Roof water and plumbing
Look for persistent discharge, leaks and drainage that keeps soil or building materials damp.
Follow water, sightlines and timber
Termite prevention: a property walk-around
Termite prevention is not one miracle product. It involves maintaining visibility, addressing persistent moisture and avoiding changes that conceal or bridge termite-management features.
Walls and slab edges
Keep inspection zones visible; note additions that hide edges, joints or penetrations.
Gardens and stored timber
Review mulch, garden beds, firewood, stumps and timber stored against or beneath the building.
Decks and subfloors
Check whether access, ventilation and visual inspection have been blocked by storage or later work.
Keep prevention records
Keep inspection, treatment and renovation documents together for future owners and technicians.
Questions on this page
Quick answers about termite prevention: a property walk-around
Does mulch cause termites?
Mulch is not proof of activity, but its depth and position can retain moisture or obscure areas that need to remain visible.
Should slab edges be visible?
Visible edges can support inspection; ask how the building's particular termite-management system is intended to be inspected.
Can gardens bridge a barrier?
Raised soil, garden structures and later finishes may conceal or cross inspection and management zones.
Is moisture proof of termites?
No. Persistent moisture is a building condition to investigate, not a termite diagnosis.
Do prevention steps replace inspections?
No. Housekeeping and maintenance cannot establish whether concealed activity exists.