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| Termite Barrier |
| Prevent insect attack from damaging your home. |
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A new Australian product called Kordon TMB is now available. It is a termite moisture barrier which protects homes from subterranean termites, at the same time acting as a seal to prevent water vapour seeping through. Our House takes a look at this Aussie invention that seems to have it all.
Termite Background Information
Termite damage is serious stuff. In fact the CSIRO reports that termites cause about $200 million worth of damage in Australia each year. And according to the industry, one in five Australian homes are attacked by termites. Within three months these pests can damage up to one-quarter of an average sized home. There are two ways of dealing with the problem, either to kill the termites outright by destroying the nest, or to create a physical barrier to prevent their access. The first option is chosen after the termites have already been discovered, (often too late), the second option is best at building stage, to prevent termites accessing the home in the first place.
There are three main categories of termites.
1 Subterranean - these termites tunnel through the ground and can build large colonies. They nest in raised mounds and inside trees, tree stumps and wood found in the ground. Some termites that build nests on trees are included in this group.
2) Dampwood - these species form small independent colonies, usually in trees, tree stumps and timber in the ground. Only decayed timbers are usually affected. Sound timbers may be affected where ventilation is poor and moisture content high.
3) Drywood - small, non-ground based independent colonies of these termites can be found nesting in almost any timber. These termites require only limited moisture and generally prefer
tropical climates. They can form a large number of separate groups, making detection difficult.
We have featured stories on the program before about how to get rid of dry wood and damp wood termites - today we are focusing on subterranean termites.
About Kordon Termite Moisture Barrier
This termite barrier comes in two forms. Kordon TMB comes in rolls of 1.5m width, and is used for the underslab installations. It also is available in a roll of 350mm width, and is used for perimeter installations and also for use on walls.
The Kordon termite barrier combines an insecticide and a moisture barrier to protect against an attack by subterranean termites. Active termite protection is provided by deltamethrin, which is highly effective against termites. According to the manufacturers of Kordon TMB, deltamethrin is one of the least hazardous insecticides available. It has been used widely in agriculture for more than 15 years. In the manufacture of the termite barrier, deltamethrin is incorporated onto a fibrous webbing and sandwiched between two layers of plastic sheeting. The upper orange coloured sheet forms the moisture barrier and the bottom plastic sheet acts as a secure base and protects the webbing. Kordon TMB has been undergoing research in Australia for 10 years and has been studied by, among other companies, the CSIRO and the State Departments of Forestry.
Advantages:
1 Safety. Instead of putting insecticide into the soil, which may be detrimental to the environment (i.e. in a heavy storm the contaminated soil is washed away) the termite repellent is contained between the two sheets. This also makes it safer for the builders who are installing the product – as they are not handling toxic chemicals.
2 The barrier is both repellent and toxic to termites. It is the first termite system that can be installed by a builder. It also saves on labour costs because the builder doesn’t have to wait for a specialist or a pest controller.
Disadvantages:
The underslab installation of the TMB can be quite expensive.
There are two types of installation; perimeter and underslab. Our House takes a look at the installation of a perimeter TMB at the site of a new home.
Perimeter Installation
1 After the concrete slab has been poured and cured on the ground, the edge rebate is swept clean, and the first course of bricks is laid around the perimeter of the house.
2 The termite barrier is laid around the perimeter of the house, orange side up, directly onto the concrete slab. It is secured with a combination of nails and industrial tape.
3 Adjacent sheets of TMB are overlapped, so that the termite protection is most effective. It is recommended to installers that the sheets are overlapped at least 50mm.
4 The sheets are secured with PVC duct tape at least 30mm wide. The installation takes about 2 or 3 hours.
TMB is warranted against termite damage for 10 years. This warranty covers replacement of structural and internal timbers.
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Total Cost
Underslab is $15 per square metre. Perimeter is $7 per linear metre.
For the average 200 square metre home, this works out at about $3,000 for an underslab installation, compared to approximately $500 for a perimeter installation.
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More Info
For further information, or the name of your nearest installer, phone the Kordon hotline:
Ph: 1800-634-913.
Or visit their web site http://www.agrevo.com.au. (Go to environmental health, under products, under Kordon TMB).
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Disclaimer
All Fact Sheets and other material on the Our House website are provided as a general information service only and should not be relied upon as a substitute for the advice of a properly qualified tradesman. Neither ninemsn nor its licensors (including the Nine Network) assume or accept any responsibility for, and will not be liable for the accuracy or appropriate application of any information whatsoever in any Fact Sheet or other material on the Our House web site. Your use of the Our House web site is governed by this disclaimer and the ninemsn's Terms of Use.
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