Why a termite inspection is worth it
Subterranean termites cause most of the termite damage in South Australia, and they work from the inside out. By the time you see a blistered skirting board or a hollow door frame, they've usually been eating for months. Most home insurance policies don't cover termite damage, so the inspection is the cheapest point to catch it.
Australian Standard AS 3660.2 recommends a professional timber pest inspection at least once every 12 months, and more often if your home is high risk. Homes in the north east often back onto reserves, creek lines and older gum trees, which is exactly where colonies live.
What we check
- Inside the home: skirting boards, door and window frames, wet areas, built-in cupboards and any timber in contact with the slab.
- Roof void: trusses, rafters and ceiling joists, where activity often goes unnoticed.
- Subfloor (where there is one): bearers, joists, stumps and ventilation.
- Outside: fences, retaining walls, garden beds against the slab edge, stored timber, trees and stumps.
- Conducive conditions: leaking taps, blocked weep holes, poor drainage and bridged barriers that make an attack more likely.
The technology: Termatrac and thermal imaging
A torch and a tapping tool only find damage you can already reach. We also use:
- Termatrac: a radar device that detects termite movement through plasterboard, timber and brick, without drilling holes in your walls.
- Thermal imaging: termite nests and leads hold heat and moisture, and show up on a thermal camera as patterns that don't belong there.
- Moisture meters: termites need moisture, so damp spots in walls point us to where to look next.
How the inspection works
- Book a time. Call 0489 086 664 or use the form. Most inspections take 1 to 2 hours depending on the size of the home.
- We inspect. Inside, roof void, subfloor and the garden, using Termatrac and thermal imaging.
- We walk you through it. Before we leave, we show you what we found and what it means.
- You get a written report. Findings, photos, risk areas and our recommendations.
How much does a termite inspection cost in Adelaide?
It depends on the size of the home, roof access and whether there's a subfloor. You'll get a fixed price when you book, so there are no surprises.
Buying a home?
A pre-purchase timber pest inspection is one of the best few hundred dollars you'll spend. We can usually fit them in within your cooling-off period. If we find activity or damage, you'll know before you sign, not after.
What happens if we find termites?
Don't spray them, and don't disturb the area. Disturbed termites go quiet and move, which makes treatment harder. We'll recommend the right treatment for your home, usually a baiting system to take out the colony, and give you a fixed quote. See our termite treatments.