenthrin 100EC Termitcide & Insecticide treatments. Perimeter treatment of the soil or fill surrounding properties, isolates the structure from termite galleries, through formation of a chemical barrier which acts as a contact poison, killing and repelling termites that come into contact with the treated area. When the colony realises that workers (the food gatherers) are being destroyed it ceases to send them to that location.

At Amalgamated Pest Control we believe that the key to any treatment program is continued monitoring. At the very least, inspections should be carried out at 12 monthly intervals. Following inspection, we extend our service warranty for a further period on the proviso that our recommendations are adopted.