PEST INSPECTIONS

We would be delighted to provide your pre-purchase pest inspections / termite inspections. We provide a quality and professional inspection and provide your report within 24 hours of the inspection. You are welcome to attend the pest inspection and we call you to personally discuss the property. We are owner operated and are professional builders, carpenters and pest inspectors.

ABOUT YOUR PRE-PURCHASE INSPECTION

What's the benefit of a Pre-Purchase Pest Inspection!

Our pre-purchase timber pest inspections are in strict guidelines set out by our insurance company and in accordance with AS 4349.3- 2010 – the inspection and resulting report will report on the discovery, or non-discovery, of infestation and damage caused by termites (white ants), borers of seasoned timber and wood decay fungi (rot), present on the date and time of the Inspection to help you make an informed decision on the property.

Who are we - areas we work?

WHO WE ARE

We are qualified carpenters with years of trade experience. We are fully trained pest inspectors, focused on providing you with a professional, unbiased, accurate, independent and fully compliant pre-purchase timber pest inspections & report.

If you book a combined Building and Pest inspections, two inspectors conduct the site inspection, one building specialist and one pest specialist.

AREAS WE WORK

We are local to the Redcliffe, Sandgate, North Lakes and Deception Bay region; however we service Brisbane’s Northside and Moreton Bay Region, Brisbane CBD and South Sunshine Coast region. For Pest Inspections checkout our ‘Service Areas’ for a detailed list of suburbs we cover or give us call.

Our Reports

AGREEMENT
A pre-engagement agreement will be sent to you which is part of our compliance process for Pest Inspections. The agreement outlines our inspection and lists limitations.

WHEN DO I GET MY REPORT?
As soon as the inspection has been completed our inspector will either debrief you onsite or by phone. The report with be professionaly prepared and e-mailed to you within 24 hours.

RECOMMENDATIONS
At the completion of the pest inspections our inspector will highlight any areas of concern and recommend a course of action or if required, advise you on further specialists that may be of assistance.

TOOLS WE USE IN EVERY INSPECTION

Moisture

We Termatrac which has cutting edge detection technology for Pest Inspections. The T3i All Sensor Moisture technology uses a capacitance based method to detect moisture differentials reaching more than double the depth of other moisture meters on the market (60mm). Operators can gain an instant reading by sliding the moisture pad against the surface they are working on.

The T3i Moisture Sensor penetrates up to 2.5” (60mm) deep into the material and extends out past the outer dimensions of the T3i Device, allowing for any moisture present under or around the T3i Device to be detected.

Radar

We use Termatrac state-of-the-art termite detection technologies for our Pest Inspections which are the world’s best in providing termite detection aids. We are qualified Termatrac technicians.

Termatrac’s detection technology is unique to the market, designed and specifically calibrated to detect termites and other insect activity. The Radar sensor technology can be found on both the T3i All Sensor and the T3i Radar-Only. The radar technology confirms movement by penetrating through most building materials to locate and track termite and other insect activity.

Thermal

The T3i thermal sensor detects changes in the surface temperature and thermal anomalies. Operators during Pest Inspections can pinpoint thermal changes with field-view laser guide. T3i operators are thinking outside the box to find rodents housing within walls or dead carcasses. The T3i Thermal sensor produces clear numerical results allowing no room for interpretation.

The T3i detects abnormal changes in temperature around the area of interest, the technology is an aid for the inspector and assists in providing an non-invasive assumption.

Sound

Looksee Pest Inspections, inspector uses a sounding technique with a specially designed multifaceted tool , which aids in determining (from the sound), whether or not the timber is in good condition and helps pin-point areas of interest for further examination during the Pest Inspections.

When struck, the timber may have a somewhat hollow sound (perhaps indicating the excavations of termites), or a ‘dead’ sound which may indicate fungal decay damage.

Stethoscope which is used to detect and amplify the sound of concealed timber pests such as termites. The stethoscope can literally detect the sounds of live termites munching on your home. Looksee Pest Inspections.find these instruments are sometimes useful in helping to assess the extent of a termite infestation during the Pest Inspections and with minimal disturbance of the termites. Identifying the location of the live termite activity improves the eradication process.

Trade Experience

Looksee Pest Inspections are qualified carpenters with years of trade experience. We are fully trained pest inspectors, focused on providing you with a professional, unbiased, accurate, independent and fully compliant pre-purchase timber pest inspection & report.

If you book a combined Building and Pest inspection, two inspectors conduct the site inspection, one building specialist and one pest specialist.

And Much More!

Looksee Pest Inspections. has a wide range of specialised inspection tools & equipment to assist us in providing you with an accurate and timely inspection. But most importantly we have two expert inspectors with years of building experience – which is priceless!

We are real tradies, active builders and have both the experience and qualifications to provide you with a quality report.

