Fence posts, pergolas and termites in Castle Hill gardens
Timber touching soil is the quiet invitation in many established gardens.
In short: On Castle Hill building and pest inspections, timber in ground contact appears far more often than live termites. It is the condition that makes a future problem likely.
What we keep seeing
Timber fences sitting directly in soil, posts embedded in the ground under pergolas and decks, and support posts buried at the edge of new courtyards. Each is a bridge between soil and timber.
Why termites use it
Subterranean termites live in the soil and travel through it. Timber in contact with the ground lets them feed without being exposed, and the damp at ground level helps them.
A new home is not exempt
We have recorded posts buried in soil at handover on new Castle Hill homes. The termite management system protects the house, not a post the landscaper set in the ground beside it.
Simple fixes
Steel stirrups or brackets that lift posts clear of the soil, treated timber rated for ground contact, and keeping mulch and soil away from fences where they meet the house.
How the report deals with it
It names the location, photographs it and explains why it matters, so you can fix it or ask a pest controller to factor it into a management plan.
Written by our local inspection team from work carried out in Castle Hill. Licensed building practitioners, NSW Fair Trading licence 366177C.
