Last week we had our yearly termite inspection on our house and property. When we had the house lifted and restumped, and the new slab poured, we had an anti-termite application installed called “Kordon”.
Kordon is a “chemical barrier sandwiched between a moisture membrane that is typically installed under concrete slabs and can replace the moisture membrane”. The company that did the Kordon termite barrier was Amalgamated Pest Control, as part of there “Termaforce” termite solution.
The Kordon termite application includes a 10-year warranty against termites, if we get it inspected by an authorised termite inspector every year for those 10-years. The inspection costs about $200 a year, so about $2000 for the life of the warranty.
Because termites are such a huge problem in Townsville and Tropical Australia the warranty is pretty important to our piece of mind. We have had the termite inspection for the last two years since we had the Kordon installed around the stumps and the slab when they were built.
It is reported that “there are an estimated 130,000 termite attacks in Australia per annum with a repair bill of $910 million and costing an average of $7,000 each to rectify” (source)., With an average of $7000 per repair, the $2000 over 10-years seems quite reasonable.
I reckon that despite the prevalence of termites in Townsville and North Queensland I would probably not get annual termite inspections if we did not want to maintain the warranty. If you know what to look for and keep an eye on your property you should be able to avoid termites, or at least detect them early on.
So what do you reckon? Should an professional termite inspection be a part of your yearly maintenance plan for your house? Or do you think you can keep an eye on things yourself be avoid termites devouring your home …
We maintained a termite inspection warranty at the prior house – about 4 years ago it was US $99 to maintain it each year. I wouldn’t be surprised if that had gone up a few bucks now. They never found a reoccurence of termites, but we had the same situation – if you don’t get the inspection, the warranty is void.
In the new house I’ve started to do my own checks. If I see anything suspicious, I’ll give an inspector a call. So far, haven’t even seen carpenter ants around, which are a problem round these parts.
Pingback: Termite Bonds | Renovate Australia
Hmm, I’m wondering the same thing.
I’m being quoted $180 to do the annual inspection to keep the warranty, on a recently (12 months) built house in Melbourne. But I’m sure they will also charge when I need to refill the termite application (pipes arounds the outside of the slab…) – which needs to be done every 24 months.
You would think as part of the re-fill they would/could do the inspection?
I worked in this industry for sometime and was frustrated by these “warranties”. Do you realise that the “warranty” is to eradicate termites should that happen. They “warrant” that THEY (and only they) will go back to treat if termites enter, it does not cover any damage caused. Also the way the warranty is worded, it is impossible not to void it. We had many bridges or breaching claims but their warranty was always voided. Lay concrete or pavers; put in gardens and its gone. Worst part is you usually void the warranty within 6 months of moving in but they will continue to service it and take your money without advising that. The simply put in the report “high levels” for gardens or etc. Save the $200, if in 10 years you did get them put the $2000 towards the treatment. If you know what to look for and catch them before its to bad the $2000 would almost cover it. With retic its $180 – $200 to inspect then $400 to inject, plus you need it inspected that same year too. Inject it yourself, they claim the chemical is only available to licensed pesties but they would sell it to our labourers, Deltamethrin (Country wide) from garrards. The major insurer of this industry makes them use a standard warranty wording, read it carefully. Alf who installed your system??