Boundary-to-boundary terraces
Terrace blocks leave almost no side clearance, restricting the width of a treated zone and the machinery that can reach the pad, so collars and edge detail carry the system.
Quick answer
New slabs and dwellings across the Inner West need a termite management system under the NCC, installed to AS 3660.1. Collars and under-slab protection go in before the pour, and the certifier for your council needs the installation certificate and durable notice before issuing the Occupation Certificate.
Barriers across the Inner West
Additions and rebuilds behind heritage frontages
The Inner West covers 51 suburbs on this site, the largest district on the map, running from Newtown, Enmore and Erskineville through Marrickville, Dulwich Hill and Ashfield out to Concord, Five Dock, Strathfield and the bays. Almost all building here is infill: rear additions to terraces and bungalows, granny flats on deep back gardens, full rebuilds behind retained facades, and small townhouse or apartment developments near the stations.
These are some of the oldest residential blocks in Sydney, and the soil shows it. A century of gardens, old drainage runs, buried brick and timber all sit beneath a new pad, and deep rear yards keep damp, shaded ground against the building line. Add canal and river margins at Hawthorne Canal and the Cooks River, and moisture is rarely far away. A slab is tested at the penetrations, the edge and the joints, so the barrier has to be planned from the drawings and installed before the concrete.
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Local conditions
What inner west sites throw at a barrier
Three conditions shape barrier work across the Inner West.
Old drainage and buried timber
A century of gardens, old sewer runs and buried material sits under new slabs here, and that organic content can support a colony well before construction starts.
New slabs meeting old walls
Rear additions join fresh concrete to retained brickwork. That interface is the most common weak point on an addition, so it is detailed deliberately rather than left to the day.
What we install here
Building across the Inner West
Inner West work is rear additions, granny flats, rebuilds behind retained frontages and small multi-dwelling slabs. We collar every penetration, install the under-slab component the design calls for, and complete perimeter and cavity protection as the structure rises, paying particular attention where new work meets existing walls. Access on terrace sites is planned with the builder in advance, and each stage is priced in one fixed written quote.
- Under-slab membraneA termite-resistant sheet laid across the prepared ground before the pour.
- Penetration collarsCollars sealed to every pipe and conduit that comes up through the slab.
- Perimeter & slab edgeA barrier at the slab edge and into the cavity, so nothing can track up hidden.
- Chemical soil barrierAn APVMA-registered treated zone in the soil under and around the building.
- ReticulationA pipe network laid before paving so the treated zone can be topped up later.
- Piers & suspended floorsProtection for bearers, piers and suspended timber floors on sloping blocks.
Councils & certifiers
Getting signed off in the Inner West
Inner West Council certifies most of the district, with Burwood, Strathfield and Canada Bay covering the western suburbs and the City of Sydney taking in the eastern fringe. Conservation area controls are common and affect appearance rather than the termite requirement. The certifier still needs the certificate of installation and the durable notice in the meter box before the Occupation Certificate.
Our Inner West run covers the terrace belt at Newtown, Enmore, Erskineville and Stanmore, the Marrickville and Dulwich Hill corridor near the Cooks River, the Ashfield, Summer Hill and Haberfield heritage streets, and the bayside suburbs at Drummoyne, Five Dock, Abbotsford and Rodd Point. Blocks near the canal and river margins sit on damper ground and get closer attention at the edge.
Know your pour date?Send the slab plan and we will stage the barrier around your builder.
Inner West
Suburbs we install barriers in
Every suburb has its own page with the local ground conditions, the councils that certify there and the questions builders ask us most.
Abbotsford
Annandale
Ashbury
Ashfield
Balmain
Balmain East
Birchgrove
Breakfast Point
Burwood
Cabarita
Camperdown
Canada Bay
Chiswick
Concord
Concord West
Croydon
Croydon Park
Drummoyne
Dulwich Hill
Enfield
Enmore
Erskineville
Five Dock
Forest Lodge
Haberfield
Homebush
Homebush West
Leichhardt
Lewisham
Liberty Grove
Lilyfield
Marrickville
Mortlake
Newington
Newtown
North Strathfield
Petersham
Rhodes
Rodd Point
Rozelle
Russell Lea
St Peters
Stanmore
Strathfield
Summer Hill
Sydenham
Tempe
Turrella
Wareemba
Wentworth Point
Wolli Creek
Systems we install
The right barrier for your slab and your site
Every photo below is from one of our own Sydney jobs. We look at your slab design, site and budget, then recommend a system or a combination.
01Under-slab membrane
A termite-resistant sheet laid over the whole prepared footprint before concreting, so termites can't come up through the slab anywhere.
