Environpest in Wishart | House inspector

Environpest

Locality: Wishart

Phone: +61 7 3219 2777

Address: 31 Kinkuna St 4122 Wishart, QLD, Australia

Website: http://www.environpest.com.au

Likes: 37

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• Property
• Pest control service
• House inspector

22.01.2022 I was doing an annual timber pest inspection at a long term client’s home, and noticed that there was some new wiring installed through the roof void for a new air conditioner. At the Queensland Master Builders Technical and Institute of Building Consultants committee meetings, the Infinity electrical cable disaster has been a topic of conversation. Infinity supplied electrical cable to Masters Home Improvement and others, and the cable was later found to be a non-conforming ...product, in that the cable insulation wasn’t standing up to the Australian roof void and wall temperatures, potentially creating electrocution and fire hazards. This resulted in the wiring being recalled (www.recalls.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/1061753). The supplier (Infinity) collapsed, and the distributors (Masters and others) have been left exposed to replacement claims. I looked at the cable, and found it was a 2013 Olsent (Infinity) cable. I’ve referred the client to the recall website, and suggested she refer the issue to her air conditioner supplier for advice. If the air conditioner supplier is hesitant, then further advice can be sought from the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC). The electrical cable issue isn’t a termite issue, but it’s one that I do get to see by inspecting the roof voids that I do. Being aware of this Infinity cable issue, I seem to have gotten into the habit of checking any recent electrical cabling I find. As in this case, if I find an issue of concern (even if it’s not termite related), I’ll always let my clients know what I’ve found. I guess it’s just simply treating others the way you’d prefer to be treated yourself. See more

21.01.2022 The Queensland Building & Construction Commission have released a video from one of my Tradie Tour talks. It’s a good overview of some of the termite issues facing builders and termite barrier installers today. A pretty good practical perspective on current termite issues.

20.01.2022 Mark's been engaged by the Queensland Building & Construction Commission (QBCC) through Master Builders Queensland to speak at the QBCC Tradies Tour in May, ranging from the Gold Coast to Cairns. He'll be talking for an hour and a half each evening on termites as part of the QBCC Education program. The venues haven't been named yet, but if you're a QBCC liencee, you'll be notified shortly, and given the opportunity to attend. Tour dates are: Tuesday 1st May Brisbane Nor...th Thursday 3rd May Toowoomba Tuesday 8th May Brisbane South Wednesday 9th May Hervey Bay Thursday 10th May Sunshine Coast Tuesday 15th May Mackay Wednesday 16th May Rockhampton Tuesday 22nd May Townsville Wednesday 23rd May Cairns Tuesday 29th May Gold Coast Thursday 31st May Brisbane Central Topics to be addressed are: Overview of termites, and how the attack a built structure. Northern and Southern termite groups Overview of earlier chemical termite barriers Overview of modern chemical termite barriers Overview of physical and chemical sheet product termite barriers Using the concrete slab as part of the termite barrier (AS2870 & Curing) Limiting the consequences of termite attack (termite resistant framing etc) Concealed entry Rendered plastic corners, DPC finishes etc. Renovations Joining systems, who is responsible for join, advantages of using same systems (or disadvantages). Pavements heights in surrounding substrates. Minimum requirements. General Clearance under timber posts/stirrups, termination of barriers Obligations after handover Stickers, warranties, home owner handover docs, owner maintenance Common termite breaches and methods to remedy. Hope to see you there. There's a 30 minute Q & A session after each talk. Thanks to the Queensland Building & Construction Commission and Master Builders Queensland for putting this together. This is a good opportunity to get some good practical knowledge of termites and termite barriers back to the building industry. See more

15.01.2022 It's a rough life. Timber pest inspection at a riverfront complex today. It doesn't get much better!

14.01.2022 Mark spoke at the Queensland Building & Construction Commission (QBCC) Inspectors Conference in Brisbane today. The talk’s subject was Termites and Thermal Imag...ing, plus a session on termite barriers, termite inspections and termite disputes, including comment on some recent termite disputes that have been the subject of QBCC investigation. One termite dispute in particular involved considerable deliberate concealment of termite damage in a home, that in part resulted in the termite damage not being found by a combined pre-purchase building and timber pest inspector. Unfortunately for the combined pre-purchase building and timber pest inspector, there were significant visible factors that should have led to further investigation by the combined pre-purchase building and timber pest inspector. In short, that inspection didn’t satisfy what a reasonably competent timber pest inspector should have found. We showed some photos from ongoing disputes and matters of interest in the termite issue, including our macro image of a live termite (Coptotermes acinaciformis) taken from the Howard Smith Wharves, under Brisbane’s Story bridge. To assist with the thermal imaging side, David Rice from Termicam in Melbourne joined Mark in the presentation. David’s presentation included a live demonstration of his latest camera, and highlighting the performance difference between a high end thermal imaging camera (with a competent thermographer), and the lower resolution (cheaper) cameras used by most in our industry. We discussed thermal imaging from Queensland’s Parliament House, Macarthur Chambers in the city, and even a thermal image of a termite infested gum tree at DPI-Forestry’s compound, at Meiers Road at Indooroopilly. The presentations appeared to be well received by all attending. To the Queensland Building & Construction Commission, thanks for having us along! See more

