Annual termite inspection across the Gold Coast.
AS 3660.2 expects every Australian property to have a competent termite inspection at least every 12 months. On the Gold Coast (peak Coptotermes country) this is more important than most of Australia. Skipped inspections = no insurance cover when damage shows. ~$250–$450 for standard residential. Most clients on 6-monthly in high-risk zones.
What an AS 3660.2 annual inspection covers.
The methodology — same 6 zones as pre-purchase.
The inspection methodology is essentially the same as the pre-purchase AS 4349.3 process — sub-floor, roof void, perimeter, garden, interior wet areas, suspect-timber probing. The differences are in reporting depth and timing: an AS 3660.2 annual report is shorter (8-12 pages vs 25-40 pages for AS 4349.3), focused on year-over-year change rather than first-principles property assessment.
Year-over-year tracking matters most.
The real value of an annual program is baseline comparison — once we’ve done 2-3 annual inspections on the same property, we know exactly where moisture readings change, where suspect timber probes have moved, and which sub-floor areas have history. Year 4 onwards, our annual inspection turns up subtle activity in 1-2 hours that a first-time inspector would miss.
When 12-monthly isn’t enough.
AS 3660 is the minimum cadence. We recommend 6-monthly inspections for:
- Canal-estate / wetland-edge properties (Coombabah, Hope Island, Sanctuary Cove, Sovereign Islands)
- Bushland-interface acreage (Mudgeeraba, Tallai, Currumbin Valley, Tamborine)
- Properties with a previous active infestation in the last 5 years
- Properties with a known expired chemical barrier and no current treatment
- Older 1960s-80s housing stock with sub-floor crawl spaces
- Properties where the previous inspection found suspect activity that didn’t warrant immediate treatment
Sub-floor inspections (older stock).
Properties with sub-floor crawl spaces (most pre-1985 Gold Coast residential) require sub-floor inspection access. Crawl-space height ideally 600mm+ for full inspection; 400–600mm needs a skinny inspector and patience; under 400mm we use a borescope camera from access vents. We carry the borescope on every job.
Slab-on-ground inspections (1985+ stock).
Slab-on-ground homes don’t have a sub-floor crawl space to inspect — the only access to the slab footprint is through weep holes in the brick perimeter. Modern slab homes rely on chemical reticulation systems or termite-resistant building materials for protection. Our annual inspection covers: perimeter weep-hole scan, expansion-joint inspection, slab-edge gradient check, garage-slab crack inspection, plus all the regular interior and roof-void work. Slightly faster inspection than sub-floor stock ($250–$350 vs $350–$450).
Insurance / damage coverage notes.
Most home insurance policies exclude termite damage entirely. The few that include limited cover (Strata Insurance, select builder warranty extensions) require:
- Documented annual AS 3660.2 inspections (no gaps)
- Current Termite Treatment Certificate
- Compliance with all inspector recommendations from prior reports
- No undisclosed prior infestations
A gap of even 14 months can void coverage if damage is later found. Set a calendar reminder + use the same inspector each year for documented continuity.
Where we work.
Set up your annual inspection schedule.
Yearly or 6-monthly. Same inspector each visit. Documented continuity for insurance.