In Malaysia, termites pose a significant challenge for homeowners, leading to damage that costs billions of ringgit annually. Additionally, these pests are becoming increasingly hard to manage with each passing year.
One way to make sure that your home is protected against termite infestation is by having a quality termite barrier installed by a termite control service provider.
In this article, we will cover some common signs that you may have a poorly installed or ineffective termite barrier.
The Main Signs of Poorly Installed Termite Barrier
Mistakes are inevitable, but we must know how to identify whether a termite barrier is properly installed or not since this will be used to protect our homes and are from termites.
The main signs of poorly installed barriers include:
- Germicide applied on the ground before application to wood surfaces
- Sealant is not properly installed or too thin, making it ineffective against termites
- Termite barriers are made of materials that allow for water penetration. This leads to rotting and mold growth, which will compromise barrier integrity over time.
The most common mistake when installing a termite barrier is not spraying the germicide on wood surfaces before applying sealant. It’s important to note that this will only kill any exposed termites, and it won’t prevent them from coming back if they are living below ground level.
If you notice any of these signs, be sure to contact your local pest control service, so they can fix it right away!
How Termite Barriers Fail
You might be wondering how these barriers fail.
Termite barriers, both physical and chemical, may and do fail in a variety of ways.
Poor craftsmanship, a lack of understanding, and the use of outmoded techniques all contribute to these errors.
Most mistakes are when physical baiting programs frequently fail to owe to the proximity of cellulose wood stations on all sides of your property.
These instances are similar to Physical material barriers incorrectly installed, Reticulation line placed incorrectly, and Poorly maintained chemical barriers.
The Types of Termite Barriers
It’s always better to be wary and knowledgeable even with the types of termites barriers. We will cover some of the most common types for your convenience:
Physical barriers are made out of materials that physically prevent termites from entering or exiting.
They’re usually in the form of a trench, and they may be filled with soil or other material to keep them from collapsing if disturbed by large animals such as humans and pets.
The second type of barrier is the chemical barrier. These are made by using chemicals to kill and repel termites.
The most common chemical used is permethrin, which is safe for humans in small doses. These barriers have a long-lasting effect that may sometimes last up to five years!
Physical/Chemical barrier combination techniques combine the physical barrier with a chemical barrier.
This is done by using a trench and filling the bottom with plant oil or petroleum jelly, then spraying permethrin on all surfaces where termites may come in contact as they travel through the tunnel system to get to their food source. This type of technique can last up to three years before additional treatments are required!
How to Stop Termite Barriers From Failing
Now that you know the types of barriers and what works best for your area and preference. To prevent it from failing its job, you must know the measures to follow to stop termite barriers from failing.
Follow these simple steps, and you’re good to go!
First, you want to have a barrier installed, whether it’s physical or chemical.
Second, you want to inspect your property for any signs of termites on the surface and below ground level.
The third is to know when permethrin use has expired so that you can call in pest control service providers to reapply for this product.
The fourth thing is notifying the pest control service providers if you see any signs of termites or other pests.
Fifth, and finally, is to never touch a barrier that’s been broken since this can injure yourself.
The Final Words
The most important thing to remember about termite barriers is that they need to be installed properly. If you happen to neglect this, you may suffer severe consequences!
We can inspect your property for any signs of termites and provide an estimate with a no-obligation quote so you don’t waste time trying to figure out what’s going on.