Termite Control in Mumbai

Signs you have termites

Termites work out of sight, so most people find them only after damage is done. Look for:

• Mud tubes, pencil-thin tunnels of soil running up walls, along skirting, around door frames or inside electrical conduits.
• Hollow-sounding wood in door frames, skirting or wardrobes, or paint that bubbles over wood.
• Doors and windows that start to stick as the frames are eaten and swell.
• Small piles of pellets, like coarse sand, under furniture or frames. These are a sign of drywood termites.
• Discarded wings near windows and lights after the first monsoon showers, when winged termites swarm to start new colonies.

The termites we deal with

Subterranean termites cause most of the damage in the Mumbai region. They live in the soil and reach wood through cracks in the floor, gaps around pipes, and conduits, which is why they turn up on upper floors of tall buildings too. Drywood termites live entirely inside wood, such as furniture, door frames and old beams, and need no contact with soil. Dampwood termites attack timber softened by leaks, which is common after the monsoon.

Treating an existing building

For subterranean termites we create a chemical barrier in the building itself, following the approach in Indian Standard IS 6313 (Part 3):

1. We inspect to find where termites are entering and how far they have spread.
2. Small holes are drilled at intervals along the junction of the walls and floor, and around door frames and other entry points.
3. Termiticide is injected into the holes so it spreads beneath the floor and wall base and forms a continuous barrier.
4. The holes are sealed with white cement.
5. Infested woodwork is treated directly, and drywood termites in furniture are spot-treated.

Treating only the wardrobe or door frame where you saw termites rarely works, because the colony is in the soil and will find another way in.

Treating before construction

If you are building or extending, ask for pre-construction treatment (IS 6313 Part 2). The soil in the foundation trenches, under the plinth and below the floor is treated in stages as the work proceeds. It costs far less than treating the finished building, and protects it from day one. We coordinate the stages with your contractor.

Keeping termites out

• Fix leaks quickly; damp walls and timber attract termites.
• Keep wooden furniture a few centimetres away from damp walls.
• Don't store cardboard, old wood or paper in lofts and under beds for long periods.
• Have the building inspected every year before the monsoon.