A BRIEF LOOK AT WHAT’S COVERED

8 Termite species Brisbane homeowners need to know about

Image source: The Australian Government Department of Agriculture

Mastotermes darwiniensis

It is the most destructive termite in Australia but, because it is limited in distribution to northern Australia, its reputation is virtually unknown by residents of southern towns and cities. It attacks any wood in contact with the ground or accessible from the ground, including shrubs and trees. It can also eat leather, certain clothing, paper and many other articles. Looksee Pest Inspections

Coptotermes acinaciformis

This species is the most destructive of wooden buildings and other wooden structures in Australia. It is exceeded in its destructive potential by Mastotermes darwiniensis but as Cacinaciformis occurs over most of Australia, it is the more destructive species. It nests in a variety of places, including tree stumps, living trees, under filled-in patios and even in walls of houses. A tree containing a nest of some age may house half a million to one million termites in the single colony. From these nests, buildings within a radius of 50 m may be attacked. The termites use their underground tunnels to achieve this range. Where a house is built near a tree containing a nest, it is often found that thousands of dollars worth of damage is done before the damage is detected and the source determined. Provided there is a constant water supply and food is available, soil contact is not essential. Isolated colonies have been found several levels above the ground in city buildings where there was no contact with other floors. Looksee Pest Inspections.

Heterotermes ferox

This species is often encountered attacking posts, poles, paling fences and even flooring of houses. Weathered flooring, such as in timber decking and fences. fortunately, is not a major pest species, causing mainly superficial damage and not ranging far from its small and not populous colonies. There are several species of Heterotermes but, as most are very similar, identification of the species is a matter for a specialist. They do not build mounds and the surface of affected timber has a mottled appearance. Looksee Pest Inspections.

Schedorhinotermes intermedius

They are a subterranean termite, nesting in trees, under patios and in tree stumps; it is often located in the ground immediately under fireplace foundations. The nest may be very populous, consisting of many thousands of individuals. This termite is a destructive species, there may be extensive surface tunnels and plastering but insignificant damage, although the converse also holds. It is very difficult to evaluate its damage to buildings without a very thorough survey of its activity.

Microcerotermes turneri

It builds arboreal nests, nests on posts and poles, mounds on the ground and nests underground. Identification requires specialist knowledge and microscope facilities.

Neotermes insularis

It is a tree and forest pest, living mainly in upper branches, but it can also be found in the trunk and tree stumps. Eucalypts are its main hosts, where it degrades logs that appear to be sound. Being tree-infesting termites and having their moisture requirement met by the tree’s moisture, contact with the ground is not required. it rarely attacks timber in houses and, when it is found, its site of attack is in timber which is decaying and which has a high and assured moisture content. It has been found in fascia boards below a leaking guttering. Looksee Pest Inspections.

Porotermes adamsoni

This termite is a pest of forest trees, forming pipes and thus degrading logs for various timber uses. The pipes it forms are filled with a mud-like material often called ‘mud-guts’. This species will attack timber in contact with the ground, such as poles, fencing and weatherboards, but it does not attack buildings unless there is timber-soil contact allowing access to other timbers. While Porotermes can tunnel below ground from dead roots of trees to wood in soil, it does not produce the external plastering and runways so characteristic of the pest species of subterranean termites.

Nasutitermes exitiosus

This is a mound-building species, except in drier areas, where it nests in tree stumps or below ground, often leaving bare earth above it. Because of its obvious nesting habits it is not regarded as a serious pest species, but it is capable of extensively damaging timber structures where the nest goes unnoticed. This species often builds its nests under houses and unless the subfloor area is inspected the colony can go unnoticed.

7 Borers that can attack and infest existing timbers in your home

Powderpost beetles
These beetles attack only the sapwood of hardwoods containing starch, and their presence is usually detected during the first few years of the service life of the timber or article of furniture. In the case of large-dimensional timber members (50 x 75 mm and 75 x 75 mm), the sapwood is seldom more thanen edge, and its destruction does not significantly affect their strength.

Furniture beetle
The furniture beetle was probably introduced into Australia during early settlements in New South Wales and has entered the various ports many times since then. Attack is usually encountered in pine timbers, particularly those which have been in service for at least 20 years. Baltic pine, New Zealand white pine, hoop pine and some other exotic pine woods are attacked by the furniture beetle, but it will also attack hardwoods such as English oak, and infestations have also been recorded from spotted gum (Eucalyptus maculata), but these cases are very rare.

Queensland pine beetle
The role of the furniture beetle is taken by the native Queensland pine beetle along the northern coast of New South Wales and in Queensland. In New South Wales, attack is seen mostly in hoop pine and to a lesser degree in bunya pine. Hoop pine was once used extensively for flooring and panelling, but now, due to its exploitation in past years, it is rarely used in these parts of the house.

