Termite Inspection in Melbourne

Termite Inspection Melbourne

A termite inspection is a structured examination of your property for active termites, past damage and the conditions that attract them. It is also called a timber pest inspection, because AS 4349.3 covers termites, wood borers and fungal decay in the same visit. We inspect homes, rental properties, commercial premises and strata buildings across Melbourne.

Inspections start from $249 and include a written report with photographs, issued within 24 hours.

Why Homes Here Are at Risk

Melbourne’s older weatherboard and brick veneer housing, timber-framed roofs and clay-heavy soils give termites the moisture and timber they need.

Brick is not protection. A brick veneer home has a timber frame behind the brickwork, and termites need only a small gap at a slab edge or service penetration to reach it. Most activity we find in brick homes is in the frame, subfloor or roof timbers.

The pattern changes with the housing stock. Weatherboard homes across Northcote, Brunswick and Richmond sit on original timber stumps that give termites direct access to the frame. Post-war brick veneer on clay soil through the middle ring retains moisture, and from Ringwood to Croydon established gardens keep the subfloor damp.

When to Book an Inspection

Most Melbourne homes should be inspected every 12 months, the interval AS 3660 recommends. Book sooner if any of the circumstances or signs below apply.

• It has been 12 months or more since your last inspection
• You are buying a property, or preparing one for sale
• You are between tenancies on a rental property
• A neighbouring property has had confirmed activity
• An existing treatment or warranty requires periodic inspection
• You have recently added a deck, path, garden bed or extension

That last point matters more than people expect. New landscaping and paving frequently breach an existing treated zone, and it is a common reason we find fresh activity at a property that was previously clear.

Signs of termites

• Mud tubes or mud leads on walls, stumps or foundations
• Timber that sounds hollow when tapped
• Floors, skirting or architraves that feel soft or spongy
• Doors or windows that have become difficult to close
• Discarded wings near windowsills or light fittings, usually in spring
• Blistered or rippled paint that looks like water damage
• Small piles of what looks like sawdust or dirt near timber

Visible evidence usually means activity has been present for some time. For the full list, see our guide to the 12 signs of termites in your Melbourne home.

What the Inspection Covers

A licensed technician checks the following accessible areas:

• Internal timbers, including skirtings, architraves and door frames
• The roof void and roof timbers
• Subfloor, where access allows
• External timbers, fences, decking, pergolas and stumps
• Moisture points around plumbing, hot water units and air conditioning outlets
• Garden beds, retaining walls and landscaping in contact with the building

The inspection follows AS 4349.3, the Australian Standard for inspecting buildings for timber pests.

Detection Equipment

Where activity is suspected behind a wall or inside a frame, instruments check without damaging the surface.

Property Types We Inspect

Residential inspections cover owner-occupied and investment homes, including between tenancies on a rental.

Commercial inspections are scheduled around trading hours so the premises keeps operating, with reporting to the owner or manager.

Strata and common property inspections cover the shared structure and are reported to the owners corporation under one schedule rather than separate ad hoc visits.

Buying a property is a different job with its own report format. See our pre-purchase termite and pest inspection page.

Common Findings

Three patterns come up often enough to be worth knowing before your inspection.

How Much Does a Termite Inspection Cost in Melbourne?

Inspections start from $249, depending on property size, construction type and how accessible the subfloor and roof void are. You get the price before booking.

If activity is found, treatment is priced separately once the findings are known. Our termite treatment pricing page sets out what influences that cost, and our termite barriers page covers ongoing protection between inspections.

Termite Inspection FAQs