02Penetration collars
A sealed collar on every pipe, conduit and service that passes through the slab. These gaps are the most common hidden way in.
03Slab edge & cavity barrier
Protection at the slab edge and into the wall cavity, which stops termites building hidden tunnels up the outside of the slab.
04Chemical soil barrier & reticulation
An APVMA-registered termiticide zone in the soil, with an optional pipe network under paving so it can be recharged later without digging.
05Suspended floors & piers
Barriers for bearers, piers and raised timber floors on sloping or elevated blocks, where there's no slab to protect.
06Retaining walls & tricky sites
Detailing for sandstone cuts, block retaining walls, step-downs and cut-and-fill sites, which are common across Sydney.
Why during construction
Do it now, or pay more to do less later
A retrofit can only treat around a finished house. A pre-construction system protects the parts nobody will ever be able to reach again.
Costs far less
A barrier put in during the build costs a fraction of a post-construction system, and far less than repairing termite damage.
Meets the NCC
New houses (Class 1) and outbuildings (Class 10) with termite-susceptible framing need a compliant termite management system.
Hidden gaps sealed
Pipe penetrations and slab joints can only be fully protected while they're still open, before the concrete goes in.
The whole footprint
An under-slab system covers ground that no treatment from outside the finished house can ever reach.
No OC delays
Your certifier needs the certificate and durable notice before issuing the Occupation Certificate. We supply both together.
Easier to sell
Documented, compliant protection gives buyers, building inspectors and lenders confidence when the home is sold.
Installation stages
Installed in stages that follow your build
A termite barrier isn't a single visit. Each part goes in when the site is ready for it, and we fit around your plumber, concreter and bricklayer.
Step 01Design / DA
Plans & fixed quote
Send your plans and slab details. We recommend a system and give you one fixed price that covers every stage.
Step 02Before the pour
Collars & under-slab
Collars go on every service once the plumber has set out, then the membrane or soil treatment is installed across the prepared site.
Step 03Walls going up
Slab edge & cavity
Perimeter and cavity protection is fitted as the brickwork or cladding goes up, so there's no unprotected gap at the slab edge.
Step 04Before landscaping
Final perimeter
Where it's specified, the chemical perimeter or reticulation system is completed around the building before paths and gardens go in.
Step 05Pre-OC
Notice & certificate
A durable notice goes in the meter box, and the installation certificate goes to your builder and certifier.
Step 06Handover
Owner advice
The owner gets simple care instructions and an inspection schedule so the system keeps doing its job for years.
Compare systems
Physical or chemical termite barrier?
Both can meet AS 3660.1. The best choice depends on your slab type, what surrounds the house and how much ongoing upkeep the owner wants.
Physical protection
Physical membrane, mesh or graded stone
No chemicals- How it worksA layer termites can't chew through, laid under the slab or around its edge.
- Life & upkeepDesigned to last as long as the slab while it isn't disturbed. No top-ups.
- Good fit forSlab-on-ground homes, and owners who prefer a non-chemical option.
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Natural, lasting defence
Entry-point protection
Penetration collars
- How it worksCollars sealed around each pipe and conduit that passes through the slab.
- Life & upkeepLong-lasting when fitted properly before concreting.
- Good fit forEvery slab, usually paired with a perimeter system.
Get this quoted
Small detail, big difference
Soil protection
Chemical soil barrier
- How it worksA treated zone of termiticide in the soil under and around the building.
- Life & upkeepDepends on the product label and soil conditions. Can be re-applied.
- Good fit forTighter budgets and some complex sites.
Get this quoted
Flexible and provable
Top-up protection
Reticulation system
Rechargeable- How it worksPipes laid before paving so termiticide can be pumped back into the soil.
- Life & upkeepCan be recharged for the life of the building without lifting paths.
- Good fit forHomes that will be surrounded by paving or landscaping.
Get this quoted
Protection you can renew
Most of the Sydney builds we work on use a combination: physical collars on every penetration plus a physical or chemical perimeter.
For builders & developers
Built around your program, not ours
Builders, developers and owner-builders get a fixed quote from plans, a technician who turns up when the site is ready, and paperwork that never holds up sign-off.
What we need to quote
Architectural or slab planSlab type: raft, waffle pod or suspendedSite addressRough pour dateRetaining wall & step-down details
Fitting in with your trades
- Collars in before the pour inspection
- Slab edge & cavity as walls go up
- Perimeter done before paving
Multi-unit & repeat work
Consistent pricing across lots, one point of contact and a full document set for every dwelling.
No certification delays
Missing durable notices and unclear install records are a common reason Occupation Certificates get held up. We hand everything over together so your certifier has it all in one go.
