A lot of homeowners book a termite inspection without knowing what to expect. You want to know what the technician is doing, what tools they use, and what you get at the end of it. This article covers all of that. No fluff.
A Termite Inspection Is Not Just a Walk Around
Some people picture a termite inspection as someone walking around looking at the walls for five minutes. That is not what a proper inspection looks like.
A thorough inspection carried out to the Australian Standard AS 3660.2 involves physical checking of accessible timbers across the entire property, combined with detection equipment that reveals activity in areas you cannot see with the naked eye. That includes inside walls, under floors, and in the roof void.
Brisbane properties face a serious termite risk. The subtropical climate, high moisture, and abundance of eucalyptus trees create ideal conditions for subterranean termites year round. An inspection that is worth paying for takes these conditions seriously.
The Three Tools We Use
Our inspections use three pieces of detection equipment. Each does a different job. Used together, they give a much clearer picture than a visual check alone.
FLIR Thermal Imaging Camera
A thermal camera detects temperature differences in building materials. Termite activity generates heat and moisture. Active workings inside a wall cavity or subfloor often appear as a temperature variation on the thermal image, a warm or cool patch against the surrounding material. Thermal imaging is non invasive and covers large areas quickly. It does not confirm termites on its own, but it shows us where to look more closely.
Termatrac T3i
The Termatrac T3i is a three in one device. It combines a microwave radar sensor that detects movement through timber, a moisture sensor, and a remote thermal sensor. The radar function can detect termite movement inside a wall without drilling or cutting. When the thermal camera flags an area, the Termatrac helps confirm whether the cause is termite movement, a moisture issue, or something else entirely. It is one of the most reliable non destructive termite detection tools available.
Protimeter Moisture Meter
High moisture in timber and plasterboard is either a sign of termite activity, a plumbing leak, or a condition that is likely to attract termites in the future. The Protimeter reads moisture levels in building materials. Readings above the normal range get noted in the report. Some of those will be plumbing related. Others are worth watching or treating. Either way, the homeowner needs to know.
What Areas Get Inspected
A full inspection covers every accessible area of the property. Here is what that means in practice.
- Subfloor: Every accessible bearer, joist, stump, and pier. Brisbane has a large number of older homes with timber stumped subfloors. These are high risk areas. Any active workings, mud tubes, or damaged timbers are documented.
- Roof void: Rafters, ceiling joists, sarking, and any timber framing visible from the entry point. Not all roof voids are fully accessible, but whatever can be seen is inspected and recorded.
- Internal rooms: Skirting boards, door frames, window frames, and wall cavities in high risk areas. The thermal camera and Termatrac are used in rooms where suspicious moisture readings or visual signs are found.
- External perimeter: All external wall timbers, weep holes, expansion joints, and the soil line around the foundation. This is where termite entry points are most commonly found.
- Garden structures: Timber retaining walls, garden sleepers, timber fencing adjacent to the property, sheds, pergolas, and any stored timber near the house. These structures are often the first point of termite activity and act as a stepping stone to the main structure.
- Trees and stumps: Dead tree stumps and large trees with hollow bases near the property line. These are common nesting points for subterranean termite colonies.
What the Report Contains
At the end of the inspection you receive a written report. This is a formal document produced under AS 3660.2. Here is what it includes:
- Inspector name, licence number, and inspection date
- Property address and description
- A statement of which areas were inspected and which were not accessible, and why
- Findings: any live termite activity, past activity, damaged timbers, mud tubes, or conducive conditions found
- Photographic evidence of any significant findings
- Moisture readings for areas flagged by the meter
- Recommendations: whether a treatment is required, what type, whether monitoring stations are advised, and any maintenance issues the homeowner should address
The report is yours to keep. If you ever sell the property or need to show it to a builder, it is a useful document to have.
How Long Does an Inspection Take?
There is no fixed answer to this. Every property is different. A small slab on ground unit takes less time than a two storey Queenslander with a full subfloor and large roof void. A property with a lot of garden structures, timber decking, and trees close to the house takes longer than one with minimal external timber.
If a technician is done in fifteen minutes, they have not done the job properly. A thorough inspection takes as long as it takes.
What You Need to Do Before the Inspection
Not much. Make sure the subfloor hatch is accessible. If there is a padlock on the manhole or a pile of boxes in front of the subfloor entry, move them before the technician arrives. The same applies to the roof void hatch.
If you have a shed or outbuilding, have it open. Timber in a closed shed cannot be inspected.
You do not need to leave the property. You are welcome to follow the inspection and ask questions as it goes.
Book a Termite Inspection in Brisbane or the Sunshine Coast
We carry out AS 3660.2 compliant inspections using thermal imaging, Termatrac T3i, and Protimeter moisture metering. Over 16,500 jobs completed across South East Queensland.