Cairns Building Inspections provide a careful and thorough inspection of the property with a focus upon identifying and reporting on evidence of Timber Pest Activity, Conditions Conducive to Timber Pests, Evidence of Pest Management Systems, and Risk Management Options.
We conduct an examination of timber and other accessible materials or areas susceptible to attack by timber pests including:
- Structural timbers in the loadbearing framework of the building including bearers, joists & rafters. Joinery including finishes to the building such as moulding, architraves, skirtings, doors, windows & cupboards. Wood & wood products in outdoor areas such as landscaping timbers, fences, logs, pool surrounds, garden boxes & tubs, firewood, paving blocks, sleepers, tree stumps & trees.
- Surface work to foundation soils, walls, & services.
- Any other visible susceptible timber materials such as bridges, pergolas, stored items containing cellulose, builder’s debris & formwork.
We perform tests (where appropriate) including:
- Sounding – Using a tapper to identify timber elements which sound hollow.
- Probing – using a probe to identify timber made soft by decay, termites, delignification or borers.
- Electronic Moisture Detecting Meter – used to identify excessive moisture created by termites or conversely, creating a condition conducive to timber pests.
Timber Pests specifically addressed are: Fungal decay, Wood borers, Termites, Chemical delignification.
Conditions conducive to Timber Pest Attack which are noted include: Inadequate sub-floor ventilation, Presence of excessive moisture, Untreated or non-durable timber used in a hazardous environment, Bridging or breaching of any component of a termite barrier system and/or “insufficient slab edge exposure”
The inspection process includes inspection of the following areas (where appropriate):
Sub-Floors:
- Visually inspect all subfloor areas including foundation walls, piers, behind plumbing pipes, air/heat ducts, under loose timbers, builder’s debris, & stored materials.
- Visually inspect and test timber members such as bottom plates, base plates, bearers, joists & the underside of flooring, & all other timbers especially those close to plumbing & drains.
- Visually inspect and test all timber members in contact with soil, such as stumps, posts & formwork or any other cellulose containing material.
- Visually inspect and test soil around piers & foundation walls, noting the existence & condition of termite shields.
- Visually inspect any electrical junction boxes & conduit for evidence of subterranean termite mud-packing or shelter tubes.
- Visually inspect and test any other susceptible areas or timber.
Interior Areas:
- Visually inspect and test interior walls, ceilings, partitioning, stairways, flooring, skirting boards, cupboards, & timbers around windows & doors.
- Visually inspect behind plumbing & around pipe penetrations through slab-on-ground construction with particular attention to all timbers adjacent to plumbing or plumbing fixtures.
- Visually inspect in & around fireplaces from floor to ceiling as masonry absorbs moisture & fireplaces often contain voids for subterranean termite nests.
- Visually inspect and test any other susceptible areas or timber.
Roof Space:
- Visually inspect and test timber roof truss members & roof framing including rafters, ceiling joists, ridgeboards, & purlins.
- Visually inspect and test timber members adjacent to the fireplace chimney noting evidence of excessive moisture around the chimney flashing.
- Visually inspect and test any top wall plates & accessible roof or wall juncture (eaves) timbers.
- Visually inspect the roof lining, around air conditioning units & water heaters.
- Visually inspect and test any other susceptible areas or timber.
Exterior Areas:
- Visually inspect eaves, window & door frames & walls, noting obstruction of ventilators or “weep holes” & signs of activity or excessive moisture such as defective drainage, plugged or damaged gutters & inadequate sealing against moisture.
- Visually inspect slab edges including any cracks & expansion joints, noting evidence of insufficient slab edge exposure.
- Visually inspect and test any timber members that rest on or extend into concrete or soil such as supporting posts on decks.
- Visually inspect paths & driveways abutting the building.
- Visually inspect and test stairways, decks, handrails & external joinery in general.
- Visually inspect and test rafters such as those in the carport or garage that protrude from the roof or eaves area. If the building has a flat roof, note any areas that will retain water which could serve as a moisture source for subterranean termites.
- Visually inspect and test landscaping timbers, fences, logs, pool surrounds, garden boxes or tubs, firewood, paving blocks, & sleepers.