Paperwork
Everything you get at handover
A complete document set for the builder, the certifier and every future owner of the property.
Durable notice
A permanent notice in the meter box showing the system, install date, installer, any chemical's life expectancy and inspection advice.
For: certifier, owner, future owners
Installation certificate
Written confirmation of the system and products used, the areas protected and our licence details.
For: builder, certifier, owner
Product information
Details of the physical system or termiticide installed, including safety data sheets for any chemicals.
For: builder, owner
Care & inspection advice
How to keep the system working, plus the recommended inspection frequency under AS 3660.2.
For: homeowner
From real jobs
Recent termite barrier installations
Photos from our own Sydney sites, not stock images. Tap any photo to see it larger.
Membrane barrier across a large residential slab
Barrier work on a Sydney Harbour site
Installation through sandstone excavation
Perimeter barrier and sleeves on a new slab
Waffle pod formwork with collared penetrations
Membrane detailed against a retaining wall
Membrane sealed around a column
Protected slab edge with collar in place
Collared penetrations before the pour
Perimeter barrier on a completed slab edge
Pipe penetrations sealed into the membrane
Collars fixed through mesh before concreting
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What Sydney clients say about us
Real, verified reviews from homeowners and businesses we've worked with.
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Pricing
What sets the price of a barrier
Every build is different, so we don't guess. We price from your plans and give you one fixed written quote. Quoting is free.
- 01Slab area & perimeterBigger footprints need more material, more edge protection and more labour.
- 02System typeFull under-slab, perimeter-only, chemical and reticulation options are all priced differently.
- 03Number of penetrationsEach plumbing and electrical service through the slab needs its own collar.
- 04Site complexityRetaining walls, step-downs, sandstone and suspended floors add detailing.
- 05Number of visitsStaged installs follow your program. Multi-dwelling sites can often be combined.
- 06Site accessTight blocks, steep driveways and limited street frontage slow the set-out and add time on site.
After handover
Keeping the barrier working
A barrier only works while it stays intact and visible. Pass these on to the owner.
- Keep at least 75 mm of the slab edge exposed. Don't cover it with soil, mulch or paving.
- No garden beds or stacked timber against the house
- Keep weep holes clear of render and debris
- Fix leaking taps, downpipes and hot water units near the walls
- Ask the installer before drilling through the slab or adding pipes
- Book a timber pest inspection at least every 12 months
Annual timber pest inspection
Handed over recently? We inspect the barrier and the building every 12 months.
Free fixed quote
Protect your build
before the pour
Tell us about your build and get a clear, fixed price, fast. We usually reply within 30 minutes during business hours.
- Send your detailsBuild type, suburb and rough slab pour date.
- Share your plansSlab plan or architectural drawings, plus any retaining wall details.
- Get your fixed quoteOne written price covering every installation stage.
- Fast responseWithin 30 mins
- Licensed expertsQualified & insured
- Trusted locallyAcross Sydney
Get a fixed quote
Tell us about your build
within 30 minutes
Inner West questions
Answered
Can't see your question? Call and talk it through with a licensed technician.
+61 450 515 215We are adding to a terrace rather than rebuilding. Is a barrier needed?
If the addition includes a new slab or new primary building elements that termites can damage, then yes, and the certifier will expect documentation covering that work. We quote the new portion and detail the junction where fresh concrete meets the retained structure, since that interface is where additions are most often left exposed.
Does a conservation area affect the installation?
Conservation controls govern what the building looks like from the street, not what sits under the slab, so a compliant system is still installed to AS 3660.1. What can change is access and how much disturbance is acceptable around retained fabric, which we work through with your builder and certifier before the pour.
Can a granny flat go in on a deep Inner West back garden?
Yes, and it is treated as its own structure: its own collars, its own edge treatment and its own certificate and durable notice. Deep rear yards here often hold decades of buried garden material, so the under-slab component matters, and access is usually the item to plan first with your builder.
Does a new home need a termite barrier in NSW?
In most cases, yes. The National Construction Code requires a termite management system for new houses and outbuildings in termite-prone areas where the primary building elements can be damaged by termites. Sydney is termite-prone, so the system is installed to AS 3660.1 and your certifier asks for the installation certificate and durable notice before the Occupation Certificate is issued.
What does a pre-construction barrier cost?
It depends on slab area, perimeter length, the number of pipe penetrations, the system chosen, site complexity and how many visits the build needs. Send us the plans and we return one fixed written quote covering every stage. Quoting is free.
Slab pour coming up?
Lock in your termite barrier before the concrete truck arrives
Send us your plans today for a fixed quote, or call and talk to a licensed technician about your site.
