DIY Termite Treatment vs. Professional Termite Control

DIY Termite Treatment vs. Professional Termite Control

Owning a nice home with a yard, a garden and all the bells and whistles can become overwhelming for many people. They have the mortgage, the insurance, the bills, plus all the monthly expenses like food, fuel, kids and so on, so when they encounter a problem like termites, most people are tempted to choose the cheaper solution: “do it yourself” products. In this article, we will have a look at DIY termite treatment vs. professional termite control.

Termites are nasty little pests that can eat 24-7 and can destroy anything that has cellulose and comes their way. This includes your home, your furniture, stuff in your garden and even your wires and cables. Left untreated, a colony can expand and eat silently for many years to come, destroying your property along the way.

These creatures like to hide and eat in silence, and it’s very important to detect them as soon as possible. For more information on how to identify signs of termites in your home, read our article ‘7 Signs You Are Sharing Your Home with Termites’.  If you notice any of these signs, it’s time to take action! The sooner you eradicate the colony, the less damage they will cause and the smaller your repair bill will be.

Professional treatments may seem too expensive for some people, so they try all sorts of “do it yourself” termite treatments.  You can find plenty of information online about various substances that you can prepare at home, and there are also all kinds of products in retail outlets. But do these products really work? Are you really saving money in the long term?

Getting Rid of Termites Is Not As Easy As You Might Think

Some people might think that they just spray a substance here and there and the termites simply walk away and never come back. The amount of chemical substances needed to protect a home and kill a colony is much higher than the watered-down products found in stores.

For most homes, around 600 litres are needed. Not only this, but the substances need to be injected deep into the soil in order to truly stop termites from making their way to your home. And this is only when it comes to prevention.

DIY Termite Treatment vs. Professional Termite Control

When it comes to eradicating a colony that already reached your home, things get even more complicated. Simply adding a substance that kills termites isn’t enough. This is because it will kill just the insects that come into contact with it. Professional take a different approach. We use special substances that can take longer to have an effect. This longer time frame ensures that all the termites come into contact with the product, and return it on the colony to have the maximum effect on the entire population.

DIY Termite Treatment vs. Professional Termite Control

Just squirting a few litres of chemicals on the grass will definitely not help. The substances used by professional termite control companies have gone rigorous testing and are guaranteed to provide the biggest impact on the insects, with the smallest impact on the health of humans and the environment. This cannot be said about various DIY recipes that you may find online.

For safety reasons, over the counter products have lower percentages of active ingredients. So you would need even bigger quantities in order to get a good effect on termites. So by spending that much on bigger quantities of product, you are not saving any money at all.

You end up spending a lot of money and possibly still not getting rid of the termites or even making the problem worse.  That’s why it’s better to call a professional as soon as you notice any signs of termite infestation. It may seem more costly upfront, but in reality, you are saving a lot of money long term by resolving the issue quickly and effectively, before you need to spend thousands on repairs to your home!

 

Watch our DIY Termite Treatment vs. Professional Termite Control Video

Do DIY Termite Treatments from Bunnings Really Work?

The quick and simple answer is “no”. Now let us explain why. Most substances found in stores use a repellent chemical formula. This does not kill the termites, but rather makes them avoid that area.  This is not an effective strategy because it will not destroy the nest or the colony.

Termites will find another way around that barrier, and will eventually reach the wood that they crave. If not applied correctly, they might even find a way through the barrier, as they can crawl through the tiniest holes and spaces. This is why it’s very important that the substance is applied by an expert that knows how to do it properly.

On the other hand, termiticides used by professional pest control companies do not repel the termites. They initially affect termites, but the insects won’t notice a thing. They will keep on doing their work, going back and forth to their nest, infecting all the other termites along the way, including the queen. In 1 or 2 weeks the substance will get into action and will eventually kill the entire colony.

Products found in stores like Bunnings or DIY products suggested on the internet are not capable of doing this. As mentioned above, the quantity used is also very important. In order to successfully apply a barrier for a regular 3-bedroom home, you would need around 600 litres of substance. To take things into perspective, the bottles found in stores usually have 1 or 2 litres. So now you can figure out why DIY treatments are not effective.

How Long Does The Treatment Last?

Even if you do manage to cover the entire area and to use the required quantity of active substance, DIY termite treatments only last for about 4 weeks in the soil, then leave your home vulnerable to future invasions.

However, professional treatments offered by specialised companies can offer protection for up to 8 years. They are applied with special tools and devices, one of them being the barrier rig. This device injects the product deep into the soil and at high pressure, to ensure that the desired area is saturated and the substance reaches the nest.

Chemicals also need to be injected deep into the soil in order to bind with it, instead of being washed away at the first rain. Preparing a substance at home or buying a small bottle from the store will not allow you to do this, and all your work and money spent will be in vain.

Conclusion

DIY Termite Treatment vs. Professional Termite Control; the conclusion is that when dealing with termite invasions the first and most important thing that you need to do is to call a specialised company. DIY treatments will simply not work and will only waste your time and your hard-earned money. If you

While the price might seem a bit high at this moment, think of it as a long term investment in your home. If your home is protected against termites, you can have peace of mind that your home is safe for many years to come.

Safeguard Pest Control is an established and  respected company that has been operating for over 30 years now. We have skilled and experienced employees that will efficiently get rid of your termites and will prevent them from coming back to your home in the future.

Call Us Now

The sooner you take action, the smaller the damage and the costs of treatment. Book your Safeguard Termite Inspection now by calling 07 5477 6675 or e-mailing info@safeguardpestcontrol.com.au and allow us to protect your greatest asset.

We will begin by inspecting your property and look for all the possible nests and colonies. We have a wide range of treatment options, that suit all types of homes and all budgets. Our employees are highly trained and skilled and licensed to perform inspections and treatments.

We will accommodate your schedule and together we’ll find the right time to start the treatment. We work according to the highest standards in the industry, and offer solutions to all kinds of properties, whether they are residential, commercial or corporate. Among our clients, we had schools and hospitals and helped hundreds of people over the years.

So now you know who is the winner in the battle of DIY termite treatment vs. professional termite control. Call Safeguard Pest Control today and we’ll help you solve the problem in a quick and professional way. You can find us at 07 5477 6675 or info@safeguardpestcontrol.com.au