Termite Protection Tips

Free Homeowner Guide

Eight practical, no-cost things you can do around your Penrith home to dramatically reduce your termite risk.

Termite damage isn’t covered by home insurance, and a single undetected colony can cause $20,000–$100,000 of structural damage before you ever see a swarm. The good news: most termite attacks rely on three things — moisture, timber-to-soil contact, and a missing inspection regime. Take those away and you make your home a much harder target.

The tips below cost nothing or very little and work alongside any professional treatment program. If you spot anything that concerns you while doing these checks, call us on 0400 733 222.

TIP 01

Fix moisture problems immediately

Subterranean termites need moisture to survive. Repair leaking taps, hot water overflows, leaking shower bases and blocked gutters. Re-direct downpipes away from the slab edge — a single dripping pipe can sustain a colony for years.

TIP 02

Keep the weep holes clear

Weep holes at the base of brickwork are critical sub-floor ventilation. Never let garden beds, mulch, pavers or rendered finishes cover them — they’re also your inspection window for mud leads.

TIP 03

Don't store timber against the house

Firewood, off-cuts, fence palings and untreated landscaping sleepers stacked against the house are a termite buffet and a direct bridge to your wall framing. Store timber off the ground and at least 5 metres from the building.

TIP 04

Choose landscaping wisely

Avoid laying garden beds, mulch or soil higher than the slab edge. Pine-bark mulch holds moisture and attracts termites — gravel or stone is a safer choice within a metre of the house.

TIP 05

Maintain your chemical or bait barrier

If your home has a Termidor HE barrier or Sentricon/Trelona bait stations, never disturb the soil within 300mm of the slab. New paving, garden edging or pool installation can break the treated zone — always call us before landscaping.

TIP 06

Watch for the early warning signs

Mud tubes on piers or slab edges, hollow-sounding skirting, sticking doors, blistered paint, frass (sawdust-like droppings) and discarded wings around windows after a warm humid night are all red flags. Book an inspection the same week.

TIP 07

Book an annual professional inspection

The Australian Standard AS3660 recommends a minimum of 12-monthly inspections. In high-pressure areas like Penrith, the Hawkesbury and the Blue Mountains foothills, every 6 months is sensible — and required to maintain most product warranties.

TIP 08

Replace untreated retaining sleepers

Old hardwood and pine sleepers in retaining walls and garden edging are a magnet for termites. Replace with H4-treated, concrete sleepers or steel where they’re within 5 metres of the home.

Termite Control Across Western Sydney

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Termite Inspections Penrith

AS3660 inspection with thermal imaging and Andy the detection dog. $295.