South Granville 2142 · Cumberland City Council
Custom Home Builder in South Granville: Termite-Proofed Builds
Termites were here before your old house. They'll outlast it too.
Pull down a 1950s South Granville cottage and there's a good chance you'll find termite damage somewhere: a skirting, a stump, a fence post. Western Sydney's subterranean termites are everywhere, and they don't care that the replacement is brand new. A new custom home needs a termite management system designed in from the very first pour.
Short answer
What termite protection does a new South Granville home need?
Every new home needs a termite management system meeting AS 3660.1: a chemical treatment, a physical barrier such as stainless mesh or graded stone, or both. A durable notice in the meter box records the system and its inspection needs, and yearly inspections keep it effective. A mid-spec South Granville custom home costs about $2,270 to $2,730 per m².
Written and reviewed by Oliver Alameri
Licensed builder, NSW Contractor Licence 487805C · Founder, Buildana
Fact-checked
What the code requires
In termite-prone areas, which covers essentially all of Sydney, the National Construction Code requires new homes to have a termite management system. AS 3660.1 sets out how. It's not one product. It's a system that combines the slab, the barriers, the framing materials and the way the house can be inspected.
The slab itself is part of it. A properly poured slab with no cracks, sealed penetrations and exposed edges gives termites nowhere to hide. The code allows a visible slab edge, at least 75mm, to act as a check point: termites have to build mud tubes over it, where you or an inspector can see them.
- A system, not a single product
- Sealed pipe and service penetrations
- Visible slab edge or other barrier around the perimeter
- Framing that's termite-resistant or protected
A termite barrier you can't inspect is a barrier you're just hoping works.
Chemical or physical?
Chemical barriers treat the soil around and under the house. Some are applied once. Reticulation systems run pipes around the perimeter so the soil can be retreated later without digging up paths. They're effective, but they wear off and need topping up.
Physical barriers don't wear off in the same way. Stainless steel mesh or polymer sheets wrap around pipe penetrations and the slab perimeter. Graded stone particles too small for termites to move. Paired with termite-resistant framing, like treated pine or steel, they form a long-lasting system.
Most of our South Granville homes use physical barriers at penetrations with a perimeter system chosen for the site. We explain the trade-offs before the contract, because you'll be maintaining it for decades.
Building a new home in South Granville?
Send the address and your ideas for the house. I'll talk you through the termite system options, the approval path and a realistic price for the build.
0476 300 300The durable notice and your part
Every new home gets a durable notice, usually fixed in the meter box. It records the termite management system used, its installation date and what's needed to keep it working. Don't paint over it. Future buyers and inspectors will look for it.
Then the owner's part. Keep garden beds, paving and mulch below the slab edge. Don't stack timber against the house. Get an inspection by a licensed pest inspector at least every year. Most termite damage in new homes happens because someone bridged the barrier with a garden bed.
Price-wise, a mid-spec South Granville custom home sits near $2,270–$2,730/m², which is Rawlinsons for Sydney lifted 3% for Cumberland. The termite system is in that price. Reticulation and upgraded barriers are itemised.
Termite plan for a new home
Settle these at design stage.
- 01
Choose the perimeter system: exposed edge, chemical or physical
- 02
Protect every penetration through the slab
- 03
Decide on framing: treated pine, steel or protected timber
- 04
Keep landscaping below the slab edge
- 05
Check the durable notice at handover
- 06
Book annual inspections by a licensed inspector
Termites and new homes
Do new homes in Sydney need termite protection?
Yes. The building code requires a termite management system for new homes in termite-prone areas, which covers Sydney.
What is a durable notice?
A permanent notice, usually in the meter box, recording the termite management system used and what's needed to maintain it.
How often should termite inspections happen?
At least once a year, by a licensed pest inspector, and more often in high-risk situations.
Which council handles South Granville?
Cumberland City Council, postcode 2142. Code-compliant new homes on qualifying lots often get a CDC from a private certifier instead of a DA.
Sources and references
Costs are from the Rawlinsons handbook with the local cost index applied; rules and timeframes are checked against the sources below.
Build new. Keep the termites out for good.
Custom homes in South Granville with termite management designed into the slab, the framing and the landscaping.