Termite control in Harat Al Bahr, Jeddah

Targeted, not broadcast

Product goes into cracks and runways, never sprayed across open surfaces.
Told before we start

What we will use, where it goes, and what to cover or move before we arrive.
A follow-up visit

We return after the first treatment, because what survives it does not show on the day.
Homes and businesses

Apartments and villas, and kitchens and stores that need a record of each visit.

Why they keep coming back in Harat Al Bahr

Stone houses need special care during treatment because thin ancient masonry may crack if dug forcefully, and termites eat internal timber while the outer stone appears solid. The method is set out in full on what Termite control involves.

The first reason

Coral stone and salt moisture

Buildings are built on very ancient coral rock, and sea salt enters the soil and stone directly from the water. Termites love this salty damp environment, and ancient stone footings are very easy for them to breach.

The second reason

Very low footings and groundwater levels

Buildings sit on the waterfront edge with footings very close to groundwater level, and may be below sea level. Water rises through old stone and carries termites up into the building.

The third reason

Ancient and weathered timber

Doors, windows and wooden ceilings here are very old and weakened by salt and moisture, and termites eat them with ease. Timber is hollow inside while stone hides the damage from outside.

The character of Harat Al Bahr

Historic district: close-set buildings, narrow lanes and ageing services

Ancient masonry means treatment must be very sensitive and not damage old stone or introduce salt water into the building. Application is placed in joints and porous stone without deep excavation.

Before treatment

The evidence that decides the treatment

The quarter sits on very low ground directly on the sea, with buildings built on very ancient coral rock close to the harbour. Salt water and salt salt enter the soil directly from the sea.

Mud tubes

Mud tubes may be hidden inside porous stone or on the inner surface of stone walls, and are very damp and smell of salt.

Discarded transparent wings on a window ledge

Shed wings

Shed wings appear all year because humidity is very high and salt attracts winged termites, appearing densely on ancient windows and doors.

A damaged timber frame showing internal galleries

Hollow timber

Hollow timber includes doors, windows, ceilings, wooden roof beams, shelving and internal partitions, with timber completely hollow inside whilst appearing sound on the outside.

A dark damp patch below a pipe at a wall base

The water source

Moisture comes directly from the sea and very high groundwater and salt spray and rain entering porous stone, keeping the termite route open all year.

Cardboard boxes and timber stacked on a store floor

Cellulose on the floor

Cellulose on the floor includes wooden foundations and wooden floors and beams under ceilings and old wooden furniture and old roots from neighbouring plants.

A concrete joint and a pipe passing through a floor slab

Joints and pipe entries

Joints and pipe entries include joints in coral rock and very old stone walls and pipes that penetrate stone and old openings through which seawater enters.

How we work

1
Inspect and trace

We sound the timber and the skirting, take moisture readings, and follow the tubes to the point where they leave the soil. We also settle the species, because one that lives inside dry wood is not treated like one that lives in the ground.
2
Treat the soil around the building

A narrow trench at the footing and injection at regular spacing, so the treated band runs continuous with no gap to walk around.
3
Drill the joints, inject the timber

Small holes at spacing along the slab joints, the wall bases and the pipe entries, direct injection into the galleries inside the affected timber, then the holes are closed and made good.
4
Bait stations and monitoring

Stations in the soil carrying a slow-acting material the workers pass through the colony by mouth-to-mouth feeding, and we come back to read them, because an empty tube on a wall proves nothing on its own.

What termite control includes

A traced, recorded inspection

Sounding, moisture readings, tubes traced back to the soil, and the species settled before anything is applied.
A treated band at the perimeter

Trenching and injection at the footing, spaced so the band is continuous rather than a set of patches.
Joints and service penetrations

Slab joints, pipe entries and floor drains, which are the ways up through the concrete.
Bait stations in the soil

A slow material carried back through the colony by feeding exchange, rather than stopping the workers at the wall.
Aftercare instructions

What not to dig or water near the treated band, what to keep off the walls, and the ventilation time we set for your case.
Scheduled monitoring visits

Reading the stations, sounding the same timber again, and treating any new activity.

Landmarks of Harat Al Bahr

The quarter is reached via Qabil Street, the commercial lane running between the stone houses, and Dar Radwan sits at its heart. Treatment enters the stone houses from Qabil Street and reaches building footings around Dar Radwan through old joints and openings.

Bab Al Bunt
Qabil Street
Dar Radwan
Akkash Mosque

Questions about this district

Does coral stone protect the building from termites or is it too weak?

Coral rock is very old and weakened by salt and moisture, and termites breach it easily. The stone does not protect; it is part of the problem because it is porous and salt and water enter directly.

Do footings below sea level need a different treatment approach?

Yes, very low footings need special care. We use bait stations inside the stone and in stone joints, and deep digging may let seawater into the building.

Can old timber be saved from termites or is it beyond repair?

If timber is hollow inside it may be very weak and need replacement. Treatment can stop the termites but damaged wood may not be salvageable.

Does sea salt kill termites or does it encourage them?

Sea salt does not kill subterranean termites; it may encourage them because salt indicates the presence of groundwater, and termites love both salt and water together.

Will treatment introduce salt water into the building fabric?

No, modern treatment is safe and placed in joints and porous stone without opening walls. Deep digging may cause problems so we avoid it where possible.

How often must Harat Al Bahr homes be treated because of salt and humidity?

Regular monitoring is essential and stone houses need inspection every three months at least. High humidity and high salt mean colonies may return constantly.

How much does termite control in Harat Al Bahr cost?

It is set after the inspection, because the price follows the type of infestation, the size of the space, how far it has spread and the number of visits it needs. Send a photo and a description on WhatsApp and we will give you an estimate before we reach Harat Al Bahr.