When you’re dealing with an infestation of termites, the last thing you want to do is call in a termite control Melbourne professional and find out that they need to do more work than they estimated.
As a homeowner, it’s your responsibility to make sure the estimate is accurate. While some projects are easy to estimate in terms of scope (like installing a new kitchen sink), others can be significantly more complicated (like replacing your roof). In either case, here are some steps you can take before calling in an inspector:
Inspect your attic and basement
Termite activity is easier to spot in the attic and basement. Check for mud tubes (evidence of termite tunnels) or fecal pellets, which look like small dots of dirt. Look for damaged wood—if you see wood with cracks or holes, it’s likely due to termites.
Be sure to check any areas where water pipes enter your house, as well as any windowsills or other areas where termites may be entering your home through outside sources.
Inspect your foundation, brickwork and stucco
Inspect your foundation, brickwork and stucco. If you see any cracks in the foundation or signs of water damage, this is a sign that termites have made themselves at home inside.
Look for discoloration on the exterior of your home. Termites leave behind a telltale trail of mud-like deposits as they travel around on the outside of your home looking for food sources. These trails can be located around windowsills, door frames and other areas where moisture tends to collect (e.g., near the bottom of walls).
Check for rotting wood in your decking or fences – termites love to live inside these structures because they offer plenty of protection from predators while also providing plenty of places for food!
Look for signs of water damage
Look for discoloration, mold or mildew. Termites sometimes find their way into your home through the attic and then travel to other areas where they can infest wood. This is especially true if you have an old house that needs repairs, as it may be susceptible to termite damage due to loose or broken framing members that allow access from above.
When you go up into the attic, look around at all points of entry: windowsills, eaves and ventilation slots in the roof line are all potential places where a termite could enter.
Call an inspector for a professional estimate
If you want your estimate to be as thorough and accurate as possible, call an inspector. Whether you’re calling an inspection company or an individual inspector, they will do a thorough inspection of your home.
This includes checking the health of the structural framing and siding, looking for signs of termite damage (such as mud tubes), looking for evidence that termites have been active recently (such as damaged wood), and checking for signs that previous infestations have been treated (for example, if there are no areas where drywall has been replaced).
They’ll also assess how much time it would take to fix any problems found; this helps them provide accurate estimates based on their experience with similar projects in the past.
If you’re concerned about the cost of termite control Melbourne, it’s worth considering that you may be able to do much of the work yourself. The right tools are available at hardware stores and home improvement centers, and there are plenty of online resources for how-to guides on inspecting for termites and repairing damage.
You may save money by doing some or all of the work yourself. In addition to saving money, doing your own research can help you understand what kind of long-term measures need to be taken in order to prevent future problems from arising.
Conclusion
The best thing you can do for yourself and the environment is to become more aware of the chemicals that we use in our everyday life. We need to stop throwing them away, and start recycling them responsibly instead. If we all work together on this important issue, I think we’ll be able to see some real progress soon!
Termite Control Melbourne 