The right termite treatment depends on the species and how the building meets the ground. Subterranean termites cause most of the damage in Sydney and come up from the soil, which the three systems below are built to stop. Drywood and dampwood termites live in the timber itself and are treated there.
Perimeter protectionA chemical soil barrier treatment is the most common way to protect an established Sydney home. We trench the garden beds and drill through paths at set spacings along the footings, then apply a non-repellent termiticide such as Termidor HE at the label rate. Termites cannot detect the treated zone, so they pass through it, pick up the termiticide and spread it to nestmates. It suits homes with open access around the perimeter.
Before the slab pourNew homes, extensions and granny flats need termite protection in place before the slab is poured. We fit termite collars around pipe penetrations, lay under-slab membranes and slab edge barriers, and treat the soil where a chemical zone is specified, all to AS 3660.1. At the end you receive the durable notice your certifier asks for. Our termite barrier Sydney page shows how each stage fits your build.
No digging at refill timeA termite reticulation system is a network of perforated pipes laid in the soil along the footings, and under the slab on new builds, running back to capped fill points outside. When the treated zone reaches the end of its labelled life, we pump fresh termiticide through the pipes instead of lifting pavers or digging up garden beds. We install new systems and also test, refill and repair existing ones. Our termite reticulation page explains how servicing works.
A weatherboard cottage on piers, a brick villa on a slab and a strata block with shared gardens all give termites different ways in. Before recommending termite control, we look at construction, the soil line, drainage and nearby trees, because those details decide where a colony is likely to forage and where protection belongs.
Many enquiries come from owners who have spotted something odd, or who have not had the house checked for a while. Our residential termite inspection and treatment is where termite control starts, covering subfloor, roof void, rooms, garage, fences and garden edges. If termites are active, you get a written plan that eliminates the colony before any barrier goes in. Buying a home? Ask about a pre-purchase timber pest inspection.
For strata committees, property managers and business owners, commercial and strata termite management is about records as much as treatment. We schedule inspections around tenants and trading hours, report on each building separately and keep a clear history of findings, treatments and station checks. That paper trail helps when owners raise questions at the AGM, when an insurer asks for evidence or when a property goes to sale.
Termites eat timber from within and shun daylight, so damage often stays hidden until it is advanced. If you spot any of these signs, do not spray, scrape or break open the workings. Disturbed termites move on and resurface elsewhere, which makes the colony harder to trace. Take a photo, leave it intact and book an inspection.
Termite mud tubes are narrow tunnels of soil and saliva that let workers travel between the ground and timber without drying out. Check subfloor piers, the exposed edge of the slab, behind downpipes, and anywhere garden beds meet brickwork. A tube that looks dark and damp usually means current activity rather than an old problem, and that is the moment to call for an inspection.
Termites leave a thin skin of timber or paint on the surface, so damaged skirting boards, door frames and architraves can look perfectly normal. Tap gently with the handle of a screwdriver. A papery, hollow sound, a soft spot or fine soil packed into a crack all point to feeding underneath. We confirm it with a moisture meter and thermal camera rather than cutting into your walls.
On warm, humid evenings in late spring and summer, mature colonies release winged termites to start new nests. Piles of identical shed wings on window sills, near light fittings or along skirting boards suggest a colony is close by. Flying ants are easily mistaken for termites, so take a close photo of the insects or wings and read our guide to termites versus ants.
Subterranean termites carry moisture into the timber they feed on. That can show up as paint that bubbles or ripples, plaster with damp patches that do not match any leak, or tiny pinholes ringed with soil. When these appear on a wall with no obvious water source, termites working in the frame behind it are a real possibility worth ruling out. Our article on why termites are hard to detect explains why.
As termites hollow out bearers, joists and wall studs, the structure starts to move. Doors and windows that suddenly jam, floors that feel springy and fresh cracks in cornices can all follow. These signs usually mean the damage has been building for some time, so the inspection should also confirm how far it has spread and whether a builder needs to assess the timber.
Do not spray or disturb them. Call 0468 288 969 or send the form with what you found and where, and we will book a licensed termite inspection. Call before midday and we can often attend that afternoon. You see the findings and a fixed written quote before any treatment starts.
Effective termite removal means reaching the colony, not just killing the termites you can see. Every job follows three stages, so you know what is happening at each point, what it will cost before any work starts and what needs to happen afterwards to keep your property protected.
Your inspection follows AS 3660.2 and covers the subfloor, roof void, interior, garage and grounds. Thermal imaging, a moisture meter and sounding tools trace the activity and tell us whether you have subterranean, drywood or dampwood termites. You receive a photo report and an itemised price in writing.
With your approval, we treat the active termites first, using dust, foam or bait depending on where they are working. We then install the long-term protection that suits your site. Every product is APVMA registered and applied at the label rate.
We return to confirm the activity has stopped, record every visit and back your treatment with a 6-month written warranty. We also flag anything that could invite termites back and book your next annual inspection so protection does not lapse.
