Pre Purchase Timber Pest Inspection Report

Get it Before Committing to buy a Property

Before you commit to buying property in Australia, it is recommended that you get a timber pest inspection. This inspection is so important because timber pests present significant danger for the structural integrity, quality and longevity of properties. It is well known that termites, for example, have been one of the three most important destructive factors of the entire wood industry.

Timber pest inspections are particularly recommended when there are obvious risks of pests, such as:

• Where there is a high level of moisture
• Where timber is positioned directly in the ground

With these risk factors in mind, it is only logical to invest in a professionally executed and thoroughly performed timber pest inspection. Rockypest is a team of professionals that strictly adheres to Australian Standards in the area of building inspections (namely, Standard AS 4349.3, Appendix C-Timber Pest Inspections).

What is Australian Standard AS 4349.3 and why is it important for Timber Pest Inspections?

Australian Standard 4349.3 is the national standard when it comes to timber pest inspection and the preparation of the relevant report. Standard guidelines for inspection include where the inspection is to be performed: the roof and floor of the building and, if parties agree so, adjacent buildings and fences. Subterranean Termites make tunnels through the soil in their search for and transport of food. These tunnels are mostly in the top 20cm of soil, radiating up to 50 meters, although in some soils these may be deeper and radiate further. Tunnels are used by workers for food transport, although soldiers also occur along their length for deference., which is the reason why it is so important to perform a thorough outdoor inspection as well.

Timber Pest Inspection includes different inspection activities, depending on which inspector you choose. The inspection will provide you info on:

• Whether there is a presence oftimber pests in the property;
• Whether there was/were timber pest(s) activity in the property; and
• Whether this timber pest activity has caused some damage to the property (especially important is how significant the damage to the property is and how significant the risk for the property is).

In some cases, inspection primarily/solely includes visual evaluation of the easily approachable areas of the building interior and exterior. However, this type of inspection can barely deliver partial info about the presence or absence of timber pests – and this is definitely not something you can 100% rely on.

For more peace of mind you can have a more advanced inspection using very advanced tools that will deliver more accurate and reliable data about the presence of Timber pests in the property you are considering buying as well as possibly present pests. These tools are primarily pest detectors and thermal cameras. With the use of radio waves and thermal energy, detectors and cameras can determine without mistake the presence or absence of timber pests.

There are several obvious reasons why you should get timber pest inspection:

• You will know with certainty whether you are buying pest-free property.
• If property is pest infected, you can negotiate a better price.
• With professional help, you will get an all-encompassing evaluation of a property you are considering purchasing.

Don’t hesitate to contact Rockypest, the top professionals to get professional advice and recommendations for timber pests.