Timber Pest / Termite Inspection

You may be surprised to learn, Sydney is located in the second highest risk category for Subterranean Termites in Australia – due to its climate and environment.

The risk is high, second only to the ‘tropics’ in Northern Australia, where construction methods are very different to Sydney’s.

Most home owners and even some builders, designers and trades people simply don’t fully understand the risks associated with subterranean Termites and termite attack in Sydney. Perhaps the fact that Sydney is a large modern global metropolis lulls people into a false sense of security. This, coupled with our more relaxed building codes (compared with the tropical regions of Australia) one could argue the ‘actual risk’ is just as high. This is especially true with older style buildings that were constructed with limited consideration to subterranean termite attack. Sydney is the ‘first colony’ with the highest number of old buildings and the largest geographical spread. The city is ‘hemmed in’ by the Great Dividing Range to the west, bodies of water and national parks to the north and south and obviously the Pacific ocean / Tasman sea to the east. With nearly 5.3 million residents, the city is interspersed with pockets of bushland, national parks, rivers and parklands. The abundance of established Eucalypt trees (for nesting) and easy access to water supplies and food sources like trees, logs and unprotect timber buildings, makes Sydney a ‘Termite’s Paradise’.

A  ‘Timber Pest Inspection’ is strongly recommended as part of any building investigation. This applies to homes, villas, townhouses, units, apartments and commercial properties. Perhaps the exception to the rule might be new ‘high-rise’ units on the upper levels of ‘concrete towers’. Keep in mind that Subterranean Termites are used to travelling vertically up very tall trees and will often ‘climb’ the full height of any structure in an apparent attempt to guage the size of the timber resource. We commonly find them in the ‘apex of the roof frame’ and termites can gain access to buildings many stories above ground level. 

As part of a ‘pre-purchase’ or ‘pre-sale’ building & timber pest inspection we look at all the conditions relating to timber pest attack. Timber pests include (subterranean) termites, wood borers and wood decay fungi (wood rot). Timber pests are common in all types of properties and can undermine timber structures, create safety hazards and cause significant economic damage.

All homes contain timber elements that could be vulnerable to attack from timber pests. The CSIRO states that approximately one in five Sydney properties contain some form of termite activity (historical damage or active termites).

Please call our office to arrange your timber pest inspection today… 0488 900386

or Book Online…

A Timber Pest Inspection is STRONGLY RECOMMENDED and looks for 5 very important things:

1. Subterranean Termites or evidence of termite activity and termite damage as well as evidence of any previous Termite treatment. (Very Important)
2. Timber borers or evidence of timber borers and damage.
3. Wood rot (wood decay fungi) damage and potential safety hazards in timber structures such as rotten timber steps, handrails and balconies.
4. We report on any conditions that may be conducive to Termite attack or conditions that can cause wood rot.
5. We also make termite treatment recommendations and rate the overall risk of Termite attack.

What is a Timber Pest?

Customers often ask “what’s the difference between a Pest Inspection and a Timber Pest Inspection”?  We use both these terms interchangeably to mean the same thing. The official terminology is ‘Timber Pest’. To be clear we are not reporting on the occurrance other daily pests like Cockroachs or rats, we are concerned only about pests that are capable of causing structural timber damage in buildings, like termites, borers and fungi.

Timber pests include Termites, Wood Decay Fungi (wood rot) and Timber Borers. They are considered pests because they weaken timber structures, such as decks, handrails and roof, wall frames, floor frames, floor boards etc. These pests can weaken timber structures, posing serious structural problems and possible safety hazards. The damage caused is often invisible to the untrained eye. Without detecting such problems, unforseen costs and hassles can occur.

When should Sydney buyers arrange a Pest Inspection?

Don’t leave it untill the last minute. Book your building and pest inspection as soon as you know you are seriously interested in a particular property or are ready to proceed with the property purchase. 

When you private purchase a Sydney property and exchange contracts there is usually a 5 day ‘cooling–off’ period. During this time, you have the option to cancel the contract providing you give written notice.

Many Sydney buyers arrange a Pest and Building Inspection during the cooling off period. It is recommended however, that you arrange the inspection before you exchange contracts as this gives you ample time to digest the information and the ability to adjust your offer based on the inspection findings.

Auction properties may already have a report available with the contract of sale. Due to the innate nature of ‘human bias’, we strongly recommend conducting your own due dilligence and engaging Sydney PrePurchase to do an independant pest and building inspection – well before the property goes to auction. 

NB. A cooling–off period does not apply if you buy a property at auction or exchange contracts on the same day as the auction after it is passed in.

Often Sydney property vendors arrange Pest Inspections with our firm. We provide copies of these pest inspection reports to prospective buyers at a discounted rate.

More information on prepurchase inspection reports can be found at the NSW Department of Fair Trading website.

We strongly recommend that Sydney property buyers carry out a Combined Building and Pest Inspection to provide you with full insight into a property. We are available to carry out Building and Pest Inspections Sydney wide from Monday to Saturday.

Contact Us today to Book a Pest Inspection