Every termite job starts with finding out exactly what you are dealing with.
Subterranean, drywood and dampwood termites live and feed differently, so we confirm the species and how far the activity has spread before recommending a treatment.
Depending on the activity and how the home is built, the plan may be a colony treatment, a chemical soil barrier or a termite reticulation system.
You receive a written report of what we found and treated, and we recommend an inspection at least every 12 months, in line with AS 3660.2.
Good termite control rewards patience and punishes shortcuts. A rushed spray can scatter a colony and leave the real damage untouched. Here is what you can expect when you book Apex, whether it is a first inspection, an active infestation or ongoing protection for a property you have owned for years.
Apex works under NSW pest management licensing and carries full public liability insurance. The termite exterminator who inspects your property explains the findings in plain language and stays responsible for the job through to the follow-up visit.
Termites rarely show themselves, so we do not rely on sight alone. Thermal imaging, a moisture meter and careful sounding show where they are working behind plasterboard, which keeps holes and disruption to a minimum.
Before any treatment starts, you receive written findings and a set price explaining what we recommend and why. If a simpler option will do the job, or there are no termites present, we tell you plainly.
Live termites or a settlement deadline should not wait. Call before midday and we can often attend that afternoon, weekends included, from the Eastern Suburbs and Inner West to the Hills District, Western Sydney and the Sutherland Shire.
Straight answers to the questions Sydney property owners ask us most about termites.
Leave them alone and call a licensed termite professional. Do not spray, scrape off mud tubes or break into damaged timber, because disturbed termites abandon that spot and keep feeding somewhere harder to find. Take photos, note where you saw the activity and keep children and pets away from it until it has been inspected and a treatment plan is agreed.
It depends on the treatment method, the size of the building and its perimeter, whether it sits on a slab or piers, the soil type and how much concrete or paving needs drilling. Baiting systems also involve ongoing station checks. Because these factors vary so much, we inspect first and then give you a fixed written quote, so the price you approve is the price you pay.
The most effective approach has two parts: eliminate the active colony, then protect the building so a new one cannot get in unnoticed. Non-repellent soil barriers and baiting systems both work well when installed properly. Which suits you depends on access, construction and surroundings, and regular inspections are what keep either one working.
An active colony can be eliminated, and that is the aim of every treatment we carry out. What cannot be removed is the risk, because new colonies live in the soil, trees and stumps around most Sydney properties. That is why we pair treatment with ongoing protection and recommend inspections at least once a year to catch new activity early.
Retail sprays and dusts usually kill only the termites they touch, which pushes the rest of the colony deeper into the building. Professional termiticides are designed to be carried back through the colony, and many are restricted to licensed operators. If you have already sprayed, tell us when you book so we can plan the inspection around it.
No. A general pest treatment targets common household insects and does not protect your home from termites. Termite control is a separate service with its own equipment, products and reporting. If you book both on the same visit, we quote and report on them separately so you can see exactly what each one covers.
At least once every 12 months, which is the interval recommended in AS 3660.2. Homes near bushland, with timber subfloors or a history of termites benefit from checks every six months. Regular inspections are often a condition of termite warranties too, and they are the lowest-cost way to find activity before it turns into structural repairs.
Subterranean termites, particularly the Coptotermes genus, are behind most of the serious damage we see. Their colonies nest in the ground, tree trunks and old stumps, then tunnel through soil to reach building timbers. Schedorhinotermes species are also common around Sydney homes. Our article on common termite species in Australia explains how to tell them apart.
Subterranean termites nest in the soil, trees and stumps and travel to buildings through mud tubes, which is why soil barriers and reticulation systems work against them. Drywood termites live inside dry timber with no soil contact and are far less common in Sydney, so they are treated directly in the timber. Dampwood termites feed on wet or decaying timber, and control starts with fixing the moisture and removing the rotted wood.
No. Treatment stops the termites, but damaged bearers, studs or flooring need a builder or carpenter to repair or replace them. We note every affected area in your report so you have a clear record. Check your insurance early as well, because most home policies exclude termite damage. Our guide to how much damage termites can do covers what to expect.
Yes. New homes and extensions need termite protection that meets the building code, timed around the slab pour. We fit collars, membranes and chemical zones in stages and supply the durable notice your certifier asks for. Send us your plans and pour date, and see our termite barrier Sydney page for how each stage fits your build.
Yes, when applied correctly. Soil treatments sit underground or against the outer face of the footings, and bait stations are sealed and tamper-resistant. We use APVMA-registered products at label rates and, before we leave, tell you how long to keep children and pets away from treated areas, which is usually just until surfaces are dry.
Describe the signs, where they turned up and when the property was last checked. We will lock in a time, inspect properly and give you a clear recommendation for termite treatment in Sydney, priced in writing. Call 0468 288 969 or send the form. Need help with other pests too? See our pest control services in Sydney.
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