Termite Inspections

What Does A Termite Inspection Look Like?

Termite inspections are performed by visually inspecting the readily accessible areas of a home for signs of termite activity and or evidence of termite damage. The inspector will pay attention to any visible roof cavities or roof voids and sub-floor areas during the visual inspection.
 
All Pest Solutions also uses advanced technologies like thermal imaging and radar to ensure any traces of termite infestation are located. This technology can find even small clusters of termites living in your walls or floors by locating their heat signatures. 

We offer a range of termite control services, along with TERM-seal Ura-Fen Shield termite prevention, HomeGuard Precision Termite Management Systems and Termite Barrier Greenzone treatment.

Most people are pretty clear that termites are destructive little creatures that can wreak havoc on a property if not promptly eliminated, but may not be sure exactly why they're such a feared pest. Some of the reasons why termites are bad news include:

• Termites don't just eat dry wood - there are more than 350 different varieties of termite here in Australia - some eat damp wood, whilst others will eat anything that's got plant-based fibre (cellulose) in it. Because cellulose is a sustainable, plant-based material, it's increasingly used in anything from insulation to flooring. Some of the items in your home that are likely to contain cellulose include paper, floor coverings (including laminate, cotton-based carpet and timber), clothing, drywall, furniture and cabinetry. In addition, whilst outside termites will eat trees and any timber they can find.

• Termites are hard-working creatures that are constantly eating. Whereas other pests will only become active at certain times of day (rodents, for example, tend to come out to feed during the night), worker termites from a colony are eating 24/7, as well as bringing back nourishment to the soldier termites and reproductive termites that don't venture out. The queen termite also lays large numbers of eggs, rapidly expanding the colony numbers. The number of eggs that the queen termite lays increases as the colony becomes more established - which means colonies grow exponentially if not checked early on.

Although inspections are a useful tool in helping to reduce the likelihood of a termite infestation, they're only one of a number of methods that need to be deployed if your property is at risk from this type of pest. Termites can be incredibly inventive in the ways that they enter a property. 

Not only can some species create subterranean tunnels up to 50m long, which enables them to pop up inside your home! If you have wooden doorframes or decks, termites can burrow their way in. Similarly, if you've got a woodpile adjacent to your home's wall, termites may colonise it, then set themselves to burrowing into your property. Subterranean termites can also creep through cracks in concrete foundations or flooring. There is also the possibility that you may even carry termites in on wood (if the wood hasn't been correctly stored, for example). 

Keeping the chance of termite infestation to an absolute minimum requires a combination of inspection, prevention and rapid treatment in the event that evidence of termite activity is discovered.

Frequently Asked Termite Inspection Questions

How Do You Tell If You Have Termites In Your Home?

To prevent termites from ruining your home, you should act fast if you suspect you have an infestation. However, here are six warning signs worth watching out for both inside and outside your home.

1. Drywall that is discoloured or drooping.
2. The paint is peeling as if it has been damaged by water.
3. Tapping wood makes it sound hollow.
4. The drywall has pinpoint holes.
5. Flooring boards that buckle when walking on them. 
6. Tiles are becoming loose due to added moisture caused by termites.

What Happens If You Find Termites After You Buy A House?

Pre-purchase pest and building inspections are meant to protect buyers from instances like a termite infestation, but they are not always reliable. These inspections are visual only and can be marred by furniture or other household items covering areas where termites have caused damage.
 
Before purchasing a home, we strongly advise getting an independent inspection completed by a professional termite company for your peace of mind. However, if it is too late for that, act fast to fumigate your home and seek legal advice.

Will I need inspections once I've got termite protection in place?

If you've opted for some physical barriers to termite-proof your home then it's certainly less likely that you'll be the subject of an infestation. That said, given that termites can enter your household on timber that's carried in from outside, or can penetrate through the smallest crack in your concrete, it's still important to keep up with annual inspections.

As time goes on, your property inevitably changes - a small deterioration in a concrete floor, for example, or the installation of fresh decking that hasn't been termite-proofed - could begin to increase the opportunities for an invasion. An annual inspection will pinpoint any changes to your property that require attention, as well as reinforce the need for appropriate storage of timber to keep termites at bay.

What happens if you find evidence of termites?

Based on what we find in your property, we'll compile a report that lists our findings, as well as provides a series of recommendations for improvements in termite prevention measures and/or termite eradication options if required. When we find termites, we'll recommend a way to eliminate them quickly and permanently.

What signs are there that I might have termites?

The following all indicate signs that you may have a termite problem:

• Flying termites
• Hollow-sounding or thin timber.
• Tunnels in your timber.
• Termite droppings.
• White "ants"
• The sound of termite head-banging.
• Windows and doors that are tough to open.

To find out more about termite inspection, or to book a termite inspection, call the team at All Pest Solutions on 1300 364 509.