What is a Termite Inspection?
A Termite Inspection is the physical inspection of a building, the grounds (front and back yards) and the fence line out to 50m from the structure.
The Termite Inspection covers the physical testing and checking of all structures accessible outside and inside of the house.
This service is heavily regulated by the Government to protect the home owner from dodgy, unlicensed amateurs from providing this service. As such there is a code of practice we must abide by, in this case for an owner occupied private residence the code of practice is AS3660.
In Queensland, a Termite Inspector MUST hold timber pest qualifications and posses a QBCC (Formerly BSA) Timber Pest Licence.
Always ask for their licence number and if they have insurance! If they DO NOT hold insurance – they are required to inform you of this before they commence your service.
You can check their QBCC Licence number here…
What Should A Termite Inspector Actually Do When They Inspect A House For Termites?
Firstly, a Termite Inspector should have the following “Tools of the Trade“…
The minimum tools require to perform this task as per Australian standards are –
– Torch – to see in the roof void & sub floor as well as behind stored goods if possible is accessible
– Pocket Knife – to test timber
– Screw Driver – to check timber integrity
– Moisture Meter – to check wall voids for water leaks or termite nests of wet area’s like bathrooms kitchens laundry.
These are the bare minimum tools required to perform a Termite Inspection.
A Quality Termite Inspector will have all of the above tools PLUS the following…
– They will have Trade Insurance
– They will have another $10,000+ in specialist tools over and above the minimum requirement – such as Flir Thermal Imaging Cameras
– Digital remote cameras for inspecting inside the wall voids
– Numerous other specialist tools
How Is The Termite Inspection Performed?
OUTSIDE AREAS…
The Termite Inspection starts by checking the fence line and any timber in ground contact in the yard.
The Termite Inspector will also check the expiry date and product used of any termite management system that may still in place.
They will then begin to inspect the outside of the structure/home for conducive conditions such as:
– Gardens next to walls
– Bridging
– Water outlets dropping water in ground contact
– Rusted gutters
– Wood rot
– Incorrectly placed drill spacing from past dodgy termite technicians poorly installing chemical treated zones (a very common occurrence)
INDOOR AREAS…
– The Termite Inspector will test and tap all accessible timbers throughout the house
– They will use a moisture meter on walls of wet areas
– They will use remote digital cameras to inspect concealed voids if an inspection panel is in place
– They will move up into the roof void and visually inspect all timbers accessible if they are not obstructed by insulation
SUBFLOOR AREA…
If the house has a subfloor, this area is also inspected and close attention will be paid to:
– Water leaks
– Poor drainage
– Timber in ground contact
– Bridging
– Rusted Termite Shields
– Wood rot
THERMAL CAMERAS…
On completion of this above basic Termite Inspection, a quality Termite Inspector will then re-inspect the house with a thermal imaging camera – scanning all surfaces for hot spots that may indicate concealed termite nests or active termite attacks.
THE TERMITE INSPECTION REPORT…
This is how you can spot a cheap dodgy inspection – The Termite Inspection Report must be completed in accordance with Australian standards AS3660 for an owner occupied property (A Pre-Purchase Inspection is more detailed and is in a slightly different format)
The Termite Inspection Report will include recommendations for limiting the potential of future termite attacks, as well as identifying any building faults related to termite risks.
A quality report can be over 30 pages long and include photos.
IF TERMITES ARE FOUND DURING THE INSPECTION…
If an active termite infestation is found during a Termite Inspection, a quality Termite Inspector should be able to stop any termite attack taking place.
Further information on Termite Treatments and Termite Barriers can be found in our article “I’ve Found Termites, What Do I Do?”.
Contact Silk’s Pest Control Brisbane Today for a FREE QUOTE or to Book in a Termite Inspection Service
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GREAT Advice, Very Helpful
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Prompt, On Time & INFORMATIVE
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5 STARS – Silks Pest Control have been very pleasant to deal with. From their friendly and efficient phone manner to the meticulous inspection and knowledgeable advice. The report was promptly sent electronically and presented in a reader-friendly format. I have no hesitation in recommending Silk Pest Control for their professional service delivery
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5 STARS – Adam from Silks Pest Control is a pleasure to deal with. Adam is very professional and seeks to give you the best outcome possible. I will be using Silks from here on in and rate them perfect.
