Thread: Termite Control

Can anyone give advice on termite control. Just about ready to start my new build in Pattaya. Should I invest in termite protection, and if so how much should I expect to pay. I should follow DD example and post the progress. If I have the time of course. TIA

Get one of these from Chatujak Market.

I’ve been giving Termite control quite a bit of thought myself, the answer I believe is not control, but exclusion.

There are a number of ways of keeping Termites at bay, but I specifically want to exclude the use of chemicals/insecticides, so it boils down to getting an understanding of how Termites get into properties.

Firstly, the obvious, termites live in the ground and move into houses to eat the wood they contain. They gain access to houses, either via direct ground access (ie through cracks in floors/walls etc) or they access via columns, timber posts, plant stems (climbing plants are particularly favored routes for Termites).

It’s helpful also to understand how termites travel: When in their crawling bug stage, they will not travel over exposed land, they move in tunnels, and when they come across something they can’t tunnel through, the construct soil tunnels across the surface – ie over concrete and walls.
But termites like nothing more than a ready constructed tunnel – ie a pipe.

At certain times of the year (usually around the rainy weather) termites sprout wings and fly, again usually at night.

The obvious first defense is to block Termite access. The most effective way of achieving this is ‘Isolation’ of which there are two options: Raft and Stilts:

I particularly like the ‘Raft Construction’ method. The house is built on a single piece cast concrete raft (with no cracks through to the ground). The raft extends beyond the house boundary to form a skirt around the house. Termites trying to enter the house need to cross that skirt and will reveal their progress with the tracks of their dirt tunnel.

The home owner need only keep an eye out for such tracks and scrape them off as soon as they appear – Constant Vigilance!

Another approach is to place the house on concrete stilts and form troughs around the bottom of each post. Pouring some old engine oil into these presents a barrier to the termites.

A supplement to this method is to keep chickens and allow them access under the house where they will naturally keep the termite number down – and lay eggs!

Both raft and stilt isolation become useless if you don’t pay attention to other termite access routes – Pipe runs, cable runs and vegetation.

Again Pipes and cables can access through troughs filled with oil, but the only real answer to prevent termites using vegetation as a route into your house is to avoid having vegetation in contact with your building.

If you really want climbers and plants against your walls (I do) then consider plating them in sealed tanks/troughs to isolate them from the ground.



That leaves flying termites.

It’s down to good bug screens and again observation of Termite behavior. When they take to the air they flock around artificial lights. So if you spot a termite swarm make sure all the insect screens are in place and be prepared to turn out lights that are attracting the termites. Note here: Termite screens should not be limited to doors and windows, but should be applied to every hole through which termites might enter. Air vents in walls, gaps under roof eves, cable and pipe entries.

And don’t be too quick to chase Jing Jocks out of they house, they are veracious termite eaters.

Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog

Get one of these from Chatujak Market.

I bought some of them before, can anyone give me an advice on controling an ant eater infestation

Put the word out they make a great curry, they'll be eaten before you can say 'Pass the Chili Dip'.

Itchy,
Thanks for the advice I will give it some consideration during the build.

^shouldnt be hard to find a pest control company in Australia. There must be thousands.

Itchy I really agree with your advice. I made a slab as a barrier to termites and am very happy with it. But I would urge caution because you can't just pour an ordinary slab and be done. Unfortunately it isn't that simple and is why builders aren't doing this by default. Like so many other areas what builders do instead is just punt on the issue completely and reduce the poor home owner to poisoning their home periodically.

A typical slab in Thailand allows termite access through cracks, along pipes even through concrete, through poor quality concrete, and plus there aren't sufficient inspection zones around the perimeter. A truly termite proof slab must meet many, many requirements. Before even pouring the base must be properly compacted, the mix selected must be at least 240kg/cm3 and mixed precisely--not just a few hacks with a hoe and over watered, the concrete must be properly vibrated, pipes through the slab must be fitted with stainless steel mesh skirts, there must be enough rebar to keep cracks tight and it must be placed at precisely the correct depth. These are a sampling of mandatory items a typical slab just will not have.

Another modern alternative is to lay stainless steel mesh under the slab. You still have to put skirts around pipes, but the slab quality no longer matters because the mesh rather than the slab is the barrier. But even this method you really want a professional design to be certain there are no chinks in the armor.

I think laying mesh and using a modern poison (like Termidor) under the slab is the best way

then use the poison around the house about every few years

If using a physical barrier, there is no need to use poison around the house every few years.

once again guys...
only you need is POLYUREA

Originally Posted by canopy

If using a physical barrier, there is no need to use poison around the house every few years.

the physical barrier is only in the slab; the little critters always find a way to get in and around, so a good poison keeps them away

Perforated pipes under and around the slab or poles. Fill with Termidor once a year.

Originally Posted by Necron99

Fill with Termidor once a year.

every ten years for Termidor, every year for the normal stuff

Originally Posted by DrAndy

Originally Posted by canopy

If using a physical barrier, there is no need to use poison around the house every few years.

the physical barrier is only in the slab; the little critters always find a way to get in and around, so a good poison keeps them away

Like Itchy outlined, a properly designed physical barrier does not allow termites to enter a structure without their paths being easily observed. If there are no signs of termites trying to get in, there is no need to use any poisons.

As mentioned, the two non-poison methods are fine crushed Granite and Stainless steel mesh.

The crushed granite works on the principle that certain sized grains are either to large for the Termites to move, or have gaps too small for the termite to push between.

The mesh of course works on the principle that the holes are too small for the Termite, but still allow water to pass.

They both work well if installed correctly, but their weakness is that other tradesmen don't respect or understand the material. I've seen plumbers just rip the mesh apart to fix a broken pipe.

So I think neither method is suitable for Thailand.

Another trick is to have a few tasty pieces of wood buried at intervals around the perimeter under a paving block. The idea is that you inspect these "honey traps" periodically and if you have termites coming in, they will give you advance warning.

Have fun.

Originally Posted by canopy

If there are no signs of termites trying to get in, there is no need to use any poisons.

if that only was true

you must live in a perfect world, keeping your house totally free of any plants and other obstacles