No Access Under Decking
No Access Under Decking is a high-severity termite defect SURE inspectors have documented across 228 inspection reports. Highest concentration in Ellenbrook.
Causes
- lack of access
- Construction design or obstructions preventing access
- Design or construction of decking restricting access
- Design/construction of decking limiting access
- Deck construction without sufficient access
Symptoms to look for
- Inability to inspect an area known to be high risk for timber pests
- High degree of risk for concealed termite infestation
- Inability to visually inspect under decking structure
- Inability to inspect for potential termite activity
- Potential for concealed termite activity or damage
Remedies
- A full inspection is recommended to be carried out of the decking framing for any potential termite damage and/or infestation
- A full inspection must be carried out of the decking framing for any potential termite damage and/or infestation
- Provide access to allow a full inspection of decking framing for potential termite damage and/or infestation
- A full inspection of the decking framing for any potential termite damage and/or infestation is recommended
- Carry out a full inspection of the decking framing for any potential termite damage and/or infestation
Where we see this most
These suburbs show the highest concentration of no access under decking in our inspection data (minimum five observations). Click a suburb to see its full defect profile.
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Findings in this category skew high severity. If you are under contract, we can usually book inside the cooling-off window. Every inspection includes 12 months of free advice.
Curated entries in Termite
- Curated 2–4/5Slab Edge Concealed by Soil, Paving, or Raised Garden Beds
I walked the perimeter and could not see a continuous strip of exposed slab edge - raised garden beds, soil, paving, or decorative stone have buried it. Reference: AS 3660.1 and AS 3660.2. In my experience a concealed slab edge lets subterranean termites bridge the edge barrier out of sight, entering the cavity or framing without leaving mud leads where I can find them.
- Curated 1–4/5Mulch and Garden Beds Against House
Organic mulch and irrigated garden beds placed directly against the external walls create a moisture-rich, cellulose-rich environment that is attractive to subterranean termites and conceals the slab edge from visual inspection. AS 3660.1 and AS 3660.2 identify direct contact between landscaping materials and the structure as a conducive condition requiring correction.
- Curated 1–5/5Timber in Contact with Ground
Timber structural elements - deck posts, pergola framing, sleeper retaining walls, or firewood stacks - sitting directly in or against soil create an unobstructed termite pathway into the building and accelerate fungal decay. AS 3660.1 requires all structural timber to be isolated from soil to maintain a visible inspection zone; ground contact eliminates this requirement entirely and removes any chance of early detection.
- Curated 1–4/5High Termite Risk Due to Environmental Surrounds
The property's location near large trees, bushland, or parkland places it in elevated termite territory. Proximity to established timber sources and native vegetation significantly increases foraging pressure on nearby structures, and AS 3660.1 recognises environmental context as a primary risk factor when specifying termite management requirements.
- Curated 1–4/5Concealed Internal Wall Areas (Termite Risk)
Internal wall cavities, top plates in the roof space, and sub-floor framing cannot be visually inspected during a standard building inspection. AS 4349.3 requires inspectors to report whenever access limitations prevent verification of timber condition - these concealed zones are where termite activity most commonly goes undetected until structural damage is advanced.
- Curated 1–4/5Tree Stumps on Site
Tree stumps left in the ground provide an established food source and potential nesting site for subterranean termites. Once a colony is established in a stump, foraging extends radially - typically 50–100 m - placing any timber-framed structure on the property within reach.