What Is Termite Bridging and How Do You Prevent It?
Table of Contents
- What is termite bridging?
- How do you reduce the risk of termites bridging your termite barrier?
- What to do if you think termites have bridged your termite barrier?
- Conclusion
- Frequently Asked Questions
Some termite management systems contain chemicals that deter and eradicate termites. Others physically prevent termites from entering a building. While these types of termite barriers work in different ways, they share a few things in common.
- They help prevent termites from entering through concealed entry points
- They force subterranean termite activity out into the open where it is visible and easy to identify during a termite inspection
- They are not immune to termite bridging
Termite bridging is when subterranean termites take advantage of the change in environmental conditions around a building to bypass an installed termite barrier.
Keep reading and we’ll explain how termite bridging occurs and how it differs from a barrier being breached by termites. We also touch on how you can reduce your risk and what to do if you think termites have bridged your barrier.
What you need to know
- Termite bridging is when termites create a pathway around an installed termite barrier
- Soil, mulch, stored materials and modifications around a property can enable termite bridging
- Bridging differs from breaching, which involves termites passing through a gap or break in a termite barrier
- Termite barrier warranties do not typically cover damage that is a direct result of termites bridging a barrier
- Potential signs of termite activity should remain undisturbed until a termite inspection is completed
What is termite bridging?
Termite bridging is when subterranean termites use something in the surroundings of a building as an opportunity to navigate around or “bridge” an installed termite barrier.
Seemingly inconsequential decisions, such as leaving timber stored on the ground against the building or having soil above a termite barrier’s visual inspection zone, can be used by termites as a vehicle to help navigate around a termite barrier.
Once termites have bridged the installed barrier, they will look for an unprotected entry point to gain access into the building, such as weep holes in brickwork or cracks in the mortar.
If termites are given an opportunity to bridge around a barrier, there is a very good chance they will eventually find it and exploit it. In the unfortunate event they do, termites could remain undetected for several months before their activity is discovered during an annual termite inspection.
What is the difference between bridging and breaching of a termite barrier?
Bridging and breaching are two different methods subterranean termites can use to bypass an installed termite barrier and enter a building. Neither necessarily means there was a fault with the original termite barrier installation.
As mentioned above, termite bridging is when termites navigate around an installed termite barrier, while termite breaching is when termites find a way to pass through a gap or break in the termite barrier and enter a building.
These gaps or breaks in the barrier can be caused by damage or disturbance during construction or renovation works.
Important: Termite barrier warranties, such as Termimesh’s Pledge Guarantee, typically do not cover termite damage caused by bridging, as the circumstances that lead to termite bridging are avoidable if property owners follow aftercare best practices.
What changes to property conditions are conducive to termite bridging?
Compared to finding where termites have breached a barrier, locating the spot where termites might have managed to bridge a barrier is usually quite easy. Changes to look for around a property that could be conducive to termites bridging a barrier are:
- Cellulose-based materials, including firewood, stored in contact with soil against the building
- Soil or mulch built up above the visual inspection zone of the termite barrier
- Abutting timber constructions, such as decks or verandas, built across inspection zones
- Cladding or other external finishes extending below inspection zones
Signs that termites could be inside your home
You’ve taken a look around your home for signs of termite bridging and there doesn’t seem to be any way for termites to bridge around your barrier, but you still have a sneaking suspicion that termites have made it inside your home.
We recommend that you book a termite inspection immediately, just to be safe. However, if you want to confirm your suspicions, look for these common signs of termites.
- Mud tubes
- Timber that appears damaged or feels soft
- Timber that sounds hollow when tapped
- Mud buildup in the cracks of timber
- Bubbling, cracking or peeling paint
Important: If you discover any of these signs of termites, do not disturb them. Doing so will only disturb the termites by having them withdraw from that location and make the infestation more difficult to treat.
Termite mud tubes are a very common thing to see if an infestation is present. Termites are highly sensitive to sunlight and require constant moisture, so they build mud tubes to protect themselves while navigating around. Mud tubes on the exterior of a building could indicate that a conducive condition to termite bridging is nearby.
