Frequently Asked Questions

The frequently asked questions has been divided into subject groups as listed below:

1. Building Reports
2. Strata Reports
3. Pest Reports
4. Survey Reports
5. General FAQs

Q. What type of pests are dangerous to my home?

A. There are 3 main pests that can cause serious damage to your property:

1. Borers
2. Termites (white ants)
3. Fungi wood decay (wet/dry rot)

Q. Why is termite control important?

A.CSIRO research shows on average 1 in 5 homes will be attacked. Termites are known to eat their way through a home to a point where the structure of the home is weakened significantly. Regular pest inspections and treatments ensure your home is protected.

Q. What are borers?

A. Borers are small insects that lay eggs. The eggs hatch into larvae which feds on timber. Borers create tunnels in the timber. In severe cases the borers will create a honeycomb affect with tunnels and eventually the timber collapses through lack of structure.

Q. What sort of damage do termites cause?

A. Termites will generally attack any timber material. Termites have been known to destroy a home within 3 months.

Q. What is fungi wood decay?

A. Fungi are a common pest but are not an insect. Fungi wood decay is a fungus. Fungi feed on the timber and are capable of causing significant structure damage to timber.

Q. Is termite damage covered by insurance?

A. No. Termite damage is not covered by your normal house and contents insurance. Note, cost of repairs can reach thousands of dollars.

Q. Are borers found in Sydney and NSW?

A. There are 4 types of borers. 3 types of borers affect Sydney and the east coastal area of NSW, whilst only the Queensland Pine Beetle affects the northern coastal part of NSW.

Q. Everything looks OK, how do I know if I have termites?

A. You may not see any signs of termites until it too late. The only way you can be really sure you don’t have termites is to have an annual timber pest Inspection by a qualified and licensed timber pest inspector.

Q. What do termites look like?

A. Termites are ant sized and generally pale in colour. It is unlikely you will see a termite. It is more likely you will see a termite sign e.g. mud tracks, timber damage etc Termites hide in their mud tunnels or inside timber.

Q. What causes Fungi wood decay?

A. Fungi needs moisture that is either damp internally and or externally to thrive. Drying the timber out will either slow down the process or in some cases stop it.

Q. How do I know if termites are in my house?

A. A thorough inspection by a qualified inspector is the best way to find out if you have termites. There is no single method to prevent termite attacks. There are many ways to minimise termite risk. A qualified inspector looks for:

1. Timbers which have ground contact or are close to the ground
2. Moist areas or places with poor drainage/ventilation. Termites are a soft-bodied creature, and therefore need a constant source of moisture in order to survive
3. Hidden or inaccessible areas such as bricked in veranda’s and subfloors. A darkened environment suits termites because it harbours moisture and is less likely to be disturbed.

Q. What is a queen termite?

A. The queen tends to be fed by the workers. She is regularly fertilised by the king and becomes an egg-laying machine capable of producing thousands of eggs per day. Depending on the species a queen can live for 25 years or more.

Q. What is a worker termite?

A. Approximately 80% of a colony population are workers. The workers carry out the work on the nest and are responsible for gathering food for (timber) the colony.

Q. What do termites eat?

A. Termites eat timber located either in your home (beams, rafters, bearers etc) or around your property (fences, trees, tree stumps, discarded timber palings etc).

Q. Who should do a pest inspection?

A. A pest inspection needs to be carried out by a licensed and experienced pest inspector. Ask the pest inspector if pest inspections are his/her areas of speciality or if this is just an add on service provided.