Thread: Rumpus Renovation

Look, all I'm suggesting is that he ask the opinion of someone who can come and look at the job and see if it's feasible to install a physical barrier. If the guy he got out is also an agent for Termimesh or Kordon or any of the others out there, and he said it's not feasible, then all our mate has to do is ignore my post. That's easy. If he doesn't think it's worth getting Termimesh or someone to look at it, then again, ignore me.

When I ask for advice, I like to hear it from all corners, then I can decide which of it to make use of, rather than having someone else decide for me that certain information is not applicable - especially if that person hasn't even looked at my situation.

My personal opinion is that it is far better to build in such a way that termites can't get in at all without showing themselves. Even with a reticulation system, I would still be getting annual inspections - I would not put all my faith in the chemicals. With a physical barrier, the chemicals come in to it later when you find activity. Until then, all you need to do is inspect the edges of your barrier.

I know this is not feasible in all situations. I know there is a place for chemicals. I might appear to be pushing a certain product, this is because it's the only one I really have experience of. I didn't even know it existed until someone told me about it - I thought all termite preventions relied on chemicals. So that's what I'm doing - introducing the concept of chemical-free solutions to someone who may not have been aware of them.

Frog-hopper - accept my apologies for clogging up your thread. Hope it all works out well.

frog_hopper i'm not sure but I think we may have a mix up of terminologies here.
I don't think 'rising damp' is a problem that can't be overcome with injecting a barrier etc. If you're referring to water penetration through the single skin, then yes that will be a problem. Surface treatment of the brickwork doesn't seem to have a high long term success rate. Having said that there are many new homes, in Qld for example, that are constructed with single skin blockwork.
Termites aside have you thought about pouring a new slab with a rebate and constructing an inner framed wall.
We've done this in the past, converting garages into 'habitable' rooms - there's many items to take into consideration like can a cavity flashing be cut into the brickwork and weep holes be incorporated, head height etc.
Food for thought - I suppose it comes down to how important is the reno & how much will it add to the value of the home vs cost.

Bugsy has rightly taken me to task on my suggestion that pest managers would push a chemical solution because it puts money in their pocket. This obviously ignores the fact that most pest managers these days are across all forms of treatment and prevention and naturally a reputable contractor would recommend the best solution for the situation based on the circumstances and the wishes of the client.

Some unscrupulous pest managers manage pests to come back on a regular basis so as to continue their wealth pool. They may even introduce such pests when there was none to begin with.

Originally Posted by Linden Hardy

. They may even introduce such pests when there was none to begin with.

I think the government has done a better job of that than any pest manager could.

Originally Posted by ausdesign

frog_hopper i'm not sure but I think we may have a mix up of terminologies here.
I don't think 'rising damp' is a problem that can't be overcome with injecting a barrier etc.

I ASSUME THAT iNJECTING OF THE DAMP COURSE WOULD HAVE TO DO THROUGH THE DOUBLE BRICKS AT THE BASE OF THE WALL (BEFORE THE SINGLE BRICK ABOVE STARTS).

If you're referring to water penetration through the single skin, then yes that will be a problem. Surface treatment of the brickwork doesn't seem to have a high long term success rate. Having said that there are many new homes, in Qld for example, that are constructed with single skin blockwork.

WOULD THIS BE ADDRESSED BY THE FLASHING (IS THIS WHAT YOU MEANT BY CAVITY FLASHING?) / WEEP HOLES IF THEY WERE RESTRSPECTIVELY INSTALLED?

Termites aside have you thought about pouring a new slab with a rebate and constructing an inner framed wall.

NOT SURE WHAT YOU MEAN BY SLAB REBATE? HAVE CONSIDERED INSTALLING A FRAMED WALL.

We've done this in the past, converting garages into 'habitable' rooms - there's many items to take into consideration like can a cavity flashing be cut into the brickwork and weep holes be incorporated, head height etc.
Food for thought - I suppose it comes down to how important is the reno & how much will it add to the value of the home vs cost.

YES - THIS WILL ALL BE QUITE EXPENSIVE. MAY NOT BE WORTH IT. NEED TO DO SOME SUMS, BUT SINCE WE ARE ALREADY REPLACING THE SLAB, PUTTING IN TERMITE RETIC (I THINK) THEM, MAYBE WE SHOULD GO THE WHOLE HOG.

THANKS SO MUCH AUSDESIGN - FINDING IT HARD TO GET THE CORRECT INFORMATION. EVEN THE BUILDER WHO CAME AROUND ON sATURDAY DIDN'T GIVE US MUCH INFO - GOT THE IDEA THAT THEY DON'T LIKE DOING THIS KIND OF WORK.

FROG_HOPPER