Termites pose a significant threat to buildings, second only to earthquakes. Protecting your property requires a multi-faceted approach, starting from the initial design phase and continuing throughout construction. Here’s a detailed look at effective strategies to safeguard your building from these voracious pests.

Building Design and Construction Techniques

• Concrete Slab Foundation: Construct a single, complete reinforced concrete slab, at least 150mm thick, with exposed edges above ground level. This prevents termites from accessing the building through the slab itself, forcing them to build visible mud tunnels over the exposed edges. Any breaches in the slab, such as where pipes or conduits pass through, are potential entry points for termites. Avoid building boundary walls, gates, or sheds that bypass the slab edge.
• Material Selection: Use steel for roof structures and tiles instead of wood for floors to minimize the risk of termite damage.

Termite-Resistant Materials

• Termite-Resistant Wood: If using wood, opt for termite-resistant timber, keeping in mind that only the heartwood is generally resistant. Some species of particular interest in Indonesia include Dalbergia latifolia (Indian Rosewood or sonokeling/sonobrits), Eusideroxylon zwageri (Borneo Ironwood or Ulin/Belian), Intsia bijuga (Merbau, Ipil or Kwila), and Tectona grandis (Common Teak or Jati).
• Avoid Susceptible Timbers: Species like Agathis alba (amboina, Borneo Kauri or East Indonesian Kauri), Dipterocarpus (Keruing, Apitong or Gurjan), and Mangifera (including Mango) are very susceptible to termite attacks.

Physical Barrier Systems

• Galvanized Steel Barriers: Historically, ant caps, circular discs of thin galvanized steel placed on top of wooden posts or stumps, were used to prevent termites from entering houses. This principle has been adapted for mounting wooden structures on steel bases.
• Stainless Steel Mesh (Termimesh): This system uses a fine stainless steel mesh installed around slab edges and joints, as well as pipes and cables passing through the floor. It’s highly effective and durable, especially when implemented correctly during construction. However, it may be more challenging to apply after construction.
• Fine Grit Barrier Systems (Granite Guard): This system involves using a bed of fine crushed rock under and around the building. The rock particles are sized to prevent termite passage, providing a simple, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly solution.

Wood Treatment

• Termiticide Application: Treat all wood by spraying or soaking it in termiticide, particularly the ends where termites often enter. This treatment is most effective when done before construction begins. Once wood is varnished or painted, it’s hard to reach the ends of the wood in the joints, which may allow termites to travel extensively without being noticed.

Chemical Treatments

• Soil Treatment and Chemical Barriers: The most common method used by pest control companies involves saturating the soil around foundations and under floors with insecticide.
• Repellent Barriers: Older treatments rely on repellent chemicals to deter termites, but they are only effective if the barrier is complete and unbroken. They don’t kill the colony and termites can find gaps in the treatment.
• Non-Repellent Barriers: Newer termiticides are undetectable to termites. They pick up the chemical and take it back to the colony, which ultimately destroys it. This method is most effective when applied before a building is constructed. Post-construction application requires drilling holes through floors, potentially damaging them and also creating additional entry points when the chemicals become ineffective.
• Re-treatment: Chemical barriers break down and require re-treatment every 3 to 5 years, posing additional risk to the environment.

Alternative Methods

• Baiting Systems: Cellulose matter is placed in boxes around the property, and when termites are detected, termiticide is added to the bait. Termites take it back to the colony, poisoning the entire nest. This is effective if termites can be lured to the bait.
• Fumigation: This method involves tenting the entire building and filling it with toxic gas, which is suitable for dry wood termites.
• Boric Acid: This natural powder is effective against termites, ants, and cockroaches and can be mixed with water and painted on affected areas.
• Freezing: In some countries, termite nests are located with heat-seeking devices, and liquid nitrogen is used to kill the queen. This is a non-polluting method, but not easy to implement.
• Natural Plant Extracts: Some plants produce anti-termite oils and resins, which have been developed into commercial, non-toxic “paint-on” termite barriers that repel termites and prevent feeding.

Natural Defenses

• Ants: Ants are the natural enemies of termites and can help to keep them away.

By integrating these comprehensive termite prevention strategies into your building plans and construction process, you can significantly reduce the risk of termite damage and protect your investment for years to come.