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Termites

OK, if you want to start spinning numbers you will have to put it specific about the situation you are referring to.
Yes, no excuse.. It was just a very basic example of how excessive deflections can cause failure.


What do you mean I'm not taking into account other factors?

By those factors I mean one can assume not taking live load into account, for instance. It's highly unlikely there will be anyone crawling around in the ceiling or anything of substantial mass being placed on the dwelling.

so what has restraint centers got to do with it?
I was lost there for a bit I think you assumes truss restarint due to my poor english.. I was relating to the stud restraint, or nogg. Assuming 1350mm is an industry standard. on a 2.4m wall it is less.


You're telling me a stud with 30% of its cross-sectional area and exponentially reduced slenderness will be sufficient? I'm highly scepetical and curious.
Yes, a 70x15 stud is suitable for a RLW (roof load width) of 3200mm assuming full adherence to the code. So there enough to 5500mm span. Bending is the critical factor.

A 70x15 with reduced loads sure does handle 9000mm.
Assuming:
79kg/m^ (tiles, roof batten, truss self weight, 10mm plasterboard ceiling, and ceiling battens. - 4kg/m^ if direct fixing the ceiling.)
Live load
Wind up
Wind down
32 m/second

We can safely massively reduce the the wind loads as it is now a temporary dwelling. As mentioned above we can safely assume no live load. We can also raise our max deflection as aesthetics don't really come into play. 9000mm span is fine.


Timber is an excellent product for domestic housing.

cheers,
 

Ok so now we're just picking for the sake of being picky

With regard to loading combinations during a fire you would have to consider full live loading (may it be from pooling water from firies pumping water up there or perhaps they get on the roof for access, not unheard of).

With restraint centers I was referring to the trusses bottom chord. As it's in tension it isn't critical that it's restrained.

I would assume the 70x35 would reduce to 50x15 section assuming all faces need to be exposed to fire and burn uniformly. I would guarantee this would fail with the reduction in section depth (width in this case is restrained at nogging centres, no restraint in major axis).

I agree with your loadings, typically 1.0kPa for tiled roof for quick calcs. Deflections not critical (these only play a role in serviceability requirements).

Timber is an awesome material for houses (cheap), hence it's popularity

BTW I assume you're with a truss/frame supplier... What design program do you use? start with M or a P?
 
Termites NEED water, so they MUST have a connecting tunnel to the ground.

You are right. Termites are attracted to moisture. That's why to come above ground they have to build galleries so they are never exposed to the open air. They even have to take liquids back to their nests to maintain a constant humidity in the nest. Outside this environment they die.

In dry weather they are naturally attracted to gardens which are regularly watered and these are often very close to the house. Once there, they are ingenious at finding an entry point to carry out their mission which is to expedite the passage of dead and decaying timber back to the soil.

In nature they perform an essential function and they don't discriminate. The only way to protect your house is as Awg says is to get down and dirty, and be eternally vigilant. Try to think like a termite.
 
I would assume the 70x35 would reduce to 50x15 section
Yep, I based it on a 90x35 stud...

BTW I assume you're with a truss/frame supplier... What design program do you use? start with M or a P?

No, but PM sent..

Sorry for the hijack, Julia. I got manic.. Let us know the outcome after the inspection...

cheers,
 

That is horrible news, Julia. I certainly hope it can be repaired at a reasonable price. I am guessing that insurance doesn't cover termite repairs?
 
Many thanks for replies, folks. I hoped by reporting the bad news it might just remind a few people of the necessity for regular checks.

How awful. As far as I know the extent of my problem is confined to three window frames, plus a skirting board which could indicate some also in timber wall frame. Won't know, he says, until window frame is removed and wall structure can be inspected.


Are you near a creek by chance?
No, a few minutes' walk to the sea which wouldn't have anything to do with it. But the garden next to the affected wall is densely planted and kept well watered, probably the perfect environment for the termites.



I am not entirely familiar with building structures but how come you say you have a brick house, yet you have a timber framework in the walls?

I am just wondering. Do they build up the brick around the timber?
Yes, quinny, the brick is just a single layer veneer. You see the slab of concrete being poured for the foundation, next the timber frames go up, then some thin building paper (someone will probably tell me there's a correct name for this) and then a single wall of bricks on the outside. Then plasterboard on the interior.


good chance the termite inspection missed the prob 2 yrs ago.
I wondered about that, awg. 2 years ago he found termites in some stumps of trees that had been cut down out in the garden quite some distance from the house, treated those, and declared the house was fine.


I have taken to doing these myself, after finding some myself once

called the termite blokes and they were too fat and lazy to crawl into the tight space that the termites were, they never would have been found with a quick inspection.
Where would you have to crawl into? The bloke today was some time in the roof. He couldn't get into the walls, so I guess you must mean under the house?

