Termites eat timber from the inside, so damage often goes unnoticed until it is well advanced. Knowing the early signs helps you catch it before it reaches structural timbers.
Common signs of termite damage include timber that sounds hollow when tapped, skirting or architraves that crumble under light pressure, doors and windows that start sticking, bubbling or cracked paint, sagging floors or ceilings, and thin mud tracks along walls, slabs or piers. If you see any of these, have a licensed pest manager inspect and treat first, then get the damaged timber assessed for repair.
Signs of termite damage inside the house
- Hollow-sounding skirting boards, door jambs and architraves.
- Timber that crumbles or dents easily when pressed.
- Doors and windows that suddenly stick or no longer close properly.
- Paint or wallpaper that bubbles, ripples or looks water damaged.
- Floors that feel soft, bouncy or uneven underfoot.
- Ceilings or cornices that sag or crack.
Signs outside and under the house
- Mud tubes or tracks running up slab edges, piers, stumps or walls.
- Damaged decking, stairs, fence posts or landscaping timbers near the house.
- Softened bearers, joists or stumps in the subfloor.
What to do if you find termite damage
Do not break open the mud tracks or spray the area yourself, as this can drive termites to another part of the house. Contact a licensed pest manager to inspect and treat the activity. Orange Projects does not treat termites; we carry out the building repairs once treatment is done.
When the timber needs repairing
Once the termites are dealt with, the damaged timber still needs to be assessed. Some damage is limited to trims and non-structural framing. Damage to studs, plates, lintels, roof framing, bearers or joists may need propping and, in some cases, an engineer's repair detail before the timber is replaced. Opening the area is often the only way to see how far it goes.
See our termite damage repairs Gold Coast page for the repairs we carry out, and the termite damage repair cost guide for what affects the price.
Found signs of termite damage? Send us photos and any pest report for a written quote.
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