Homeowners warned after tradie's shocking discovery leaves Aussie house 'crumbling'
Homeowners are being warned not to overlook the devastating impact termites can inflict after a professional property flipper was forced to pay more than $200,000 to repair damage caused by the tiny insects.
Tradie Michael Marshall recently bought a five-bedroom house in Mudgeeraba, Queensland and was renovating it when he stumbled upon a costly discovery. Several of the interior walls were being whittled down to nothing by termite activity and it was likely the building would have collapsed had he not noticed the issue when he did.
"Some of the walls were nearly starting to fall over. You could tap the bottom of the studs and they were crumbling and there was a section of the floor that had caved in," he told Yahoo News. "There was literally termite nests inside the walls, inside the property... the whole top second floor was being held up by termite timber."
It is understood the property had someone living in it only six months earlier, and Michael suspects there may have been some attempt to cover up the damage before it was sold.
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"It was full of mould, it was disgusting," he said, explaining he has since paid over $200,000 to have the property reframed, and all traces of the termites removed.
A load-bearing wall was crumbling from termite activity. Michael has since installed metal structures to support the house. Source: TikTok/mmpropertyimprovement
Yahoo News has reported on several Aussies excitedly buying their dream home, only to later find termites and significant structural damage to the property. This is sadly not an uncommon issue in the country, with several pest control companies claiming one in five Aussie homes are affected by termite damage.
Older homes are more susceptible to the issue as timber was used to frame the homes. Modern homes are now framed by treated pine frames or metal, with neither impacted by termite — however, it's something all homeowners should be wary of, Michael explained.
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After his own experience, he is urging Aussies to not "cut corners" when it comes to termites and recommended the following:
1. Get a building and pest report done before purchase
"It's a must," Michael said. "It's something you need to do before you put your money on the line and they're not even that expensive, they're about $1,000."
Michael explained getting experts to inspect a home before purchase will give buyers peace of mind, or at least ensure their eyes are wide open when making their decision.
2. Termites don't necessarily equate to 'no purchase'
Michael believes termite activity inside a home doesn't necessarily mean a prospective buyer should stay clear of the property. However, he stressed the importance of knowing the extent of the damage and understanding how much it would cost to fix.
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"If you do get a building and pest report, and it does have termite damage, that necessarily doesn't mean don't buy the house. There are solutions... you can get termite barriers and treatment done to the house," he said.
It's important to constantly ensure your home is being protected against termite activity and Michael urged homeowners to not get complacent with regular upkeep.
"The cost of getting it redone and the cost of termites being in your house is a massive difference," he said. "Don't cut corners, because it will come back to bite you on the ass."
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