13.01.2022 I found a termite nest in a roof void today. The home was a lowset radiata pine (termite susceptible) framed brick veneer home on concrete slab, with a tiled roof. Being a 1987 construction, the home was most likely termite protected using an older organochlorine termiticide (most likely Aldrin), which if undisturbed, and installed properly in accordance with Australian Standards and labelled directions, have an expected protection period of 30 to 35 years. Sometimes the orga...nochlorine termiticides perform longer. Thankfully, the termite species is not a particularly destructive species, and structural damage is unlikely. The nest is live, and the walls below weren’t responding to a moisture meter (common with this termite species). Whilst not particularly destructive, this termite species becomes a treatment trigger when found within a home, as if these termites can gain access, so can the more destructive termite species. In short, I’m pleased for the owners in this case. The outcome of this termite inspection could have been a lot worse had a more destructive termite been involved.

07.01.2022 I got the email today that the QBCC have sent out to licensees today promoting their Tradie Tour. Join the Tradie Tour this May You told us what was important to you and we listened!...Continue reading

04.01.2022 The draft for public comment for Australian Standard 3660.2 Termite management - In and around existing buildings and structures - Guidelines has been issued by Standards Australia, and is available for free download at: https://sapc.standards.org.au//listOpenCommentingPublicati. There's a misprint on the cover in that the closing date for public submissions is 24th January, 2017. If you have an interest, feel free to make your comments. More information on how to make comments is available at the Standards Australia website. Getting the standard to where it is has been a bit of work, but it's been a great committee to work with. Looking forward to seeing the public comments as they come through.

04.01.2022 The Queensland Building & Construction Commission have shared my PowerPoint presentation from the 2018 Tradies Tour here: http://www.qbcc.qld.gov.au//Mark_Porter_PC_QBCC_Tradies_To. The presentation was well received.

03.01.2022 I had a dispute report I've just finished, and a part of that report required an analysis of the costs of a termite baiting system versus reinstating a chemical perimeter treatment on a radiata pine (termite susceptible) framed brick veneer home, with Termimesh (a physical termite barrier with a 50 year design life) to the slab penetrations. The concrete slab forms part of the termite barriers at the home. With the home in question, at 2 years and 9 months, the clients would ...be better off with the chemical perimeter treatment and annual timber pest inspections. At 8 years, they would be almost $4,000.00 worse off if they'd kept the termite baiting system. My clients are glad I make my recommendations on their hip pocket, and not mine. Year 8 Cost to date Termidor and inspections $5,786.00 Cost to date Termite baiting system $9,592.00. NOTE: These figures apply for this particular home, and there are occasionally instances where a termite baiting system is an appropriate recommendation. See more

02.01.2022 Just got a phone call from a fellow who had just purchased a property with a Granitgard (a physical termite barrier with a 50 year design life) installation. The pre-purchase timber pest inspector had told him he needed to have his Granitgard system reinstated because it was older than 10 years. I really question the integrity and expertise of some of the timber pest inspectors out there. Now the fellow has some decent advice, and has been guided to a path of decent annual inspections, with no repair/replenishment required of the Granitgard termite protection system, unless there's something to suggest it's failing. The purchaser's now happy (and well informed). All in a day's work!

01.01.2022 This one demonstrates the true value of competent independent building and timber pest inspections, by experienced inspectors. The combined building and pest inspector should have identified the existing termite damage, and didn't, resulting in a substantial claim. The insurers for the building and pest inspector recently settled in a confidential settlement. That settlement (not the value) was reported in the media. The settlement was made after the owners took their plight ...to A Current Affair. Best advice I can ever give in pre-purchase inspections is that the quality and experience of an inspector is invaluable in protecting the purchasers' interests. Inspection price isn't always a guide, but those that work at the lower end of the market have to get through a lot more inspections a day to make a living, increasing the risk of missing things that need to be reported to the purchaser. See more

01.01.2022 An interesting find on North Stradbroke Island. Schedorhinotermes spp termites close to salt water. Schedorhinotermes spp are one of the most destructive termite species in South East Queensland (sharing the title with Coptotermes spp) but are rarely found this close to the beach. They were in a timber stump, and when disturbed, the ants showed up for an easy feed. Nature at it’s best. Around the beach, Nasutitermes spp (nowhere near as destructive) are the most common termite species.