Termite warranties & home insurance.
Termite treatment warranties sound reassuring. What they actually cover, what they exclude, and how home insurance treats termite damage are all worth understanding BEFORE you sign.
What treatment warranties typically cover.
A standard 8–10 year chemical treatment warranty (Termidor or equivalent) typically covers:
- Re-treatment at no cost if termite breaches the treated zone within warranty period
- Inspection visits at agreed intervals (annual minimum)
- Free quarterly call-out if you suspect activity
A Sentricon / Exterra baiting warranty typically covers:
- Monitoring visits every 4 months (included in annual fee)
- Bait switch and colony elimination when active feeding detected
- Replacement of stations and consumables
- Ongoing as long as monitoring service is paid
The exclusions to read carefully.
Standard warranties typically EXCLUDE:
- Structural damage already done. Treatment kills the colony; it doesn’t rebuild your framing. Repair is separate (and rarely warranty-covered).
- Areas not accessible during inspection. Furniture-blocked walls, locked sub-floors, garage clutter. Listed as “limitations” in the inspection report — warranty doesn’t cover discoveries in these areas.
- Damage from conducive conditions not advised to homeowner. If we tell you to move firewood from the wall and you don’t, the warranty is voided for that area.
- Activity in untreated structures. Detached garage, gazebo, fence — only what was in the treatment scope is covered.
- Drywood termites. Different chemistry needed. Rare on Gold Coast but worth knowing.
- Damage discovered after annual inspection lapses. Missing your annual inspection voids most warranties.
The standard policy reality.
Almost all Australian home insurance policies explicitly exclude termite damage. Specifically:
- “Damage caused by termites, vermin, insects” is in the standard exclusion list
- Damage caused by termites BUT secondary issues (e.g. water damage from rain entering a termite-damaged roof) may still be covered — depends on the policy
- Some specialty insurers offer termite-damage policies as separate add-ons ($200–$400/yr typical)
Most homeowners don’t realise this until the claim is denied. Read your PDS, specifically the “What we don’t cover” section.
What insurance DOES require.
To maintain your home insurance cover even for non-termite claims, most Gold Coast insurers require:
- Current AS 3660.2 annual termite inspection (every 12 months max)
- Evidence of termite management system in place (Certificate of Termite Protection)
- No knowingly-untreated active termite activity
If you skip annual inspections, then have a kitchen fire two years later, the insurer may still try to refuse the FIRE claim by arguing your duty of care for the property was breached. Worth maintaining the inspection regime.
What we offer.
- Liquid chemical treatment: 8-year structural warranty, annual inspection required ($280/yr).
- Sentricon baiting: Ongoing while monitoring fee paid ($380–$560/yr). Lifetime in practice.
- Combined treatment + baiting: 10-year structural warranty + ongoing monitoring.
- Pre-construction barrier: 8-year barrier warranty (chemical) or 25-year (physical).
Warranty terms are in writing with the treatment certificate, not buried in fine print. We’ll walk you through what’s covered before you sign.
Where we work.
Warranty terms in writing, before you sign.
No surprises. We walk you through what’s covered and what isn’t.