Termites have been around since the time of the dinosaurs! Termite colonies eat non-stop, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! Subterranean Termite colonies can have up to 2 million members! Their colonies are divided into three groups: workers, soldiers and reproductives. Subterranean termites are the most destructive kind of termite. They can eat a lot of wood and they can cause a lot of expensive damage to a building!

Business Consequences:

Termites can destroy:

• Building foundations
• Wooden support beams
• Plastic plumbing pipes
• Sub-flooring
• Insulation
• Swimming pool liners and;
• Filtration systems
• Termites can also injure or destroy living trees and shrubs. The threat from termites is most severe when they attack timber in buildings. Over time, the termite damage weakens the timber and can eventually lead to the collapse of the building

There are two signs that indicate a termite infestation:

1. Wood that has become dry and in which holes have become visible
2. If there are little soil mounds close to the foundations and inside the building by the skirtings

Treating Termites

Termites in any building should be treated by professional technicians as failing to deal with the problem could lead to structural damage. Many Termite infestations go undetected for years by which time the damage can be widespread and severe. It is important to act swiftly if you are concerned that you may have a problem with Termites. Before any treatment is undertaken, a Bidvest Steiner Consultant must determine the type and extent of the infestation i.e. Subterranean or Dry wood to ensure the correct treatment method and chemical is applied.