One of the critical home inspections that you should prioritise as a homeowner or an aspiring homebuyer is timber pest inspections. This is usually done by ordering a timber pest inspection report that is to assess whether the property is infested by the various timber pests that are common in Australia.
In Australia, timber pests inspections must be carried out by a licensed and certified inspections specialist and the inspection report done according to the Australian Standard AS 4349.3 2010. The timber pest inspections are done based on the visual observation of the property in the parts that are reasonably accessible. During the inspections, the existing structural, weather and soil conditions of the area are also factored in. The inspector will go through a list of checklists and carry out a visual inspection to determine if the timber used in the house is pest-free.
Scope of Timber Pest Inspections
The scope of timber pest inspections has been defined in the Australian Standard AS 4349.3-2010. The Australian standards for timber inspections define the minimum acceptable requirements that should be adhered to during visual inspections. They must also report any signs of timber pest infestations.
There are various kinds of timber pests in Australia that can cause serious damage to timber structures such as the timber borers, subterranean termites and the dampwood termites as well as the wood decay fungi.
Timber pest inspections aim to establish the following:
- Whether there is any evidence of timber pest infestation
- The severity of the timber pest damage where it is present
- Whether the building is susceptible to infestation
- Any remedial or protective actions that may be required to be taken to protect the wood
- Whether there is need for further investigation to assess the extent of timber pest infestation
Australian regulations require that the timber pest inspection be performed at least on an annual basis.
What areas are assessed during timber pest inspection?
Pest control operators must familiarise themselves with the locality they are operating in. This will give them the best context on how to go about the timber pest inspection process. The inspection will focus in those areas that have reasonable access. It is advisable to hire professional and licensed timber pest inspectors that have the expertise and detection technologies such as moisture meters, thermal imaging equipment and tap sounding equipment and techniques for the most efficient pest inspections. Inspections areas generally include the following:
- Structural timber which includes the subfloor, stairs, walls, ceilings, flooring and roofing.
- Various ancillary timber structures such as the built-in cupboards, false flooring as well as built-in furniture in the property.
- Decorative timber and joinery: Covers everything from door frames to doors, window frames and windows as well as skirtings and joinery among others.
- Garden timber installations such as pool surrounds, logs, paving blocks, landscape timber and fences among others.
- Standing timber: On overall site including tree stumps, trees and timber embedded inside the soil that is within the boundary of the property.
Hire a professional timber pest inspection and control operator today and begin getting a lid on your timber pest problems.