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Wood
Over Concrete Floors, Invite For Termite Party Wood flooring over concrete or other floors are a disaster waiting to
happen! Although very attractive, comfortable and easy to clean,
parquetry and other decorative wood floor finishes layed on concrete or other
surfaces can be a termite trap waiting to happen. Even if there has been a
termite treatment carried out on the building, there is still a large risk of
having more termite damage than if there were no wood over concrete or other
floors. StewartS are getting an increasing number of people each
week with the problem of termites eating their expensive decorative wood
flooring. With the popularity of this
type of floor covering increasing, it will be a problem for StewartS and
building owners to contend with for many years. A large portion of the problem lies with the original
building design. Although a building may be built properly with its concrete
or wooden floor, the design of a concrete floor building does not facilitate
the problems that may occur with a wooden floor. The Australian Standard for sub floor clearance in a
wooden floor building is a minimum of 400 ml.
This is to aid and allow access for Inspectors and their services
(ie. Electricians, Pest Controllers,
Plumbers, etc) although more importantly, the floor clearance aids air
circulation which helps stop dampness, mould, fungus, rot and creates a less
desirable place for termites. Concrete floor buildings when built to the Australian
Standards should have no problems with dampness, mould, fungus and wood
rot. When you put a wooden floor over
the concrete floor without the required space for air circulation or inspection
etc., you open the door for a build up of dampness, mould, rot, fungus and
termites. Along with the above problem when termites have
unrestricted access under or in between the wood layers, they can go anywhere
in the building the wood floor takes them and be undetectable. The wooden floor might not be of interest to the termites
as a food source, but use it to obtain a more desirable source of cellulose
food. This can be a Pest Controller’s nightmare trying to track
down termite entry points and secure a termite barrier, not to mention the
building owners anguish and frustration. If the concrete floor is insufficient, has construction
faults or cracks that the termites can enter through, finding the entry point
of the termites or placing an adequate termite treatment, usually will result
in destroying the wooden floor. StewartS have found in most situations with modern
concrete floor homes, termites have been able to breach the termite treatment
or physical barrier to gain access to the decorative wood floor. In past experiences, it has been from an
area where there is a join or break in the continuos concrete floor surface
which usually occur with additions and alterations to the original floor. Decorative wood floor problems with industrial or public
buildings are far worse with no requirement at all for these buildings to
have termite treatment or physical barriers when built. The nature and the
way these buildings are constructed also allows for easier access of
termites. StewartS have had clients with termite infestations in
decorative wood flooring in many different situations like:- §
The second floor of an office building
in §
The sprung and suspended floor of a
large indoor sporting club in Armadale; §
The display window of a store in §
The dance floor of a night club in
Northbridge; as well as many homes and normal offices on a regular
basis almost daily. The treatment of termite infested decorative wood flooring
is costly, not easy, and not fool proof. First StewartS have to try and establish if:- 1.
The termite problem is coming from
under the floor; 2.
Another area; or 3.
They are just eating the floor or using
it as a mode of transport to get to other areas. If this cannot be established, then treatment methods must
be adopted one by one to try and stop the attack in the least expensive way
for the client and the least destructive way to the flooring and the
building. If the mode of entry has been established then StewartS
can carry out a more direct and effective method. In severe situations, the decorative floor cannot be
saved. These situation usually involve
a concrete floor that is cracked or where the surface under the decorative
flooring is not concrete and penetrable by termites. In such cases the floor will have to be
grid drilled at 30cm intervals and injected with a Termiticide to try and
form a continuous barrier under it.
The ability to form a continuous barrier depends on the soil fill
under the flooring. To do any of this usually the decorative floor would be
destroyed by the drilling if the termites have not already done so. Termite proof or treated timber used in decorative wood
flooring does not stop any of the above mentioned problems. The termites will
not eat it but they will still use it as a mode of transport to get to other
parts of the building and to cellulose food.
The same problems can exist with dampness, rot and fungus equally as
well. All the problems in treating a
normal decorative wood floor apply to a termite uneatable decorative wood
flooring and associated termite problems including the possible destruction
of the floor. For further information phone:- StewartS (08) 9479 1111 or 13BUGS (13-2847) Also
see Equipment
needed to do termite inspection work Warning
on following up inspection work Or
Email
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