European house borer
The European house borer has been introduced regularly into Australia during the last 50 years, in softwood timbers and prefabricated houses of softwood, mainly from Europe. To date it does not appear to be established, due mainly to the several occurrences of this borer having been fumigated with methyl bromide as a quarantine measure.

Two-tooth longicorn
This longicorn beetle, introduced from New Zealand, is found only in New Zealand rimu on coastal New South Wales, and even then it is encountered only rarely. It is mostly located in flooring where ventilation is poor. When this insect is located, a few emergence holes often indicate extensive damage, necessitating replacement rather than treatment. Most houses where this insect is found were built during the 1920s and 1930s, when substantial imports of New Zealandrimu occurred. Although this longicorn is seldom encountered by pest controllers, they must be aware of its damaging potential and of the conditions that favour its development.

Dampwood borer
This longicorn beetle, introduced from New Zealand, isfound only in New Zealand rimu on coastal New South Wales, and even then it is encountered only rarely. It is mostly located in flooring where ventilation is poor. When this insect is located, a few emergence holes often indicate extensive amage, necessitating replacement rather than treatment.

Most houses where this insect is found were built during the 1920s and 1930s, when substantial imports of New Zealandrimu occurred. Although this longicorn is seldom encountered by pest controllers, they must be aware of its damaging potential and of the conditions that favour its development.

Auger beetles
Auger beetle larvae feed in moist sapwood containing starch, but they do not reinfest the dry wood when they emerge as beetles. Some moisture content is needed for egg-laying and for the larvae in their early development. The same timbers and region of the wood are susceptible to the powderpost beetle, which does reinfest until the sapwood is destroyed. Auger beetle damage is often encountered in timber rounds (small–dimensional logs) used to support walls and ceilings in coal and other underground mines. When these natural rounds are used untreated for fence posts and transmission poles, these are also subject to auger beetle attack.

5 Borers that can cause damage to freshly cut timbers in your home

Wood moths

There are many species of wood moths that attack growing trees and are therefore forest pests. All these species are native to Australia. The larval stage is the destructive one, but their damage is seldom seen during inspections of buildings as the holes are usually large and detected during milling.

Sirex wasp
The sirex wasp (Sirex noctilio) Australia has no native species of wood wasp, and the species is currently becoming established in the our pine plantations throughout the continent and has been introduced from New Zealand. Sirex damage may be encountered in pine timbers in buildings; but once the timber is dry, the insect dies or emerges. It attacks Pinus spp. trees, often causing their death. Trees stressed by drought, poor site or other factors are more susceptible to attack than healthy vigorous trees. Hardwoods and native conifers are not attacked by the sirex wasp.

Greenwood longicorns

Most species of greenwood-infesting longicorns are native and are forest pests or pests of ornamental trees. However, their damage when they enter the sapwood for pupation often carries over into buildings and is likely to be encountered. The beetles emerge from timber up to 6 months after milling; and when timber containing larvae or pupae is used in buildings and covered with gyprock or other internal lining, they emerge through large oval holes, sometimes causing great concern to householders because of the size of the holes.

Jewel beetles

Jewel beetles are mainly forest pests, attacking damaged and weakened trees in forest and bushland areas. With the exception of the Oregon jewel beetle they are native insects and apart from the hoop-pine jewel beetle and the Oregon jewel beetle they are not pests of dry seasoned wood. The hoop-pine and Oregon jewel beetles may emerge from wood in service up to 50 years after milling. Other jewel beetles are of little relevance to pest controllers, but they should be able to recognise the damage made by jewel beetles and know that bark and moisture are necessary for attack, even in the case of the Oregon and hoop-pine jewel beetles.

Weevils

Weevils are forest pests, attacking damaged or stressed trees in the forest or freshly cut and extracted logs at the mill yard. There are many species of weevils, most of which attack dead wood. Most damage by weevils is caused by native species, although weevils in wood are frequently intercepted by quarantine authorities at various port facilities requiring shipments to be fumigated or heat sterilised. Apart from recognising damage by weevils, their control is not required by pest controllers. Any damage seen is the result of old infestations that occurred in the forest, and reinfestation does not happen in dry wood.

Ambrosia beetles

Ambrosia beetles are pests of green logs at the forest log dump and mill yard and of freshly sawn timber under very moist climatic conditions. The often stained holes persist through to the finished article, and this defect degrades the value of the timber for many uses. However, mostly it does not affect the strength of the wood. Damage by pinhole borers is often seen in certain timber species (eg tallowwood and blackbutt), but apart from detracting from the timber’s appearance there is usually no reason for concern. One species, the horizontal borer, Austroplatypus incompertus, attacks standing trees that have been injured by fire or stressed in some way and makes extensive gallery systems in one plane only. The fungus it carries breaks down the cellulose in a horizontal plane, causing even large-dimensional timber (100 x 100 mm) from the affected log to fracture at the plane of past activity.