Heavens, awg, I wouldn't even know where/how to get under the house and honestly don't think I'm up to crawling around down there. Where would the usual access point be?


Such as I have so kindly provided for them, it seems, with my moist, mulched garden bed. I have to conclude it's this, as the areas where there is paving adjacent to the house are apparently quite OK.



they are all through the soil, eating organic matter, and always try to come back.

the electronic meters they use wont pick up an early tunnel.

very strong poisons are needed to eradicate them, and it only lasts a while.
The original barrier chemical when the house was built (16 years ago) is no longer used. It was supposed to be very effective and to last for about ten years. Have been informed the current one lasts maximum of five years and still needs to have inspections done at least annually.



used sump oil soaked into the ground, around a wooden item will deter them (old-fashioned solution), not so sure the EPA would like that now.
I have to say I'm more focused on eliminating termites than pleasing the EPA so have noted this suggestion. Where would one get used sump oil? A mechanical workshop?

having said all that, u will need builders and termite sprayers to rectify now, unless u r very handy with the tools.
Awg, I can't tell you how funny is any suggestion that I might be 'handy with tools". Utterly useless would be being kind when describing my abilities in this direction.



termite traps can be bought to show the presence
Can you explain a bit more about these - how they work, where to buy etc?



You're confirming that I've been the perfect host, Calliope. Hope the little *****'s are grateful for my hospitality!!



That is horrible news, Julia. I certainly hope it can be repaired at a reasonable price. I am guessing that insurance doesn't cover termite repairs?
No I don't think so, Sails. Will check the insurance company's literature but it wouldn't really be reasonable to expect them to cover it. Serves me right for not being more careful about frequent inspections, though the bloke today said they were not infrequently called to infestations where the property had been quite OK just a short time earlier, much less than a year.
Again, as awg suggests, this could be a result of imperfect inspections previously.
 
The simple answer to termites (before they attack, of course) is a system known as ExTerra. Traps placed in the ground at several metre intervals around the house, filled with strips of their favorite tasty wood, show up any activity with regular checks. If termites are found, a non-toxic foam is placed in the traps, and it kills all the termites. End of problem, and no nasty pesticide residues. Check out their website. I installed the system 2 years ago, and I can assure you, it works.
 
Sounds great, onetrack - many thanks.
Anyone else used this?
 
I have to say I'm more focused on eliminating termites than pleasing the EPA so have noted this suggestion. Where would one get used sump oil? A mechanical workshop?

Julia,

Do you really want to put an accelerant around your entire house? Termites might be the least of your problems.

Sump oil is also the old wives tale of how to keep snakes out of your yard. I have half an acre of forest at the back of my property and my silly silly neighbours at the back decided to pour sump oil along the fence line (On my side thank-you very much), to keep the nasty pythons away from their yappy little maltese terrier. A couple of weeks later and a stray spark from someone burning leaves in their backyard and half my forest went up in flames. Most of the big trees survived, but all the undergrowth was reduced to ash. (After that I built a 9 foot stratco steel fence at the back).

Sir O
 
I've had no experience of treating termite invasions. However, I was told that mixing citrus oil with warm water and painting or spraying on surfaces did the trick for DIY treatment. About 1 eggcup full to about 4 litres of warm water.
 
Sir O, thank you indeed for pointing out my stupidity. Of course I should have thought of that. Don't suppose I'd have done it anyway as I'm not a 'do it yourself' type - feel a lot safer with professionals.
Sorry to hear about your forest. Don't suppose the fire at least gave the yappy terrier a bad case of smoke inhalation?

The barrier treatment is being done on Saturday - $1500 and supposed to last for five years, but annual inspection is mandatory. Then I'll get some builders' quotes for the repairs.
 

No Charge Julia

The fire was a few years ago (all the undergrowth has come back) so I'm not emotionally scarred over it. The Maltese hasn't been eated by a python - yet. Good luck with the Termite Problem.

Sir O
 

Stan 101, formerly known as 'Stan 101' great post... we just built and was offered steel frame as an option... we opted for timber instead with the Termimesh system installed... the decision was based on cost...

Kinda glad that we didnt do steel... after reading your list of issues with it.

My only concern is how effect is Termimesh anyways....

I guess it's better than nothing...
 
My only concern is how effect is Termimesh anyways....

I guess it's better than nothing...

Termimesh has been around a while now and it's principals are sound. My only issue with it (and it is just my opinion) is no ability to service the product. There is no guarantee it is installed correctly or hasn't been damaged during construction. That could be seen as being pedantic, though.

The more barriers to termites the better. It is a cost analysis that must be considered. Argh! mentioned it well earlier. If you never want a termite issue, build in solid concrete and have plastic furniture, then you'll be fine.

