26 November 2003
Guess Who's Coming To Dinner?
Thousands of home owners throughout Australia are unwittingly providing Australian Termites with a smorgasbord of opportunities to eat their homes leading to thousands of dollars in damage causing an estimated annual cost of $780 million damage to houses in Australia, Archicentre claimed today.
The comments follow an announcement today that the biggest research project ever undertaken into Termites is underway in the Northern Territory. Melbourne University researchers are part of a unique experiment creating the world's largest test site for termites. Scientists have set up 80 different types of model homes on termite-infested land in the Northern Territory to test a range of anti-termite solutions. Melbourne University researcher Berhan Ahmed says scientists are hoping to discover which buildings are more resistant to termites. (Source: ABC News Online)
Mr Robert Caulfield, Managing Director of Archicentre, the building advisory service of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects said, "Archicentre estimates that 650,000 homes around Australia have been damaged by termites costing $3.9 billion in treatment and repair typically over a cycle of five years. There is usually a time period of five years from the initial attack through detection to treatment and eradication of the termites."
Archicentre's research shows the average cost of treatment for a home with termites by a pest contractor is $1500. The average repair cost per home for termite damage is $4,500.
Mr Caulfield warned home owners against storing timber or firewood under their homes, stacking firewood against timber walls, raising garden beds by piling earth against walls, or blocking sub floor ventilation as some of the basic termite traps.
"Termites can threaten the structural integrity of the home especially where sub flooring, roofing or timber framing in load bearing walls is concerned."
Mr Caulfield said that these type of activities provided a freeway for termites to get into the home and people fail to realise how quickly their home can be devoured. There is no distinction between old and new homes or apartments several storeys high.
"We have seen new homes which have not been correctly termite proofed "eaten out" within a few months of being constructed."
Cost of repairs can run to thousands of dollars depending on the extent of damage, he said.
National Archicentre pre-purchase home inspections revealed percentage of termite damage to homes inspected in each State:
| Queensland 11% | New South Wales 9% | South Australia 9% | Victoria 8% | Western Australia 5% |
Although the Archicentre pre-purchase home inspection is not a specific pest inspection, the incidence of termite attacks found are alarming. The escalating incidence of termite attack is due partly to the traditional chemicals used for eradication being prohibited, but also to our warming climate and increasing housing densities.
Archicentre has released a Termite and Borer fact sheet on the website at http://www.archicentre.com.au/survival_kit/termites_borers.pdf
Home owners should be vigilant looking for signs of termites or borers. Bowing walls and floors, or visual deterioration of timber beams, architraves and skirtings are all signs for concern and the need for a professional inspection by a qualified and registered pest contractor.
Termites were here for
dinner last night, they had a feast!
Media Enquiries:
Robert Caulfield Managing Director Archicentre (03) 9819 4577 Mobile 0412
381 306
Ron Smith Corporate Media Communications (03) 9818 5700