What Does Termite Damage Look Like?
Famously, termites hide their work until the damage is so extensive that it becomes impossible to ignore. However, that can take years to be the case, especially when you are trying to figure out what does termite damage look like. In the meantime, a termite colony is merrily chewing away at your wooden furniture, timber fixtures and the structure of your house, until it reaches a point where it becomes dangerously unstable (and incredibly costly to pay for the damages).
That’s why we recommend annual termite inspections to check for the presence of termites, to identify any existing or potential problems before they take hold. However, it’s also wise to know the termite damage signs, so that if you do spot them, you can take action promptly.
What are the key signs of termite damage?
Since the presence of termites can be so hard to identify, in this blog, we’re here to explain what does termite damage look like. If you spot any of these unusual features in or around your property, you know it’s definitely time to call the experts in to take a thorough look.
Let’s explore what does termite damage look like below:
Hollowed wood
Termites live inside wooden structures. They carve out tunnels as they eat the wood, which provides them with the cellulose they need to convert into energy. What does that mean for you? Invisible timber damage. Because termites need darkness and moisture, they won’t eat away at the exterior of a wooden structure, which in worst case scenarios can mean that’s all that is left.
If you hear a hollow sound when you knock on wooden walls, ceilings or floors, or if the plaster crumbles off in your hands, there’s a good chance that termites are responsible for some more serious damage behind the facade.
Mud tubes
Ever seen curious looking brown, black or grey tunnels that look to be wrapping around or along your property walls, ceiling beams or exterior fences? If they seem hard and densely packed, you could be looking at a termite mud tube or tunnel – one of the telltale signs of termite damage.
The best thing you can do on spotting a mud tube is call in the professionals for an expert eradication. You don’t want to disturb, break or crack open the mud tunnel, as the termites will all be contained within it, and dispersing them could lead to more problems when trying to identify and eradicate the colony.
Swollen floors and ceilings
If you’re certain your carpet is starting to look a little warped, it might not be your eyes playing tricks on you – it could be one of the key termite damage signs. Easy to mistake as water damage, damp or mouldness, the presence of termite colonies can cause structural elements to buckle and swell, especially with larger infestations. Left untreated, this presents real issues with housing stability – whether you intend to stay living in or sell your property at a later stage.
Though dampness can cause many problems (including an attractive environment for termites and build nests), you first need to rule out whether these changes are being caused by insects gnawing away at your structural timber elements.
Rough skirting boards and furniture
Once a wooden element becomes so infested with termites, after a matter of time, the cracks and damage can start to become visible. You might first notice these exterior imperfections on skirting boards, or the corners and edges of furniture. Antique furniture is more prone to termite damage since any treatments applied to the wood are more likely to have faded.
Don’t ignore what may appear as tiny mazes, cracks or roughness, or brush it off as a minor aesthetic inconvenience. It could be a large indicator of a much bigger termite problem happening inside the timber.
Creaking roofs
When considering what does termite damage look like, it’s better to approach the topic by engaging all the senses. And whilst a creaking roof might hint at what termites sound like (or at least, what sounds they are responsible for causing), this telltale noise could alert you to a termite nest active above your head.
Termites like the damp, undisturbed conditions of ceilings and roofs, so it’s not an area of your property you want to neglect on the hunt for termites – even if you can’t see the potential damage.
Termite damage signs and how it can affect your property
As you might have realised, termite damage is hard to detect, and termites themselves are hard to spot. That’s why we’re so passionate about recommending thorough inspections from professionals who know exactly what they’re looking for, because often it’s the early warning signs of termites such as discarded wings and flying insects, as opposed to the damage itself, that can alert you to an active infestation.
And the problem is – once you have spotted definite termite damage – you can bet there’s going to be a lot more hidden beneath the surface.
Whether you’ve noticed one of two of the termite damage signs covered in this blog, or you want to make sure it doesn’t get to that point, safeguard your property with our in-depth pre purchase inspection and the right termite treatment or know the risks and how to mitigate them. Our friendly team can provide you with helpful information and a detailed report, just contact us today to arrange an inspection, or give us a call for a no-obligation, free quote.
We’ll make sure you don’t have to see any signs of termite damage, and if you do – not for long!
With more than 25 years of experience, contact Specialist Termite Control today at 1300 69 59 49 or fill in the contact form to learn how to get rid of termites right away!