The Pre-Sale Report was EXCELLENT
5 STARS – Adam provided a very thorough and professional inspection at the agreed time. The Pre-Sale Report was excellent. We will use Silk’s Pest Control for our next pre-purchase inspection.
We Have Always Been MORE Than Satisfied
5 STARS – Our company have used Silks Pest Control for many years and have always been more than satisfied. They are very reliable and professional. They always work in with our times to do the service.
A Great Job Was Carried Out With A Thorough & Informative Report
5 STARS – As we are selling our rental property our property manager organised for Adam from Silk’s Pest control to come out and do an inspection in regards to some termite damage that was found. A great job was carried out with a thorough and informative report received the same day. Adam also phoned ourselves and took the time to explain the report and what was found so everything was easy to understand of what had been done and along with this he was able to offer solutions to suit our needs. Thanks Adam and Nikki
Excellent!
5 STARS – “Excellent! – Adam took the time to explain the process of how he was tracing the source of the termites. My property was treated and could not be happier”
Silk’s Went Far & Above The Expected Level Of Service,
5 STAR RATING – I have now recommended Silk’s to several friends and colleagues. Adam went far and above the expected level of service, was reliable, informative and professional. I would not go anywhere else now
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5 STAR RATING – Adam and Team provides knowledgeable, professional, friendly, personal information on time every time and is a pleasure dealing with and all our 22 owners have no concerns or pests since Silks have serviced our New Farm Unit Complex
Overall We Are Very HAPPY With The Service We Get From Silks Every Year
5 STAR RATING – Silks have been looking after our home in East Brisbane for the past 5 years. We had them install a termite barrier around the home shortly after we purchased it in January 2012, and we have Adam come out every year to inspect for termites. What we love about Silks is that they send us a reminder when we are due for the inspection, so we dont have to worry about keeping track of it, we just get the reminder and book it straight in. I’ve found Adam to be very switched on and he is very thorough at what he does. Overall we are very happy with the service we get from Silks every year and will continue to use them for years to come.
We Were So WORRIED When We Found Termites
5 STAR RATING – We recently had Adam from Silks Pest Control come out to our home in Holland Park. I had found termites when I was vaccuming and had hit the skirting board with the vacuum – the skirting board literally caved in! And then we saw the termites running around in there and started to panic! I asked our Neighbour who she had recently used for her Termite problems and she highly recommended Adam from Silks. So we gave him a call that morning, and he was just so helpful and calming over the phone. He came out that afternoon, performed the inspection, and found 4 other spots where the termites were. He treated all of those areas, then came back a few weeks later to make sure the treatment had worked. He also explained that we had no barrier in place to prevent termite attacks and provided… Read More “We Were So WORRIED When We Found Termites”
Very THOROUGH and Very Personable
5 STAR RATING – I recently booked Adam from Silks for a pest treatment service in my unit and found him to be very thorough and very personable. He even gave me great advice on how to ensure my pest treatment would last as long as possible. I will definately be getting my pest treatment done again next year and will certainly be recommending him to my friends, neighbouring unit owners and family. Thank you again Adam”
10/10 For Their BRILLIANT Customer Service
5 STAR RATING – I found Silk’s Pest Control to provide outstanding service. Adam talked me through the entire process and the chemicals used prior to him starting the job. He was very thorough and did a great job. I would recommend Silk’s to anyone looking for either general pest control or for termite eradication. Nikki and Adam both get 10/10 for their brilliant customer service. Well done Silk’s! I will definately be using you every year for my pest control.
Silk’s Pest Control Offers AMAZING Service & Quality Workmanship
5 STAR RATING – As a Property Manager, I have found that Silk’s Pest Control offers amazing service, quality workmanship and competitive prices. Adam has no hesitation if offering cost effective alternatives for our Landlords to suit each property’s specific needs. I would have no hesitation in recommending them as the service is outstanding