Bark beetles

Bark beetles are forest pests, but the larvae of some species encroach into the sapwood and damage it. Most species of bark beetles infest growing trees and are of little or no relevance to pest controllers, unless they are involved in the fumigation of imported timber, which should not contain bark to enter Australian ports. However, pest controllers must be able to identify bark beetle damage if it is located in buildings.

4 types of timber destroying fungi that could cause decay in your home

Brown Rot Fungi
The brown rot fungi, also known as brown cubical rot, attack only the cellulose, leaving the lignin (a phenolic substance), which turns brown when exposed often giving the wood a darker colour than it was before the attack. Wood that is attacked by brown rot fungi cracks across the grain often producing large cubes of wood. Looksee Pest Inspections.

White Rot Fungi
Attack both the cellulose and the lignin, and most commonly result in white stringy rot (while less frequently resulting in white pocket rots, where numerous small spots of white rot are separated by thin bands of non-discoloured timber). The exposed surface becomes white and fibrous, a characteristic which enables these fungi to be distinguished from the brown rots. After attack the colour of the

Soft Rot Fungi
These organisms are a mixture of fungi and bacteria that are mainly soil inhabiting. They thoroughly attack restricted layers within the cell walls of wood. It is a type of brown rot and is also known as carroty rot. Affected timber cracks across the grain, but the cubes are mostly smaller than those of other brown rots and the timber is of a darker colour than before it was attacked. Prior to failure, soft rot is the more difficult of the three decay types to recognise by way of external appearance of the decaying timber. Looksee Pest Inspections.

Mould Fungi
The spores of the mould fungi are airborne like the others, butare the cause of many allergies in humans. The spores of mould fungi germinate on the surfaces of moist wood, but their activity is superficial and they do not decay wood. When active they do betray a moisture level which may, if allowed to continue to rise, provide an environment for fungal decay. Usually the presence of mould fungi alerts the building inspector to a ventilation problem or a similar cause.

Sapstain fungi
Usually attack fresh logs and freshly sawn timber when poorly stacked. The moisture content for sapstain to occur is above 30%. The fungal hyphae enter the cells causing the characteristic, often blue or green, stain. Rapid drying of sawn timber or placement of the timber in a dry atmosphere allowing air circulation reduces the incidence of bluestain. Looksee Pest Inspections.

Difiberation

In general terms, wood is about 45% cellulose, about 20–25% hemicellulose and about 25–30% lignin. The proportions of these materials vary and are different for softwoods and hardwoods.

Timbers which are used for tile battens and rafters in roof structures sometimes exhibit masses of orange-coloured fibres over their surfaces — mostly on the undersurface. This type of deterioration of timber is encountered in coastal areas, particularly those areas closer to the sea. Usually the houses in which the timber is affected in this way are more than 20 years old.

The same effect has been noticed in buildings where chemical gases or fumes are liberated in some manufacturing processes. Vapours from combustion stoves when allowed to discharge into roof cavities have caused this defibring effect more rapidly than that produced by salt air. The timbers most often affected in this way are douglas fir and radiata pine. Defibration is the chemical breakdown and separation of the cell walls and it occurs in both pored and non-pored woods. Looksee Pest Inspections.

Notifiable

AQIS and PIAPH are both part of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry – Australia and work closely to prevent and manage incursions of exotic pests, weeds and diseases. AQIS is responsible for minimising the risk of entry into Australia of diseases and pests affecting humans, animals and plants. PIAPH provides national and international leadership and co-ordination in managing animal and plant health emergencies, and minimising the effects of incursions of pests and diseases on Australia’s agricultural producers and the community. Looksee Pest Inspections comply with Australian Standards.

Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) Queensland
AQIS Brisbane GPO Box 778 BRISBANE QLD 4001 Ph: (07) 3246 8755 Fax: (07) 3839 9313 Email: importclear@aqis.gov.au

PRODUCT INTEGRITY, ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH (PIAPH)
Chief Plant Protection Officer Plant Protection Branch AFFA GPO Box 858 CANBERRA ACT 2601 Ph: (02) 6271 6534 Fax: (02) 6272 5835 Email: plant.protection@affa.gov.au http://www.affa.gov.au/nat-offices

STATE FORESTRY AGENCIES
Queensland Forest Protection Group Forestry Research Institute PO Box 631 INDOOROOPILLY QLD 4068 Ph: (07) 3896 9713 Fax: (07) 3896 9628

Timber and Trees

Various insects that destroy wood have distinct dietary requirements. By simply knowing that a wood is a pine or a hardwood the identification of damage is made easier. We identify the damage caused by most, if not all, timber insects. Incorrect identification may involve unnecessary treatment or worse. Looksee Pest Inspections.

