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Why do treatment charges change?
In installing exterior perimeter chemical termite protection, because of the properties of the newer style of chemicals we have to use, and to comply with Australian Standard 3660.2, we now have to form the chemicals physically continuously at least 150mm wide from the finished soil height to 50mm below the top of the footings to form an effective barrier. To get the maximum life from the modern chemicals, they also need to be formed in an ideal soil medium. Sometimes we find unusual footings, that if not effectively treated, will allow termites to continue attacking a home!
The older chemicals were very forgiving from a treatment perspective, and would kill termites up to a metre from and below where they had been applied. With the newer termiticides, termites will freely work within 10mm of treated soil.
Properly installed, FMC's Biflex has a labelled expected protection period of at least 10 years at their higher application rate. The same label has an expected protection period of 10 years, so we believe that this termiticide may have a realistic expected protection period in excess of 10 years, if it's installed properly. In summary, a properly installed barrier does not have to be reinstated every year as some unscrupulous people within our industry would have you believe.
When we come quote to install an exterior perimeter at a home, it is very difficult to predict the depth or width of the footings prior to excavation. With modern homes, we can usually be reasonably accurate with the depth of footings, and our standard quotations assume a depth to the footing of up to 250mm, and a footing width extending no more than 150mm from the exterior brickwork. These figures are reasonably generous based on normal good building practices, and represent the majority of homes we treat.
With some homes, the footing widths and depths can be excessive. So far, we have found footings extending up to 700mm from the exterior brickwork, and we have found footing depths up to 1.2 metres below the finished soil height (which was below the internal concrete slab height). In some cases, where excessive footing depths are found, we can reach a conclusion that where we had planned to drill and inject a concrete slab against the home, treatment would be ineffective, and the concrete may require cutting or removal.
When we quote for installing an exterior perimeter barrier, we assume footing depths and widths based on reasonable expectations. Where unusual footings, or footing widths or depths are found, we reserve the right to increase our charges proportionately.
At Environpest, it is extremely important not to compromise the integrity of the treatments we do. If we find an increased footing depth, we must treat to the top of the footing. If we don't, termites will enter the home below our treated area, and make our work ineffective.
If you have any queries, please don't hesitate to contact us at any time.
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© Mark Porter 2001