(07) 3219 2777
Termite
Inspections
Environpest timber pest inspections (both for pre-purchase and annual inspections) are in accordance with Australian Standard 4349.3-2010, and include visual inspection of all accessible timbers, including accessible roof void timbers. A Tramex Moisture Encounter Plus moisture meter is used, and if an area of high moisture that cannot be readily explained is discovered, the area is checked with Termatrac T3i. (Termatrac T3i allows us to look inside the wall by microwave to see if there is any movement) Our inspections are carried out by Mark or suitably qualified technicians under Mark's guidance. As an industry, in order to complete timber pest inspections in Queensland, we have to be licenced with the Building Services Authority (BSA). (Environpest's BSA licence number is 714223).
In order to be licenced with the BSA, we have to maintain public liability and professional indemnity insurances. We insure through Rapid Solutions (the pest control industry's major insurer). In order to maintain those insurances, we have to report in a format the insurer approves. We're fortunate in that Rapid Solutions allow us to take some licence with our reports (Environpest don't report in Rapid's standard format), and that allows us to get more information to our clients than most). A sample of our current pre-purchase timber pest inspection report is here. If you have any queries in relation to the report format, please don't hesitate to call our office on (07) 3219 2777, or e-mail us at reports@environpest.com.au.
Inspection Agreements. In order to comply with Australian Standard 4349.3-2010, an inspection agreement is required to comply with that Australian Standard, and the requirements of our insurers. These inspection agreements are required for all pre-purchase inspections, and for a timber pest inspection for any clients we haven't previously completed inspections for. These inspection agreements are required by ALL timber pest inspectors completing their inspections in accordance with Australian Standard 4349.3-2010. The Environpest pre-purchase inspection agreement is here, and the inspection agreement for all other timber pest inspections is here. If you have any queries in relation to the inspection agreements, please don't hesitate to call our office on (07) 3219 2777, or e-mail us at agreements@environpest.com.au.
For those looking for a pre-purchase inspection, you'll note that at the end of the inspection agreements, we added some additional advice "ADDITIONAL ENVIRONPEST INFORMATION / WARNING The most common real estate purchase contract in Queensland is the REIQ (Real Estate Institute of Queensland) contract. There is an alternative contract used by some Real Estate Agents that can limit your rights in relation to the termite issue. To our view, the REIQ Contract best protects the purchasers’ interests. Please seek specific advice from your legal representative if a contract other than an REIQ Contract is used. As you might have gathered by now, we're pretty keen to ensure our clients' interests are protected. That's what you're paying us for!
When we're completing pre-purchase timber pest inspections, we try to complete the inspections at the same time as the building inspector. It's not always possible, but given a choice, we try to get together as there are sometimes building and timber pest issues that overlap. As an example, termites may have occurred to an attached timber pergola post. The termites can be treated chemically, but any chemical treatment will always have a finite life (the labelled expected protection period of the termiticide). Rather than chemically treat, it may be more appropriate to re-set the post in steel stirrups (a physical termite barrier) at the correct height. Physical termite barriers typically won't require any further attention in the life of a building. The building inspector is much more qualified than a timber pest inspector in providing an estimate of the reasonable costs involved in these works, and this way you can get ALL the appropriate information at the same time.
Particularly with pre-purchase timber pest inspections, wherever possible, we encourage our clients to join us at the inspection. In the course of an inspection, issues can be found that are much better understood by physically seeing the issue. Please give us a bit of a head start, but please join us. Joining us will certainly give you a better understanding of the timber pest issues of your intended home.
If movement is discovered, then a more invasive inspection
(borescope) is usually recommended (Owner's permission required). If no movement
is found, then the moisture can be as a result of poor damp course installation
in a low brick sill, or a leaking shower. We'll typically refer you to the
appropriate people for advice on these issues if required. Thermographic
survey or thermal imaging
is also an option. If a timber pest inspector doesn’t use a moisture meter, or
is reluctant to enter an accessible roof void,
please don't hesitate to find yourself another inspector.
Environpest
inspections also include
assessment of the expected protection periods of the termite protection
installed to the home, and further treatment recommendations are
only
reached on the basis of termite activity to the home, or significant risk.
Termites in a fence separated from the home, or in the yard next door are no
indicators that the termite barriers of the home have been breached.