Termites can not be eradicated from your land. They will be there until that big shiny light bulb in the sky decides to turn itself off. Be vigilant in keeping garden beds away from the dwelling and as mentioned regular visual inspections will catch anything before infestation takes place.

Enjoy your new home and don't sweat the termites too much.

cheers,
 
I've had no experience of treating termite invasions. However, I was told that mixing citrus oil with warm water and painting or spraying on surfaces did the trick for DIY treatment. About 1 eggcup full to about 4 litres of warm water.
Many years ago it was DIY treatment for most people and a blow torch, carefully used, did the trick for destroying termite nests. In fact people put themselves out to continually check, but these days they rest on their laurels.
There are a few companies that offer protection and annual checks on monthly payments. As it's 18 years since I had such a plan I doubt it is quite the same these days.
I feel sorry for people caught out, but paying premiums to protect your property is a must. So, Julia, sorry to have to say this, it's your own fault really - Good Luck anyway. Mind you, is this just for a topic of conversation, indeed I hope so?
 
I just wander how deep in ground termites are?

Can they go few metres deep into soil?
 
I just wander how deep in ground termites are?

Can they go few metres deep into soil?

mine had dug, down 4-5ft under the concrete footings, then built a tunnel up a brick wall to timber that had been left over from supporting a small suspended slab. It was very innacessible.

my understanding is they can form burrows hundreds of metres long,
dont know how deep

took them 30yrs to get to it

my timber fences have been eaten in that time.

if u live anywhere near native trees, the termites are always present nearby
 
There are hundreds of termite species in Australia, but only about 20 actually eat timber. Most of those 20 species rarely go below half a metre in the ground. There are a few species that go deep, up to 30 metres, but these are relatively uncommon.
Regular water is what the termite species need, as numerous posters have already stated. They need water (or moisture) every 24 hrs at least, or they die. They will burrow down to get moisture if need be. Keep your gardens a metre away from house foundations.

Be aware that some types of timber are to termites, like KFC is to kids; they will literally walk over hot coals to get to them. Timbers such as Oregon pine and all other untreated pine varieties; Karri; and most Australian eucalypts are all highly palatable termite fodder.
If you have these timbers in your home, you need to be extra vigilant.

If you live in the Northern parts of Australia, you most likely have to combat the most voracious termite known to mankind - Mastotermes darwiniensis.
These termites have been known to bore through concrete rail sleepers and chew tyres off parked trailers. When Wandoo sleepers were used on the first Iron Ore railways, Mastotermes darwiniensis chewed up the Wandoo sleepers like they were damp Radiata pine. All the Southern termites can't chew on Wandoo. Wandoo is so hard, that seasoned Wandoo will send off sparks from chain saw chains if you try to chainsaw it.

The Mastotermes darwiniensis need special attention. There is a new product called Termidore for them, and the active ingredient is Fipronil - a slow-acting poison. Unfortunately Fipronil is still one of the highly toxic compounds (to humans, fish, birdlife and the food chain) used as a termite-killer.

The ingredient in the Requiem (Exterra) bait is chlorflurazon. This is a totally non-toxic chemical that destroys the termites ability to moult. Termites need to moult regularly, so destruction of their moulting process kills them.

As one last note - keep fruit trees well away from the house. The sweet fruit trees such as peaches, apples, oranges, mandarins and a range of others are like icecream to termites. They come straight up the centre of fruit trees and eventually kill them. Always check fruit trees for termite action.

The advice about not leaving any loose wood in contact with the ground around the house is also good. If you need to store spare lengths of wood, put them in steel racks well above ground level - and clean up any wood heaps every year.
Unfortunately, firewood supplies can often be a way that termites move in. If anyone ever delivers firewood with termites in it, tell them to take it away, pronto!!
 
There are a few companies that offer protection and annual checks on monthly payments. As it's 18 years since I had such a plan I doubt it is quite the same these days.
So how do you protect yourself from termites in the last 18 years?
I'm told much of their activity is underground and invisible until there is obvious damage.

I feel sorry for people caught out, but paying premiums to protect your property is a must. So, Julia, sorry to have to say this, it's your own fault really
I'm entirely aware of that, Noirua and have already clearly acknowledged that I neglected to get another inspection done at 12 months after the previous one. Thank you, however, for underlining the point.

Even annual inspections aren't any guarantee. In the last couple of days I've been told of three houses where quite significant infestation was found (with damage) only a few months after inspection had declared everything to be fine. The bloke doing the barrier treatment today said they can eat about a foot of wood in a very short time, I think he said about a week.

- Good Luck anyway. Mind you, is this just for a topic of conversation, indeed I hope so?
Don't know what you mean "is this just for a topic of conversation?"
I started the thread in the hope of reminding anyone who had been as careless as I have to check when their inspections are due.

Have had a builder out today to quote for repairs - under $1000 which is much better than I'd feared.
 
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