Mulch, garden edging and buried weep holes
How a tidy garden bed can hide the slab edge from termites and inspectors alike.
In short: A mulched garden bed looks good. Piled against brickwork, it gives termites a hidden way past the slab edge.
Why the slab edge matters
Termite management on a slab home relies on being able to see the slab edge. Termites building up the outside have to show themselves there.
What we found
At a Pakenham building and pest inspection, mulch was heaped against the brickwork, covering the weep holes and the slab edge in several places.
Weep holes
Those small gaps in the bottom brick course are how the cavity drains. Buried, they hold moisture and give termites a concealed path into the wall.
Grading
The same house had ground falling towards the walls, which keeps the base of the wall damp after rain.
What to do
Pull mulch and soil back so the slab edge and weep holes are clear, and regrade so water runs away from the house.
Written by our local inspection team from work carried out in Pakenham. Licensed building practitioners, Building & Plumbing Commission registration CDB-U 53425.
