Active Termite Control technician
Pre-Construction Termite Barriers

Permanent termite protection for new Sydney builds

If you're building, the time to put in termite protection is before the slab goes down. A pre-construction physical barrier sits under and around the slab and stops subterranean termites getting up into the structure. It goes in during the build, and it carries a 50-year warranty. Once the concrete's poured, this option is closed, so it's worth specifying early.

How a pre-construction barrier works

A physical barrier is built into the structure during construction. I install TermSeal, which goes in as two parts: sheeting laid under the slab before the pour, and collars fitted around every pipe and service penetration that comes up through the slab.

The sheeting creates a continuous layer between the ground and the building. The collars seal the gaps around pipes, which is one of the common ways termites get into a home that doesn't have a barrier. Together they close off the paths subterranean termites use to travel from the soil into the timber.

It's a physical barrier, not a chemical one. There's no chemical in the soil to break down and no treatment to reapply over the years. Termites can't get through the material, so the protection holds for the life of the building, as long as the barrier isn't breached by later work. New-build termite protection is set out in Australian Standard AS 3660.1 and the National Construction Code (Part 3.4).

Pre-construction only — this can't be retrofitted

This is the part to be clear on. A physical barrier of this type can only go in during construction, before the slab is poured. It cannot be retrofitted to an existing home. Once the concrete's down, the option is gone for good.

If your home is already built, the barrier you want is a chemical barrier or a baiting and monitoring system. Those are the treatments that work on existing structures.

What I do, and when

The install has to happen at the right stage of the build, before the slab pour. I work directly with the owner or the builder to schedule it so the sheeting and collars are in before the concrete goes down. Miss that window on a slab-on-ground build and the chance is gone.

I install pre-construction barriers across Sydney and work with major Sydney builders on new projects. If you're building, raise the barrier early, ideally when you're still planning the slab, not the week before the pour.

The 50-year warranty

TermSeal pre-construction barriers carry a 50-year warranty. A correctly installed physical barrier doesn't degrade the way a chemical treatment does, which is why the cover runs so long.

There's one condition. Like any termite protection, the warranty stays valid as long as the annual inspections are kept up. The barrier handles the slab and the penetrations, but a house can still be breached by later building work, landscaping, or a path bridging over the barrier, and the annual inspection is what catches that before termites find the way in. The physical barrier and the annual inspection work together.

How I work

The barrier is installed by me. I've been doing this since 2015, and I'll tell you straight what your build needs and when it has to happen. If you're a builder, you get one person who turns up at the right stage and gets it in before the pour, with no subcontractor chain.

Common questions

Can I add a physical barrier to my existing house?
No. Pre-construction physical barriers can only go in before the slab is poured. For a home that's already built, a chemical barrier or baiting system is the way to protect it.

Why put a physical barrier in on a new build?
It goes in once, during the build, and protects the structure from day one with no chemical to reapply. For a new slab-on-ground home it's a straightforward long-term protection, and the 50-year warranty reflects that.

Does the warranty really last 50 years?
Yes, as long as the annual inspections are kept up. The physical barrier doesn't break down like a chemical treatment, so the cover runs the life of the building, provided the barrier isn't breached and the inspections stay current.

Do I still need inspections if I've got a barrier?
Yes. The barrier protects the slab and the penetrations, but the rest of the property still needs an annual termite inspection, and keeping those up is also what keeps the warranty valid.

Do you work with builders directly?
Yes. I install for owners and builders across Sydney. The key is getting me in at the right stage, before the slab pour, so book the install early in the build.

Pest Controller
Call me on 0405 790 927. If you're building, get in early so the barrier goes in before the slab pour. I install pre-construction termite barriers across all of Sydney.

Need help? Call Nick
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Sydney's termite specialist. Available 7 days for inspections, treatments, and emergencies — call 0405 790 927.
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