Adelaide is riddled with termite nests which are home to some of the most destructive termite species in Australia. So, it’s no surprise that around one in five houses have been affected by a termite outbreak.

With an appetite for cellulose-rich food, termites chew through wooden structures including trees and timber beams in and around your home. When you start noticing signs of damage, it’s already too late.

Not only does termite damage compromise the structural safety of your family home, it can also increase the risk of fire hazards and electrical short circuits.

To make things even more stressful, termite damage is also expensive to fix. The average repair bill for termite-related damage is around $10,000 and unfortunately isn’t covered by insurance as it is considered highly preventable.

It’s clear that termite nests can spell bad news for Adelaide homeowners. With thousands of hungry termites to feed, you’ll want to keep them away at all costs!

Depending on the species of termite, nests can vary in location and appearance. Here are the more common ones that you might have come across:

Subterranean nests

These out of sight nests are usually hard to spot as they are tucked away several feet underground in soil and underneath rotten tree stumps.

While the actual nest itself isn’t visible from the surface, you may instead spot brown mud tubes nearby, which are protected tunnels that termites use to travel safely between their food source and nest.

Termite Mounds

Made of soil and clay mixed with termite saliva, mounds are raised dome or hill shaped dirt structures. They can be up to several feet tall (in some cases, even up to 3-4 metres!) and indicate that there is a large colony inside. Sometimes, mounds can even have unique architectural features such as chimneys or pinnacles.

Arboreal nests

Made of wood shavings and termite droppings, oval shaped arboreal nests are built on trees, as their name suggests. They can either be seen protruding off the side of a trunk or branch, or sit between branches. Their outer walls have the consistency of paper mâché.

For homes at low risk of a termite attack, we recommend having a termite inspection at least once a year, following government guidelines.

For properties with a higher risk level, more frequent inspections may be necessary to ensure that any subtle signs of termite activity are detected as early as possible.

At Allstate, our technicians are trained and licensed to conduct comprehensive inspections which are compliant with Australian standards.

Our inspections cover all internal and external areas of your property, including subfloors, outbuildings and surrounds.

Your technician will perform a physical assessment for signs of termite damage, activity, nests and ingress points using advanced termite detection equipment, such as borescopes, sounding tools, moisture meters and movement detectors.

When your inspection is completed, we’ll send you all the information that you need to know in a handy inspection report.

To learn more about how termite inspections can help termite proof your home or business, speak to a friendly Allstate consultant.

The last thing your home or business needs is the stress and destruction caused by termite outbreaks. At Allstate, our technicians are available 24/7 to all suburbs of Adelaide to help with any urgent enquiries.

Established in 1986, we have a proven track record for successfully preventing and managing termites for clients in residential, commercial and business settings. Our technicians are fully equipped with modern termite-detecting equipment and innovative, proven treatments to keep your property termite-free for good.

With payment plan options and competitive warranties on all our services, you can act fast against termites today.