The most dangerous thing about termites is that the damage does not show until it is large. They hollow out the wood from the inside and leave a thin shell of paint or wood, so a door or a stair looks sound until it breaks at a touch.
This article summarizes the types of damage, and it is part of the termite guide.
The main damage: It eats the cellulose in wood from the inside, weakening doors, floors, ceilings, furniture and the structural frame of the building.
Other damage: It ruins books, paper, fabrics and some insulation, and it may reach wiring and the materials around the wood.
Concealment: It leaves the outer surface intact, so the damage is usually discovered only when the infested part collapses or is tapped.
The cost: Repairing structural damage costs far more than inspection and prevention, and some insurance policies may not cover it.
The rule: Periodic inspection and early treatment are cheaper than restoring wood after an infestation.
Damage to the Building
Structural wood is the first target, especially wood that touches the soil or is damp.
- Doors and frames: They hollow out, crack and lose their load-bearing strength.
- Wood floors and parquet: They warp, swell and sound empty.
- Ceilings and beams: They may weaken and sag before anyone notices.
- Paint and plaster: They peel and bulge where termites travel behind them.
Damage Beyond Wood
Termites feed on any material that contains cellulose.
- Paper, books and cardboard: In storerooms and offices.
- Furniture and wooden blinds: And picture frames.
- Insulated wires: They may gnaw the insulation and cause faults or fires.
- Roots and trees: In some species, they harm weak or dead trees.
Cost and Insurance
Repairs cost large sums compared with the cost of inspection and prevention. Building insurance usually does not cover termite damage, because it is considered a result of neglected maintenance.
- Early inspection: Far cheaper than repair.
- Treating the source: Before restoring the wood, or the damage returns.
- Documenting the condition: With photos before treatment.
Is It a Health Hazard?
It does not transmit diseases to people and does not sting, but the dust and moisture linked to an infestation may bother people with allergies. The real danger is material and structural.
What Is the Next Step?
- Check the wood by tapping and with a small screwdriver: if it penetrates easily, there is a cavity.
- Record the locations of the mud tubes.
- Move on to getting rid of termites.
Signs of Structural Damage
Some signs show that the damage has gone beyond the minor level:
- Doors that stick: They do not open or close easily because the frame has swollen.
- Soft floors: They sink slightly underfoot or creak.
- Cracked paint: It looks like bubbles or lines.
- Falling pieces: From ceilings or wooden shelves.
How Should You Act First?
- Do not move the infested wood much, so you do not scatter the colony.
- Photograph the tubes, pellets and damaged wood.
- Treat the source and the moisture.
- Restore the wood after making sure the infestation is over.
What Reduces the Cost?
- Early detection: A simple annual inspection.
- Maintenance: Fix leaks as soon as they appear.
- Treated wood: In exposed parts.
- Treating the foundation: One good treatment is cheaper than repeated repairs.
How Does the Damage Develop over Time?
An infestation begins with losses you cannot see: thin passages inside the wood that do not yet affect its strength. Over the months the passages widen and the piece turns into a hollow shell. Damp wood deteriorates faster, because moisture makes the termites' work easier and feeds fungi alongside them. That is why you should not wait for clear signs to appear on the surface before you inspect.
What Gets Infested in the Home?
- Doors, frames, wood floors and parquet.
- Suspended ceilings, cabinets and furniture against the walls.
- Books, paper and cardboard stored near the floor.
- Paper insulation and some other materials that contain cellulose.
How Do You Estimate the Extent of the Damage?
Tap the wood with a screwdriver handle: a solid sound means it is sound, and a hollow one means cavities. Press a nail or a small screwdriver into suspicious spots; if it sinks in easily, the wood has lost a large part of its strength. Then photograph what you see with the date before any intervention, so the photos help during a consultation or a cost estimate.
What Reduces the Loss?
- Early inspection, before the damage spreads.
- Fixing the moisture source that attracts termites.
- Treating the colony before restoring the wood, or the damage returns.
- Replacing damaged pieces with treated wood or a resistant alternative when needed.
Remember that restoring without treating the infestation wastes money, since termites may repeat their work in the new wood.
Products from the Orkida Store
We choose the treatment according to the type of termite and where the infestation is, and we recommend reading the dose and safety interval on the label before starting. For large infestations, it is better to use a specialist to apply the full barrier.
- Professional Termite Control Package for Homes: A professional termite package combining the specialized insecticide and application equipment, and it is the most suitable starting point for most homes.
- Agenda 25 EC Public Health Insecticide for Termite Control, 1 L: Agenda 25 (fipronil) is a concentrate for treating the soil around foundations, and it is one of the essentials of the chemical barrier that termites pass through, carrying the material into the colony.
The Truth About "Nothing Visible"
It is common for a homeowner to say everything looks fine, and then be shocked when part of a frame falls or a shelf collapses. The reason is that termites leave a thin shell because they avoid dry air. Infested wood may keep its shape and finish and then collapse under the first heavy load. Do not judge the soundness of wood by looking alone, but by the test we described, and by a specialist inspection if any sign looks suspicious.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do termites eat all of the wood?
They usually leave the outer shell, so the wood looks sound while its inside is hollowed out.
How do I test the wood?
Tap with a screwdriver handle. A dull or empty sound indicates a cavity, and try pushing the tip of the screwdriver in gently.
Is a concrete building safe?
Safer, but wooden doors and ceilings, furniture and wiring remain exposed.
How long does the damage take?
Depending on the size of the colony, clear damage may appear within a year to several years.
Image source: Shutterstock
Frequently Asked Questions About Termite Damage
How do termites destroy wood without us noticing?
They feed on the cellulose inside the wood and leave the outer shell intact, so the wood looks sound until it sounds hollow when tapped or part of it collapses.
What are the early signs of damage?
Mud tunnels on walls, fallen wings near windows, bulging or peeling paint, wood that sounds hollow, and doors and windows that become hard to open.
Does insurance cover the damage?
Ordinary insurance policies often do not cover insect damage, so prevention and periodic inspection remain cheaper than repair.
Can the damage be repaired after the termites are eliminated?
Damaged wood can be replaced or reinforced after the infestation is treated and the moisture source is removed, while delaying treatment raises the cost of repair.