INSURING YOUR HOME
Does home insurance cover termite damage?
Many home insurance providers, GIO included, don’t cover damage caused by termites. Proper maintenance, prevention and monitoring are, in most ordinary cases, sufficient deterrents to having major damage caused by termites, whereas insurance is primarily intended to cover those unexpected insured events that are tough to plan for.
Termites can cause significant damage to a home’s structural integrity, especially those homes made mostly out of timber. Termites love wet organic materials, especially wood, and can hollow out timber supports and walls without you even knowing it. This can then leave you with major costs to repair or rebuild, depending on the extent of the damage.
How do termites attack homes?
Termits can attack a home from a variety of entry points.
Nests can exist underground, and termites can enter through cracks or timber support structures. They are particularly attracted to wet wood and similar materials, so your bathroom and kitchen are the areas to look at first if you’re worried.
To identify termites, look for small tunnels in your wood, as termites build these to protect themselves. These tunnels look like little holes in your wood, much like swiss cheese. You can also try knocking against solid walls to hear if they have been hollowed out. However, the best way to identify (and prevent) termite infestation is to have an annual checkup from a professional.
How to protect your home from termites
There are some things you can do to help prevent your home from being attacked by termites:
- Conduct regular inspections.
- Clean your gutters.
- Avoid timber foundations directly contacting the earth.
- Keep timber and mulch, such as garden beds or firewood, away from the home.
- Use a pretreatment on your home. These range in type, from synthetic chemical treatments through to those based on mushroom spore technology.
- Seal any gaps in your timber, under the advice of a professional pest inspector.
Get cover for the unpreventable
So you’re on top of your termite control but what about those unexpected events? Explore GIO Home Insurance policies below and get an online quote.
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Insurance issued by AAI Limited ABN 48 005 297 807 trading as GIO. Limits, conditions and exclusions apply. Consider the Product Disclosure Statement before buying insurance. The Target Market Determination is also available. This advice has been prepared without taking into account your particular objectives, financial situations or needs, so you should consider whether it is appropriate for you before acting on it.
