Archicentre

Archicentre, the building advisory service of the Australian Institute of Architects, has warned that the recent unusually wet and warm weather in the east coast of Australia and Perth is likely to cause a significant increase in damage to houses by termites and timber rot.

Termite (Coptotermes sp) mudding over concrete stumps and bearers

Pre-purchase home inspection statistics compiled by Archicentre have found that 35% of all homes sold have some form of borer, termite, dry rot, or timber fungus problem. Archicentre Victorian State Manager, David Hallett said that Archicentre pest inspectors had already seen the beginning of ideal conditions for breeding of termites and for accelerated timber rot. "Borers can be a silent destroyer with the first indication of a problem being when the vacuum cleaner head hits the skirting board which turns into dust. "Termites and timber rot, which is actually a fungus both flourish in warm moist conditions and Archicentre's inspectors had noted a dramatic increase in the moisture content of soil under houses during the course of pre-purchase house inspections."

Mr Hallett said that home owners should take action to dry out sub floors by increasing ventilation, removing debris and generally allowing more air to circulate.

"Termites activity slows down in the winter, but new nests may be being established now which will lead to problems next spring.

"Home owners with concrete floor slabs should now be looking for early signs of termite attack such as mud tubes on the edges of concrete slabs and damaged skirtings and architraves."

Archicentre undertakes over 20,000 reports each year and the statistics indicate that in some suburbs one in five homes could be affected by termites and the annual cost of damage to Australian homes is over one billion dollars.

Archicentre's national pre-purchase home inspection statistics reveals all homes inspected had pier or stump faults and timber rot.

Archicentre 2009 / 2010 statistics compiled from pre-purchase home inspections in each State

"With our rapidly heating property market, home buyers should be particularly wary of termite problems and timber rot to structural elements and windows."

Mr Hallett said that Archicentre's inspectors had seen homes with up to $100,000 in damage that would not be evident without a comprehensive inspection. However, they had also seen cases where people had spent thousands of dollars on pest treatments that weren't needed.

"It is critical that home buyers and home owners seek independent professional advice."

Cost of Termites to Australian Home Owners

Source: Archicentre Research

www.archicentre.com.au

Media Enquiries:
David Hallett, Victorian State Manager Archicentre Mobile: 0439 439 115
Ron Smith Corporate Media Communications Archicentre (03) 9818 5700 Mobile: 0417 329 201