Termite Inspections in Bayswater

Why the slab edge matters

Subterranean termites move through soil, so the point where the ground meets the building is one of the key areas an inspector assesses. Concealed entry can occur around the perimeter, through joints and through other hidden paths.

CSIRO guidance recommends keeping soil and mulch below the slab and away from weep holes so important inspection areas remain visible.

Timber-to-ground contact

Timber that directly contacts soil can create a concealed pathway between the ground and vulnerable timber elements.

CSIRO recommends separating structural timber from soil and avoiding stored or untreated timber directly against the building.

Established Bayswater. Changing Bayswater.

Much of Bayswater’s established residential growth occurred from the post-war period through the 1960s and early 1970s. Many homes have therefore had decades of landscaping, paving, extensions and drainage changes around them.

At the same time, infill and redevelopment around the Bayswater and Meltham station precincts continue to change the suburb’s housing mix. Newer additions, paving and landscaping can alter inspection access around older structures.

The useful question is not how old the house is. It is what condition the property is in today.

Brick does not mean termite-proof

Brick and concrete are not termite food, but they are not necessarily a barrier to termite movement. CSIRO describes subterranean termites constructing shelter tubes over materials including concrete and brickwork, and WA Government guidance notes that cracks, control joints and slab penetrations can allow termites to enter undetected.

• ◆Roof framing
• ◆Door and window frames
• ◆Skirting boards
• ◆Timber flooring / subfloor elements

The inspection is about how termites could reach the timber — not simply what the external walls are made from.