Having a termite barrier that’s easy and quick to install allows for pest managers to step up their pre-construction offering, says Stewart Paterson of Greenzone.
In the highly competitive pre- construction termite market, most operators fight on price – “price is everything”. Except it’s not. As with any sales opportunity, understanding the needs and issues of your customer is key. By promoting products and services that meet their needs and solving their problems, pest managers can promote the value in their services and focus less on price. In the pre-construction market, products such as Greenzone Termite and Insect Repellent Barrier are creating value for builders and profit for pest managers.
Time is money for builders and delays in construction can be expensive. Most delays are often due to project management issues and or being let down by one or more of the other trades.
If the builder or project manager can trust their pest manager to deliver the correct termite protection solutions and make their life easier – by being flexible in application timing, quick in installation and responsive to help solve problems – they really start to add value.
Greenzone Termite and Insect Barrier is a compressible expansion joint foam impregnated with bifenthrin. Its value in pre-construction is threefold: it’s quick and easy to install – just simply peel off the protective layer and use the self-adhesive backing to stick in place; it’s flexible in both use situation and timing of installation; and it’s a combined expansion foam and termite barrier, removing the need to install both an expansion foam and termite protection product in slab connections.
The biggest cost in pre-construction jobs is labour. According to Greenzone business manager Stewart Paterson, with its quick and easy installation, the labour saving when using Greenzone is significant – including for an installation at Latrobe University (main picture, above).
“Last week we completed a job protecting 16 penetrations and laying 25 lineal metres, all completed in only one hour,” said Mr Paterson.
The job also highlighted the flexibility in use, with the same product used for both perimeter and penetration protection. “Although Greenzone have pre-made foam socks in 40, 50, 80 and 100 mm sizes, the Greenzone foam roll can be used no matter the penetration diameter. Pest managers can improvise with having a single product on the truck, knowing it has the flexibility to deal with a range of unknown issues that may be spotted when on site,” explained Mr Paterson.
“One of the increasingly common uses for Greenzone is as a replacement for reticulation systems. When reticulation systems are being considered as a perimeter protection under hard surfaces such as paths or driveways which will abut a slab, the use of Greenzone represent a far cheaper option. Reticulation systems require trenching, laying and charging. Greenzone simply has to be stuck to the slab edge, often where expansion foam was going to be used anyway.”
According to Mr Paterson, not only is Greenzone flexible in application situations, it can be applied before the installation of formwork, providing flexibility in installation timing. “For the pest manager, this wider application window not only helps when booking in single jobs around other work, but on multi-unit sites it will often mean that even if the units are at different stages of development, Greenzone can be applied to all the units in a single visit.”
“Builders love and often demand their contractors be responsive. With its ease and speed of application, Greenzone makes it a lot easier for pest managers to meet these requests. Knowing that a Greenzone installation can be completed quickly, they can often be squeezed into a work day at short notice.”
“Being able to offer 16 penetrations at $15 per penetration and 25 lineal metres at $20-25/m, for an installation completed in one hour, makes for a very profitable business,” said Mr Paterson. “Not only is there increased profitability on the individual job, the speed and ease of a Greenzone installation makes it possible to fit more jobs into the week. So whether you’re established in the market or looking to enter pre-construction, Greenzone can really help you make more money in precon.”