How much damage do termites cause?

A 2012 Industry Study commissioned by AEPMA estimated the average cost of treatment and repair of damage to be approximately $10,000 per house. A 2003 survey by Archicentre (the Building Advisory Service branch of the Royal Institute of Architects) estimated that 650,000 Australian homes had become infested with termites over the last five years. The cost of treatment and repair of the resultant damage caused by the termite infestations has been estimated at $3.9 billion. Looksee Pest Inspections.

Common Building Terms

Ant cap a shaped metal shield which is placed on top of a pier or stump and below bearers or other supporting timber members to delay, and expose during periodic inspections any movement of termites from soil to timber sections of a building

Backfill soil placed into an excavation after placement of concrete, masonry, pipes, timber or other building material

Bagging method of finishing brickwork with an application of thin mortar slurry to the face, Hessian bag for texture (at times precoloured)

Baluster upright infill members between stair or balcony and handrail

Balustrade framework of handrails (banisters) and uprights (balusters), that form protective barriers at open side of staircase or balcony

Bargeboard fascia board, usually timber, fixed to the visible sloping edge of a roof

Barge capping a timber or metal or fibro cap that covers the top of the bargeboard & edge of the roof surface

Batt 50 to 80 mm thick rectangular, flat-surfaced insulating material inserted between ceiling joists or wall studs to improve the insulation of the building

Batten a small timber member used to fix linings, claddings or roof materials to timber frames.

Bay window a window or group of windows forming a bay or recess in a room and projecting outward from the general line of the external wall

Beam a horizontal, load bearing structural member supported at two or more points

Bearer a sub-floor structural member spanning between piers or walls and supporting the joists

Bottom plate a horizontal member forming the base of a structural wall (generally 100×50 timbers covered by internal linings)

Box gutter a concealed roof gutter used between roofs, behind parapets or in valleys

Brick tie a galvanised or stainless steel wire strip, built into brickwork at regular spacing to link internal and external sections of wall either in veneer or full brick construction

Brick veneer type of construction in which a structural timber frame is tied to single-brick external wall that is non load bearing

Building regulations rules (usually council) that control public health and safety, and the quality and acceptable standards of construction of any building

Bulkhead is a drop boxed section used to conceal underslung services or to box in the likes of a garage roller door, air conditioning ducting etc’.

Bullnose the rounding of a corner into quarter of a circle

Cantilever beam a beam with one unsupported end projecting beyond a support

Cathedral ceiling a ceiling which follows surface of the roof structure, sometimes with roof timbers left exposed

Caulking waterproof sealing of joints with pliable or flexible compound (eg silicone, no more gaps)

Ceiling joists a structural member, usually timber, to which the ceiling linings are fitted

Chemical Delignification is a slow deterioration of wood, lignin is the natural glue that binds wood fibres together in wood, when wood is exposed to chemicals in the air the lignin can deteriorate causing the wood fibres to detach giving the wood section a hairy appearance.

Cladding external covering to walls, other than wet applied finish

Clerestory window a window in the upper part of a room to admit light from the above and adjacent roof

Collar tie horizontal structural roof-framing member that ties opposite roof rafters together to prevent roof frame spread or deflection at the centre of the rafters, usually above underpurlins

Colonising flight the flight of alate or reproductive (winged) termites from the nest in late spring (November) or early autumn (March)

Column free standing vertical structural member, generally rectangular or round, supporting structure above

Common brick type of bricks generally used for walls that will later be cement-rendered or painted (also known as ‘comers’)

Composites are materials made from two or more constituent materials with significantly different physical or chemical properties, that when combined, produce a material with characteristics different from the individual components.

Compressed fibre cement sheet extra high density sheeting made from cement and fibre, used for water-resistant flooring or wall cladding in wet areas (eg bathrooms)

Concrete is a composite material composed mainly of water, aggregate, sand and cement. Often, additives and reinforcements (such as rebar) are included in the mixture to achieve the desired physical properties of the finished concrete. When ingredients are mixed together, they form a type of fluid mass that is poured into formwork to shape the concrete. Over time, the cement forms a hard matrix which binds the other ingredients together into a durable stone-like material with many uses.