How do you reduce the risk of termites bridging your termite barrier?
Termite management is a shared responsibility and doesn’t end with the installation of a termite barrier. The barrier must be maintained to help ensure it performs as intended. The aftercare guidelines provided by the installer or termite management system manufacturer will tell you what you should do to help reduce your risk.
Visual inspection zones, where specific gaps are left between the barrier and any abutting garden beds or paved areas, are one of several important functions pest control inspectors use to detect external termite activity. Keeping these termite inspection zones clear of obstructions are important. The unobstructed inspection zone is the most effective of several ways to help reduce your risk of termites bridging your barrier.
You would also want to consider:
- Fixing sources of excess moisture around the building, such as leaking taps or pool pumps
- Removing cellulose-based materials that have been placed on the ground in close proximity to external walls
- Replacing moisture-affected or rotting timbers
- How the addition of abutting timber constructions, such as decks or verandas, could obstruct existing visual inspection zones
What to do if you think termites have bridged your termite barrier?
If you suspect that termites have bridged your barrier and have entered the building, the first step is not to disturb any termite activity you’ve found. Doing so could make it more difficult for a pest management technician to determine the infestation’s origin.
Instead, take photos of what you’ve found and immediately arrange a termite inspection. A qualified pest technician will confirm in person whether termites are the issue or something different. In the unfortunate event termites are the culprits, the technician will let you know what termite treatment is required before proceeding with its application.
Conclusion
Termite bridging is when subterranean termites find a way to bypass an installed termite barrier. This behaviour is completely different from termite breaching, in which termites physically pass through a barrier to enter a building.
Changes to conditions around a property, such as soil covering visual inspection zones or storing materials against external walls, are just some of the opportunities termites can use to bridge over a barrier. The aftercare instructions that accompany a termite barrier provide property owners with guidance on how to reduce these risks. Following these instructions should make it very difficult for termites to find a bridging point.
If you’ve found signs of termite bridging or termite activity, do not disturb it. Contact your local Termitrust Pest Control service centre and arrange a termite inspection immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Does termite bridging mean the barrier has failed?
A. No. Termite bridging is not an indication that a termite barrier has failed. It is, however, an indication that aftercare instructions for the barrier may not have been followed.
Termite barriers are designed to stop termites from accessing a building through concealed entry points after construction. As a result, termite activity is forced out into the open, where it can be easily detected. Changes to the external surroundings of a property may provide an opportunity for termites to bridge the installed barrier.
Q. Is termite bridging or breaching of a termite barrier more common?
A. Termite bridging is generally more common. Conditions that permit bridging can become plentiful throughout a building’s life, giving termites many more chances to navigate around an installed termite barrier.
By comparison, breaching a barrier requires termites to find a gap or break within the barrier itself. These are often one-time opportunities that result from, damage during construction or renovation works.
Q. Can termites get past a termite barrier?
A. Yes. It is possible for subterranean termites to get past a termite barrier. If property conditions are conducive, termites could potentially bridge or breach the installed barrier and gain access to the building.
Circumstances that could encourage bridging include timber stored against external walls and soil levels being higher than visual inspection zones. Damage to a termite barrier during installation or manufacturing may result in a breach of the barrier.
Q. Should I remove termite mud tubes if I find them on my home?
A. No. Do not remove or disturb any suspected termite mud tubes. Leaving them intact can help a pest management technician determine whether termites are active and identify how they may have entered the building.
Q. Can a termite inspection detect termite bridging?
A. Yes. A termite inspection can detect evidence of termite bridging.
During an inspection, the pest technician will look for conditions around the property that could allow termites to bridge over the termite barrier. They will also look for mud tubes and any other signs of termite damage during their inspection.
As these conditions constantly change during the life of a building, it is highly recommended to have at least one termite inspection a year to catch any termite activity that wasn’t present previously.
