The above photograph was taken by Mr Inspector, a qualified building inspector in Melbourne, during a building and pest inspection in Elsternwick and depicts termites attacking a timber floor bearer on a solid brick home.
People have a misconception that termites only attack weather board houses or houses built on timber stumps. We hear house buyers say “we don’t need a termite inspection, it’s a brick house” or its “built on a slab”. Mr Inspector has only one thing to say “You are wrong”. Termites will enter any house where there’s timber. Brick veneer homes built on a slab have timber wall frames (studs, bottom plates and top plates) behind the plaster and ceiling joists and roof frame above the ceilings. If the home is constructed on a slab they can enter via cracks int he slab, the weep holes and pipe penetrations from bathrooms, laundries and kitchens.
If the home constructed with a full metal frame we would tell you not to bother with the termite inspection but for any other timber construction, I would get one done for peace of mind.
Peter has a Diploma of Building Surveying which makes him one of the few in Melbourne who are Qualified to carry out building inspections as per the Building Act 1993. He is also qualified in Timber Pest Inspections (Cert 3), Pool Barrier Inspection (Certificate 11077454) and Non-Friable Asbestos Awareness and removal.