Conduit protective casing for electrical or communication cables, especially for use in exposed situations

Coping capping or covering on top of wall or pier as decoration and to protect masonry from water penetration from above

Cornice ornamental moulding used to conceal the joint between ceiling and wall or column

Corrugated type of sheet, usually corrosion resistant, which is strengthened for the use in construction by being formed into an alternating series of grooves and ridges

Course single row or layer of bricks or masonry

Coving a concave moulding, usually between the interface of wall and ceiling or flooring

Cupping distortion of (usually) wide timber boards showing curvature across the grain, causing the broad surface to be concave

Curing process of improving the quality of concrete by preventing rapid drying out of concrete, by either keeping constantly wet or sealing surface to minimise evaporation

Cut & fill method used to provide level area on sloping site. The uphill part of the slope is cut away and the soil removed is used as fill on the lower slope immediately below

Dado the lower portion of wall above the skirting when finished in contrast to remainder of wall (eg wood panelling)

Dampcourse a continuous layer of impervious material placed in a masonry wall to prevent the upward or downward movement of moisture (commonly referred to as DPC)

Dead load the weight of the structure itself, including floor, roof, framing and covering members, plus any permanent loads

Decking material forming the covering for a deck or roof

Deflection the displacement of a loaded structural member or system in any direction, measured from it’s no-load position, after loads have been applied

Design load the load specified by building codes, state or city authorities or owner’s or architect’s specifications to be used in the design of the structural frame of a building – it varies according to local conditions and building use

Door furniture metal accessories for a door (eg handles, hinges, latches, locks, bolts, escutcheons etc’)

Door jamb the vertical sides of a door frame

Dormant

Lying asleep or as if asleep; inactive.
Latent but capable of being activated: “a harrowing experience which… lay dormant but still menacing” (Charles Jackson).
Temporarily quiescent: a dormant volcano. See Synonyms at inactive. See Synonyms at latent.
In a condition of biological rest or inactivity characterised by cessation of growth or development and the suspension of many metabolic processes. (Copied from dictionary.com)

Dormer window a vertical window in a sloping roof with its own gable projection through the main roof slope

Double glazing form of glazing incorporating two panes of glass with air space between them, providing better sound and thermal insulation

Double-hung window a window with two sashes which both slide vertically over one another and are balanced by cords & weights or springs (balancers)

Downpipe a metal, plastic or fibro pipe for conveying rainwater from roof to a stormwater drain, ground level, tank. Or other part of building

Dressed timber usually used for joinery purposes that has passed through a planning machine to produce smooth surfaces

Drip groove a weathering groove or recess on the underside of a sill or head near the outer edge, to prevent the horizontal passage of moisture and to shed any rainwater

Dwarf wall a brick wall from footing to the underside of the suspended floor framing

Eaves part of the roof that overhangs the exterior walls

Eaves gutter a preformed or specially made open drain, fixed to the fascia board, for collecting and carrying away rainwater from roof to downpipes

Eaves soffit linings sheeting or boarding which is fitted as lining material to underside of eaves

Engaged pier a pier built into masonry wall, usually attached to dwarf wall supporting floor framing

Expansion joint a vertical or horizontal joint in a construction which permits thermal expansion-contraction or creep

Face brick visible high-quality brick, primarily used in brickwork where no render or paint finish is to be applied

Fall the differences in level between two points, or the slope of a flat roof, gutter or drain

Fanlight a sash placed over a door opening

Fascia wide board fixed to the lower end of the roof rafters

Fibreboard cladding or lining formed by compressed fibre into low-, medium – or high density building board

Fibrous plaster gypsum plaster cast in sheets, which is reinforced with sisal or fibreglass fibres

Fittings items such as light fittings that can be removed without causing damage to a property

Flashing a strip or sleeve of impervious material (such as galvanised metal, lead or copper) dressed or fitted to shed water, or to cover a joint to prevent penetration of moisture

Flight an unbroken series of steps from on floor or landing to another

Floor framing structural timbers supporting the flooring or floorboards

Flue the passage provided by vent or chimney structure as an outlet for gases and smoke

Flush joint a joint between two materials where both pieces and the jointing material, if any, that lie on the same plane

Footing the structural base of wall or pier supporting the mass of the building transferring the load to the foundation

Formwork temporary moulds including supporting framework to contain fresh concrete until it hardens to become self-supporting

Foundation that portion of the ground supporting the mass of the building

Frass borer droppings or dust

Freestanding a building that stands unattached to any other buildings

Gable a vertical wall or panel that forms a triangular portion under the roof surface

Galvanising bonding of zinc protective coating over steel or iron to prevent corrosion ( rust)

Glazing 1. fitting of glass to sashes opening or doors 2. a smooth surface of clay products that have been fired in a manner that seals the surface

Grout mortar, usually fluid, for filling joints or cracks (eg in brickwork, wall or floor tiles, or concrete)

Gutter a preformed or specially made channel or drain for collecting and carrying away rainwater from roof to downpipes

Hanging beam a structural beam supporting ceiling joists

Hardwood timber that has come from trees that have broad leaves and flowers, it is the wood structure that determines if timber is a hardwood or a softwood.

