Termites or white ants are the most well-known timber destroyers in our homes, but you may be surprised to learn there are also some other pest threats … and not all have legs.
Since very few homes in Australia are built without using some timber elements, either in framework or as cladding, almost all of our houses can fall victim to not only termites, but also wood borers and their larvae.
The borer is a beetle which can cause destruction of wood in either its larval (grub) stage or as an adult beetle. They effectively tunnel into wood and silently ruin its structure, not only causing unsightly pitting in timber you see, but also harming the structural integrity of timber that holds up your house. Often the only sign can be just a series of pinprick holes mostly only seen through magnification.
But the threats posted by wood borers aren’t just within the structure of your home, but in the trees surrounding your house. Wood borers can be living in surrounding trees, burrowing and eating the trunk and causing the tree to drop limbs or simply topple over landing on whatever might be in its path, including your house.
If you have an area of your garden which tends to be moist, you could find your trees and shrubs more susceptible to wood borers. If you have plants that lean against your house, or are close, then you may find the borers decide your lodgings are better than theirs and move in. Depending on the type of timber used in your property, borers have been known to attack foundation timbers, joists, bearers and internal walling. Decks are also a popular haunt.
You’re unlikely to see the evidence yourself, so it’s wise to get in a professional who can not only conduct a visual inspection, but has technology at their fingertips with meters to test for structural damage and moisture content.
Smart Choice Building & Pest Inspections conducts a comprehensive pest inspection of properties in Adelaide, the Southern Suburbs, Adelaide Hills and Fleurieu Peninsula. If you live in Victor Harbor, Port Elliot, Goolwa, Yankalilla, Christies Beach, Mount Barker, Woodside, Strathalbyn, Reynella, Woodcroft, Sellicks Beach, Aldinga, Cape Jervis or any town in between, Smart Choice Building & Pest Inspections offers a fixed price pest inspection for just $220.
Give us a call today on 0477 700 101.