Question 1

How often should I get a termite inspection in South Australia?

Accepted Answer

At least once a year. That is what the Australian standard for termite management, AS 3660, recommends for most properties. If you are in a higher-risk spot, and a lot of the Adelaide Hills is, it is worth doing it more often than that. Termites work quietly. A yearly inspection is how you find them in the first season rather than the third.

Question 2

What does a pest treatment cost?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the size of the property, which pest you have got and how far the problem has spread. A unit with ants in the kitchen is a different job to a full termite treatment on a big block. Justin quotes before he starts, the quote is free and there is no obligation. Give him a call and describe what you are seeing, and he can usually give you a good idea over the phone.

Question 3

Is pest treatment safe around kids and pets?

Accepted Answer

Standard treatments are applied to surfaces and entry points, not sprayed through the middle of your living room. The usual advice is to keep children and pets away from treated areas until everything is dry, and to bring pet bowls, toys and bedding inside beforehand. Fish tanks need covering and the pump switched off. Justin will tell you exactly what he is using and how long to stay clear before he starts, so ask him on the day.

Question 4

How long does a treatment last?

Accepted Answer

It varies by pest. A general spray for ants, spiders and cockroaches usually holds for months rather than weeks, but a wet winter, a rendered wall or a garden bed pushed up against the house will all shorten it. Rodent and termite work is different again and gets its own plan.

Question 5

Do I need a pest inspection before I buy a house?

Accepted Answer

It is not compulsory in South Australia, but it is one of the cheapest pieces of insurance you will ever buy. A pre-purchase inspection looks for termites, past termite damage, borers and any conditions around the property that make an infestation likely, like poor drainage or timber stacked against the wall. You get a written report you can use in the negotiation. Do it before the cooling-off period ends, not after.

Question 6

What do I need to do before Justin arrives?

Accepted Answer

Move anything valuable away from skirting boards, clear under the kitchen and bathroom sinks, and pull furniture off the walls where you can. Put pet bowls and children's toys away. If you are having the roof void or subfloor inspected, make sure the access hatch is not blocked by boxes.

Question 7

What happens after the treatment?

Accepted Answer

Stay off treated surfaces until they are dry. Do not mop skirting boards or exterior walls for a few weeks, because washing the treated area is the most common reason a job stops working early. Expect to see more insects than usual for a week or so. That is the treatment doing its job and pushing them out of hiding, not a sign it has failed. If you are still seeing activity after a month, ring Justin.

Question 8

Do you cover my suburb?

Accepted Answer

Almost certainly. Justin is based in Nairne and covers the whole of Adelaide and the Adelaide Hills, from the CBD out to the coast and up through the Hills townships. He also works east and south of home, through Strathalbyn and out to Murray Bridge. If you are not sure, ring and ask.

What Justin can sort out for you

Domestic Pest Control

Common household problems

Commercial Pest Control

Common commercial problems

Termite Inspections

Common termite problems

Pre-Construction Termite Protection

Common new build problems

The things people ask before they ring

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