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Read articleWhy it matters more than people think
Termites cause more damage to Australian homes each year than fire and storms combined, and standard home insurance policies almost never cover it. Damage typically happens inside wall frames and subfloor timbers over months or years, so by the time something shows on the surface the repair bill is already significant.
The annual walk around
- Look for mud tubes on brick piers, slab edges, retaining walls and inside the subfloor — pencil thin earthen tracks running vertically are the classic sign.
- Tap skirting boards, architraves and door jambs with a screwdriver handle. A hollow or papery sound where the rest sounds solid is worth investigating.
- Check for paint that looks blistered, rippled or bubbled, and doors or windows that have suddenly started sticking.
- Inspect old stumps, sleepers, fence posts, decking and stacked firewood. These are food sources sitting right beside your house.
- Look at drainage: leaking taps, air conditioner condensate, blocked downpipes and garden beds built up against the wall all create the moisture termites want.
Conducive conditions to fix
Move firewood and timber offcuts away from the building and up off the ground. Keep garden beds and mulch below the weep hole line — covering weep holes both blocks ventilation and gives termites concealed access. Make sure the subfloor is ventilated and dry, and fix leaks promptly.
What a professional inspection adds
A timber pest inspection covers the roof void, subfloor and areas most owners never see, and uses moisture readings and sounding to find activity behind surfaces. You get a written report on what was found, the conducive conditions around the property and what to do about them. The Australian Standard recommends this at least annually — more often in higher risk locations.
If you find active termites
Do not spray them and do not disturb the workings. Both cause the colony to retreat and re-route elsewhere in the building, which makes treatment harder and lets damage continue in a new spot. Cover it back over, leave it alone and call a technician.
Need this dealt with rather than done yourself? Call Pest Control Unit on 0415 589 338 for a free, no obligation quote anywhere in metropolitan Melbourne.