Head the top section of a frame, over an opening

Header brick laid so that the narrower end is visible

Highlight a window above the roof or over another part of a building used to admit light or provide ventilation

Hip roof shape where the sloping surfaces are pitched on all sides of building

Hob brickwork that is raised above floor level, usually around a bath, shower or fireplace

Homeguard A termite physical barrier that is installed as a dampcourse, essentially a plastic impregnated with Deltamethrin.

Hopper window a window in which the sash is hinged at the bottom and moves inward at the top

HVAC is an abbreviation of “Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning”
Insulation a thermal or acoustic barrier, commonly made from fibreglass, rock wool, expanded polystyrene or reflective foil

Jamb vertical sides of frames of a window or door opening

Joist a structural timber to which a floor or ceiling is fixed

Kalsomine obsolete decorative paint coat for interior plaster surfaces, prepared from dry powder of whiting (a white chalk) and glue mixed with water

Lagging thermal insulation material for covering pipe or duct work

Laminate product made by bonding together two or more layers of materials

Lining internal coverings to walls or ceiling, usually of framed construction

Lintel a horizontal structural member spanning on opening

Masonry brick, concrete block, stone, terracotta or other structural units laid in mortar

Membrane a thin pliable sheet material, usually impervious

Meter box a prefabricated or custom made box to house and enclose a meter board or electricity meters and often fuses.

Mortar suitably proportioned mixture (paste) of sand (fine aggregate), cement and/or lime or additives and water for the laying of masonry units

Mullion a vertical member dividing a window or door frame into sections

Newel a stair post into which the handrail or banister is housed

Noggin horizontal blocking fitted between studs to hold them straight, and for fixing of linings

Nosing the projecting edge of any flat surface, generally rounded in section (eg the overhanging edge of stair tread or window sill)

Obscure glass usually used for privacy, through which objects cannot be clearly seen

Organochlorins toxic chemicals that have been used in the past as insecticides, also called cyclodienes. Use of organochlorins is now banned for general use in Australia

Organophosphates toxic chemicals used as insecticides and termiticides

Pane a single piece of glass fitted or cut to size for a window or door ready for glazing

Parapet a low wall that rises above edge of a roof, balcony or terrace

Particle board building board made from compressed fibres bonded together with adhesive, it comes in low, medium or high density grades, some particle board has waterproofing added

Party wall a wall between two adjoining buildings, which often straddles the boundary

Pelmet timber or fabric cover to curtain rod or blind fittings or to sliding door to conceal tracks

Pergola an open timber or steel framework over path, terrace, patio or deck, often covered with plants trained over members

Pier a vertical structural member of footings in concrete, steel or brick

Pier and beam construction a footing system for reactive soils in which the structure has reinforced concrete beams supported on reinforced concrete piers

Plasterboard rigid lining board made of a core of gypsum plaster set between and bonded to outer coverings of heavy duty paper

Plinth a block or slab on which a pedestal, column, hot water unit or statue is placed.

Plywood fabricated wood panels formed by bonding layers together, under heat and pressure, a series of timber veneers at right angles make up layers

Pointing the completion of joints –

Between ridge or hip or end tiles with matching mortar –
Between tiles on walls with mortar of matching colour –
In brickwork or masonry by trowelling or mortar into the joints after the structural units are laid

Purlin a horizontal structural roof member, either supporting the rafters underneath at right angles or, where there are no rafters, supporting the roof covering

Quad moulding with cross-section of quadrant of a circle (quarter round)

Rafter a structural member sloping down from ridge to eaves, and providing the principle structural support of the roofing material

Render finish (eg cement or plaster) that is applied to brick or masonry walls. Can also be applied to a special type of fibreboard called blue board.

Retaining wall a wall built to hold back earth or other solid material, and resist lateral pressure (thrust) from the retained material

Reveal the vertical side of an opening such as window or door

Ridge the horizontal apex of two roof planes, usually the highest point of the roof

Ridge tile concrete or burnt clay tile used for the covering or a ridge or hip of a tiled roof (usually of angular cross section, but sometimes semi circular), fitted together with flanged or overlapping joints

Rise the vertical distance through which an element rises (eg rise of the roof, a stair or step)

Riser the vertical face of a step in a flight of stairs or vertical drainage or plumbing pipe

Rising damp the vertical movement of moisture up masonry, causing unsightly staining and dampness on internal walls

Roof truss a structural frame designed to carry the loads of a roof and its coverings over the full span without intermediate support

Rot fungal decay of timber, caused by fungus under conditions of excessive moisture and absence of adequate ventilation.

