Termite Damage in Roof

TheBilly on 01/03/2018 - 12:02

Hi All

Is anybody here are termite control professional or have experience with purchasing a home with termite damage. I'm looking at a brick veneer home with termite damage in the bottom of the roof trusses around the bathroom ceiling. The house has concrete footpaths built around the perimeter higher than the damp proof course + weep holes resulting in moisture ingress and similarly a leak in the bathroom walls has indicated a higher than usual moisture content, attracting termites which have damaged the trusses.

The building inspector has advised:

  1. Once termites are in the ceiling, it is likely walls are already damaged.
  2. There is no easy way to check whether termites are still active.
  3. Will need to do an invasive inspection (i.e. cutting holes in walls, drilling, cameras etc).
  4. Thermal imaging is ineffective and will not show if there is current activity.

Any experience in this will be appreciated.

Thank you

Home & Garden

Comments

  • geek001 on 01/03/2018 - 12:13

    I have been through this with a wall in my garage. Not the best feeling in the world. Best to not disturb the termites right now in case they spread. First thing to do is to treat it first. I got a professional in to do it. He sprayed and told me to leave it alone for a few weeks. After that, I got in a builder to fix the walls.

    • TheBilly on 01/03/2018 - 13:58

      Do you think that walking through the roof space and looking at timber will disturb them? I have heard it's best not to disturb, but I'm just thinking what I should or should not do, whether disturb means cutting the timber open etc or just tapping it?

      • geek001 on 01/03/2018 - 14:31

        Walking through roof space and looking at timber should be ok, but cutting the timber open will expose the termites to extra light/different moisture levels which will result in the termites leaving the spot they are currently in to another spot.

        If I were you, I would give it a miss unless you are getting a substantial discount, as repairs to the structure of the building will cost heaps, not to mention you will need to open up your bathroom wall and redo the waterproofing. You will also need to make repairs to the roof trusses, which is hard to do to remove any evidence of the termite damage. It means you will have the same termite damage come up in a building inspection when you sell.

  • Euphemistic on 01/03/2018 - 13:16

    If you are just looking, I'd want it to be near perfect to have to deal with termites.

    • TheBilly on 01/03/2018 - 13:57

      Looking is an understatement, we have signed lol - it's not the "dream" per se it's just a stepping stone to the dream.

      • tryagain on 01/03/2018 - 14:11
        +1

        Signed, I am guessing that is subject to a satisfactory building and pest inspection?

      • dcep on 01/03/2018 - 14:26
        +1

        unconditional ?

        else, you can still back out with finance even without B&P

  • pformag on 01/03/2018 - 14:59

    Make sure your "Professional" uses Termidor (Fipronil) rather than just killing the active termites with BIFENTHRIN. You want to kill the nest, otherwise, they will come back to another spot in your house.

    • TheBilly on 01/03/2018 - 16:02

      Cheers, I'll keep that in mind !

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