How to Prevent Termite Damages in Commercial Buildings
A pest infestation in a busy commercial building or business premises is the last thing you need.
When the infestation is termites, it’s even worse. A termite outbreak can cause expensive damage, breach government safety regulations and put your tenants at risk.
Avoid attracting termites to your commercial facility with Allstate’s expert termite prevention advice in this Hivemind blog.
What questions will this article answer?
Why it’s important to avoid a termite infestation in your commercial building
Termites cause dangerous structural damage to buildings, resulting in expensive repairs, disruptions to business and a breach in health and safety regulations.
Signs of a termite outbreak
Termite activity is hard to detect, but you may notice damage to walls, floors and ceilings, mud tubes, hear clicking sounds in walls as well as hollow sounds in wood.
How to avoid costly termite damage in commercial buildings
We recommend regular maintenance, reducing sources of moisture, and termite inspections.
Yearly termite inspections are crucial
According to government recommendations, termite inspections should be carried out at least once a year.
Professional termite control with Allstate
At Allstate, we use Premise Treated Zones and Sentricon Always Active baiting stations.
Integrated pest management for commercial buildings
Wel implement an integrated pest management strategy for your business, and you can have access to a dedicated pest control technician through our 24/7 online portal.
Choose Allstate for reliable and safe termite management
We’re here 24/7 for termite advice, solutions and treatment options for commercial facilities of all sizes, in all suburbs of Adelaide.
Why it’s important to avoid a termite infestation in your commercial building
Don’t be fooled by their small size! Termites can cause destruction to your property if left unchecked. Using their sharp teeth and strong jaws, they feed on cellulose by chewing through wood, paper and cardboard products. With an abundance of cellulose-based products and materials in many commercial buildings across Adelaide, they are a perfect place to satisfy the insatiable appetite of an emerging termite colony.
Found all across Australia, there are 30 species of termites which are thought to be responsible for significant damage to buildings, leaving behind repair bills which can cost building owners tens of thousands of dollars at a time.
Unfortunately, you’ll have to foot the entire bill for the repairs. Termite damage is not covered by insurance as it is considered highly preventable.
To make matters worse, structural problems in your building can place your business at risk by:
- Compromising the safety of tenants, employees, clients and customers
- Breaching workplace health and safety regulations, resulting in hefty penalities
- Disrupting day-to-day operations
- Increasing the chance of fire hazards and electrical problems
- Damaging machinery, supplies, stock, furniture and equipment
- Negatively impacting your business reputation
Don’t let termite activity hold your business back from flourishing. Allstate’s commercial termite management service can assist with safeguarding your facility any time.
Need termite protection? Speak to an expert today.
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Signs of a termite outbreak
Termite infestations can be difficult to identify in the early stages, and if you’re untrained in termite behaviour, it can be even harder to detect subtle clues in a busy commercial facility. Here’s what our licensed termite inspectors look for
Building damage
A clear indicator of extensive termite destruction, seeing changes to your walls, floors and ceilings means that the structural integrity of your building has been compromised. Look for cracks, blistering, warping and sagging.
Mud tubes
Irregular rows of hardened brown dirt stuck to a wall, wooden beams or foundations are one of the more obvious physical signs of termite activity. Known as mud tubes, these tunnels are made from a mixture of wood debris, dirt, saliva and droppings. They serve to protect termites from predators and prevent moisture loss as they journey from their nest to forage for food.
Clicking sounds
You may be able to hear a persistent clicking sound coming from your walls or ceilings as termites carve away inside wooden beams.
Interruptions to electrical supply
As electrical fittings and wiring are often installed in and around key wooden support structures, termite tunnels can accumulate organic material and cause electricity supply disruptions, increasing the risk of a fire hazard.
Hollow sounding wooden structures
As termites tunnel through wood and create a void in the middle, you will hear an empty, hollowed out sound when you tap on the wood.
How to avoid costly termite damage in commercial buildings
Although termites can be difficult to keep away, it’s possible to make your property a less inviting place for them to begin a colony. Here are our top recommendations to protect your commercial building from a termite outbreak:
Regular yard maintenance
Removing termites’ preferred food source, cellulose, will make your building and yard less inviting. If possible, remove unused piles of wood and tree stumps. Keeping trees and foliage well-trimmed so that they are not touching the building reduces access.
Reduce sources of moisture
Environments that are high in moisture provide ideal survival conditions for termites to survive. We recommend regularly inspecting drains, tanks, pipes and gutters for leaks and fix them as soon as possible. If you are located in an area with high levels of moisture, your property may also require more frequent termite inspections and a stronger prevention barrier.
Termite inspections
The best way to protect your commercial property is to have a highly trained, licensed professional perform regular, thorough termite inspections with the best equipment.
Yearly termite inspections are crucial
According to government recommendations, termite inspections should be carried out at least once a year, or more frequently if you’re in a high risk area.
At Allstate, we understand it’s important not to have any disruption in business hours, so we happily work outside your hours of operation.
Using modern equipment such as moisture readers, sounding tools, borescopes and movement detectors, our termite inspectors thoroughly assess all areas of your property inside and outside buildings, including walls, floors, ceilings, roof voids and subfloors. We take care to check the yard outside, particularly if you have wood piles, fencing, sleepers, lots of trees, or moisture.
Once your inspection is completed, your licensed termite inspector will send you a report with recommendations to safeguard your property. This report will highlight all potential risk factors to determine the most ideal inspection frequency for your business.
Don’t delay your termite inspection. Arrange a time with a licensed termite inspector today.
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Professional termite control with Allstate
If there is evidence of termite activity found during a routine inspection, our pest control technicians use the following termite treatments to stop further damage from occurring:
Premise Treated Zones
A fast-acting termiticide spray, Premise can be applied to soil in affected areas or treatment zones for an immediate effect in serious outbreaks.
Sentricon Always Active
An effective protective barrier to stop termites from entering inside, Sentricon Always Active bait stations are installed underground, around the perimeter of buildings on your property. With a targeted termiticide embedded within each station, termites will feed on the lethal bait and take it back to their colony to pass onto other termites.
Integrated pest management for commercial buildings
At Allstate, we’ve seen the devastating consequences that a pest outbreak can have on businesses. From small to medium to large commercial facilities, our Integrated Pest Management program has been proven to successfully keep customers, employees, clients and staff safe from pests in all suburbs of Adelaide.
After an initial assessment of the premises, we’ll identify all possible risks and take into account your current pest control measures to make sure that your business is completely compliant with government standards.
With the assistance of a dedicated pest control technician who understands the needs of your business, you’ll then have a tailored pest management program put in place.
But that’s not all. To make pest control even faster and easier, you’ll have 24/7 access to your personalised pest management program via our online pest control portal.
There, you’ll find all inspection reports, compliance documentation and a copy of your pest management plan in one convenient place. As an added bonus, you can report any new problems immediately and receive a fast response from your assigned pest control technician.
If you’re a busy property manager, Allstate offers modern, personalised pest control solutions for property managers to make your job easier.
For long-lasting termite management solutions, contact Allstate today.
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Choose Allstate for reliable and safe termite management
Termite outbreaks can result in serious and expensive problems for commercial properties, and it’s clear that they are best avoided in the first place.
For almost 40 years, Allstate has managed and prevented termite infestations in all suburbs of Adelaide. Available 24/7 for all urgent enquiries and advice, we offer comprehensive termite inspections performed by licensed termite inspectors, as well as effective, targeted nontoxic treatments.
No matter the size or location of your commercial building, the industry or the number of tenants and employees, we can tailor an Integrated Pest Management program for your unique circumstances and keep termites away for good.