In the course of an inspection, something else we try to advise on is how the home is constructed, and if the home is constructed of termite resistant or termite susceptible framing. Earlier homes (including most weatherboard homes) were usually built using hardwood framing, and most hardwoods are regarded as being termite resistant. Most modern homes are framed in radiata pine, which is termite susceptible framing. Brick homes can be a concern, with most people not realising that with most modern brick homes, the bricks the bricks serve no structural purpose. They are only a wall cladding and could just as readily be weatherboards or fibro. The structural integrity of most modern brick homes is the timber framing behind. The consequences of termite resistant and termite susceptible framing is that with termite resistant framed homes, if termites occur, damage will normally (not always) be confined to trim timbers which are comparatively easy to replace, before structural damage occurs. With termite susceptible framed homes, if termites occur, they can attack the structural framing of the home as readily as they can attack the trims, and serious structural damage can occur. Termite resistant framing also includes cypress pine, and LOSP treated timber.
With
an average home, an inspection will take about 1 to 1½ hours, and a full written
report is provided of our inspections
Termite inspections are generally carried out on an annual basis, but more frequent inspections can be recommended by the Australian Standards where conducive conditions are found. With termites widely regarded as requiring 12 months to do serious economic damage, the annual inspections are a balance between inspecting too often for our clients' hip pockets, and inspecting not often enough that serious structural damage can occur between inspections.
Current charges to inspect most normal sized homes in the Brisbane metropolitan area are $220.oo for an initial inspection on a home owner's own home, and $198.oo for the repeat inspections. Our charge for a pre-purchase inspection is $264.oo for a normal sized home. If you look at what we include within our inspections without seeking additional monies partway through our inspection (some are starting inspections, and when moisture is found, suggesting you spend $60.oo extra to have it checked by Termatrac), and how we reach our treatment conclusions, we're extremely good value for money in the long term. Where larger or commercial properties are involved, our charges rise, but we tend to work on the basis of being fair and reasonable.
Weep holes can be an issue to some, and for more information on this issue, please visit our weep holes page.
It
is also extremely important to note that as of the 1st of January, 2001,
all timber pest inspectors, or their companies must be registered with the
Building Services Authority. You can do an on-line licence check at www.bsa.qld.gov.au, and Environpest hold BSA licence # 714223.
In 2004, the BSA has upgraded the licence check pretty substantially, and it's
well worth checking out if you're looking for an inspector, or a builder. A tip
is that once you've gotten to a licensee's particulars, there is a button that
says "Create
Licensee's Full History". Click on that (even
though it doesn't react to the mouse over the button), and it'll take you to
another page with a lot more information.
Public liability and professional indemnity insurances are an important part of professional inspection, providing security for the consumer. The Building Services Authority is apparently removing the insurance requirement for pre-purchase timber pest and building inspection services. For more information, visit our Insurance page.
If you are buying a home, it is very important that you have a building inspection as well as a timber pest inspection. There are some who provide both services, but to our view, building and timber pest inspections are two separate entities, and few seem to be able to do both properly. There are a few building inspectors we have found to be thorough, and we have no hesitation in recommending them. If you're looking for a building inspector, please visit our Preferred Building Inspectors page.
In some inspections there can be issues found that should be referred to the Building Services Authority for adjudication. We are experienced in this area, and for more information, please visit our BSA Case Histories Page. Where additional reporting is required say for litigation or Building Services Authority investigation, additional charges apply, and include digital video reporting.
Another inspection technique we have found extremely useful is thermographic survey or thermal imaging. These are carried out using an infra red camera from Termicam. Charges are typically $400.00 for a home, and this inspection technique is especially effective in establishing termite entry points, or inspecting large areas or buildings quickly. Most homes can be adequately and appropriately inspected by a competent timber pest inspector using the techniques described above, but in some instances where termites are particularly persistent, or if the termite entry point needs to be specifically found, then thermal imaging can be a useful tool. For more information, please visit our Thermographics page. © Mark Porter 2011
Termites found using our Termatrac machine, and damage found in a roof void
(Click on photos above to view full size)
A thermographic image of a gum tree with termites. To look at the tree you wouldn't even know the termites were there! For more information, please visit our Thermographics page.
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