Rough-sawn timber direct from the saw – usually used for structural rather than joinery purposes

Sapwood in the living tree the wood containing living cells located between the heartwood (deadwood) and the bark. When the tree is felled this section of the tree still retains differences to the heartwood and is prone to attack by some pests

Sarking a pliable waterproof membrane fixed under roof or wall covering to collect and discharge any water that may penetrate, often combined with reflective foil to give improved thermal insulation

Sash the framed part of a window unit into which the glass is fitted, and which can be moved by pivoting or sliding

Sealant group of non-hardening materials, applied in liquid or plastic form between adjacent building materials to seal joints against the penetration of moisture

Seasoned timber air or kiln dried timber

Setting a trowelled finishing coat of lime putty and/or plaster of paris, applied to cement render or concrete surfaces

Settlement downward movement of the soil of any part of the structure that it supports

Sheet flooring made up of large rigid sheets

Shingles thin pieces of wood, slate or other material, usually oblong in shape and used in overlapping rows for the covering of roofs or walls

Shutter a hinged or moveable cover or screen for a window or other opening, usually fixed externally and sometimes louvered

Sill a horizontal member at the bottom of a window frame

Skillion a roof shape consisting of a single sloping surface without a ridge

Skirting moulding to cover the joint between floor and wall lining

Skylight a glazed opening in a roof and/or ceiling, designed to admit daylight to the space below

Slab on ground a floor system of reinforced concrete with thickened edges placed directly on the ground over a vapour proof membrane

Sleeper pier a freestanding pier, usually of masonry, supporting floor framing

Soffit the underside of eaves or the visible underside of a beam, lintel, arch, reveal, vault or suspended concrete slab

Soffit lining sheeting or boarding fitted as lining material in lined eaves or soffits

Softwoods non pored timbers, timbers from trees that grow pine cones and needles. The term does not refer to the hardness of the timber.

Span the horizontal distance between points of support for load bearing structural members

Stability the resistance of structure to sliding, overturning or collapse

Stress grade visual or mechanical strength grading of timber

Stringer in stair construction, the inclined structural member on both sides of the stair treads and risers

Strip footing poured in a continuous strip (eg under the length of the wall)

Strut structural support to a purlin, that transfers load to the wall frame or strutting beam

Strutting beam a structural beam used to support struts where no internal walls are available, loads are transferred to other walls

Stud a vertical structural member in the wall framing to which lining or cladding can be fixed

Sub-floor vent a brick with openings or a brick with steel mesh to provide cross flow ventilation to the sub-floor void.

Swarm termites swarm during colonising flight

Termites insects that have species that can cause significant damage to timbers in service

Termite shield (barrier) termite shields are commonly known as ant capping, ant capping is intended to expose termite workings during periodic inspections of the sub-floor areas

Termiticides chemicals used to control termites.

Timber framed construction in which the structural member are of timber or depend on a timber frame for support

Tongue and groove a strong jointing system for timber boards where on one side is grooved to allow insertion of tongue from adjacent board

Top plate a horizontal structural member forming the top side of wall framing, or laid on and strapped to a masonry wall, which carries the ceiling joists and supports rafters

Transom the horizontal member of a window frame, door frame, or opening between head and sill

Tread the horizontal portion or length of each strip in a stairway

Trench mesh steel mesh in lounge narrow lengths for the reinforcement of concrete strip footings

Trim mouldings to doors, windows, joinery or openings

Trimmer a timber cross member inserted around an opening in timber framing (eg around access holes, skylights, chimneys)

Truss a frame designed to carry loads over a full span without intermediate support

Underpurlin a horizontal structural roof member supporting the underside of rafter at right angles

Valley the intersection of two sloping roof surfaces to form an open drain or gutter

Valley board boarding that forms a base or support for the valley gutter, commonly called a valley metal

Verge the overhanging edge of the roof covering along the gable

Verge capping the timber or metal cap between the top of the barge board and the roof surfaces

Verge tile full or half roof tile in any course, fixed parallel to and projecting over or flush with, the verge of a gable roof. Commonly referred to as an end tile.

Vermin proofing wire mesh fixed to the bottom plate and set into mortar joint in brick veneer buildings to prevent the entry of vermin (rats, possums etc’) into the wall cavity

Wall tie galvanised or stainless steel wire built into cavity walls to bind the inner and outer leaves or to attach a single masonry leaf to the timber frame in brick veneer construction

Warp the general term for distortion of timber due to variations in moisture content

Water table the natural and variable level of groundwater in soil, usually referring to the upper level of the soil wholly saturated with groundwater

Weatherboard types of boards designed to function as an effective exterior wall cladding to timber framed buildings

Weathering gradual deterioration of timber or materials exposed to natural elements

Weather strip 1. a strip of galvanised steel or plastic built into the horizontal joints of external fibre cement cladding to render them watertight 2. a brass strip set into a threshold to resist the penetration of rain

Weep hole a hole or opening placed in the perpendicular joints of a masonry wall above the level of a flashing or at the bottom of a cavity to permit the drainage of any accumulated moisture within the cavity

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Termites will eat you out of house and home!

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