You should definitely be having a termite inspection done on the property. It is highly likely that there may be a sub-nest in the timber. The main nest will probably be somewhere else. Unfortunately there will always be termites – especially on rural properties.

I would not suggest burning the timber as yet – you really need to ensure that you have an inspection first. As to storing the timbers – not a good idea at all to store on pine shelving where there is not regular visual contact. By the sounds of it you have stored this timber in a shed somewhere which hasn’t been inspected for years. This has given the termites an ideal, uninterrupted, food source. As it has been stored on decking, there has to be an entrance point somewhere. It is impotant to try and find the entrance point (hence why an inspection by a licenced technician is recommended) and sort out how the termites are getting to the pine shelving. There would have to be termite leads somewhere.

Once entrance point is ascertained then you could probably burn the affected timber pieces – if there are termites in the decking, these can be treated chemically to eradicate (preferably using a non- repellent termiticide so that chemical will be taken back to the nest).

We are looking at buying our first home. We have found a potential buy, however we had found out that it had white ants that have since been removed, and bathroom (infected area) has been rebuilt. What are the chances of the termites coming back? Would you suggest that we take out another inspection?

Regards
Maria

There is a chance that you have killed off all termites and you are ‘protected’ but to say that this is all that is required to know for sure would be bad advice. Termites are social pests who live in colonies, love eating away at dead or decaying wood, such as your fencing timber but hate disturbance. You may have killed a few but there is always the possibility of other active termites retreating to feed elsewhere. Depending on the species of Termite there mayb also be a high likelihood of subsidiary nests exisiting if indeed the nest was determined.

The Australian Standard in relation to termite control requires that ‘when active termites are discovered in a building then an attempt be made to treat them with the intention, if possible, of eliminating the colony’. A quick kill treatment is possible if the nest/s has been discovered but unlikely otherwise and contaminant dusts or termite treatment baiting stations may need to be used and monitored over a period of time.

The best thing for you to do would be to call on a professional, timber pest licenced and insured Pest Controllers to arrange a thorough inspection on your property.