Shutting out the pest menace.

(From Gulf Construction)

The interiors of buildings that make extensive use of timber can suffer great damage if the structure is not termite-proofed. VALENTIN B DIEGO, operations manager for Riyadh-based Masa Establishment provides an insight into the vulnerable areas

Timber is a ubiquitous material in interiors and has traditionally been widely used due to its natural beauty and physical characteristics, high strength to weight ratio, ease of working with tools and machines, insulating and sound-absorbing properties and resistance to chemicals

However, in areas where termites are present, these products suffer a certain risk of attack as cellulose - which forms the major component of the cell wall of trees - is a natural food of termites. The result has been the widespread destruction of structural and decorative timber in buildings by insect and fungal pests, causing serious economic losses and requiring expensive refurbishment

The fact that termites feed on finished timber makes them pests of economic importance. The cost of termite damage to wooden structures is estimated to run into millions of dollars annually and is steadily increasing - all over the world, losses due to termite damage amount to more than that caused by all fires, storms, earthquakes and other natural calamities combined

The rising costs of structural, decorative and even utility timbers, coupled with the realisation that mismanaged forest cannot provide a limitless supply, makes it imperative that such timbers are treated and protected against termite attack. A newly-completed and fitted-out building is under constant threat from subterranean termites, which can migrate throughout the plot, either by colony extension through the ground, moving from house to house, shed to shed, fencepost to fencepost or by rapid colonisation of new sites by millions of dispersing alates. Over a period of time, termites can wreak heavy destruction of cellulose materials such as furniture, cabinets, doors, window frames and carpets used in interior decoration.These buildings should, therefore, be termite-proofed when the construction is complete

Even houses previously protected by a site treatment may be liable to attack if the orginal premises are modified, the garden areas are rearranged or the chemical barrier breached as a result of flooding or ground movement