What Does Termite Damage Look Like?

Termite-damaged wood looks hollowed out and tunneled through, but you might not be able to see termite damage from the outside. There are other, less obvious indications that you’re dealing with termite damage – such as the following:

Cracks on internal walls, ceiling beams, or rafters
Bubbling or sagging areas in the floor
Weakened or hollow floorboards and baseboards
Broken roof tiles
Doors and windows sticking

When termites eat the cellulose from wood, they damage its structural integrity. This causes the wood to lose strength, becoming brittle and hollow. Even if you can’t see the tunnels from the outside, they still weaken the wood and can cause it to buckle. This can cause doors and windows to start sticking, paint to start bubbling, and more.

What Do Termites Damage?

Termites aren’t picky; they can settle down in any source of wood, whether it’s a woodpile or a whole house. Here in Atlanta, GA, we deal mostly with subterranean termites, which need moisture from the ground to survive. Wood in direct contact with the soil is at the highest risk, but these termites can also build mud tubes to reach nearby structures.

Here are a few of the most common places where termites are found.

Support beams
Flooring
Posts
Wall studs
Insulation
Sheds
Lumber
Wooden decks
Outdoor furniture

Why Do Termites Infest Wood?

They eat it! Termites eat cellulose, a polymer that forms a large part of wood’s structure. Unlike other wood-destroying insects (WDIs) such as carpenter ants, which only tunnel through the wood and eat other things, termites live both on and in wood.

Where Will I Find Termite Damage?

Termites can show up anywhere wood is. Here are a few places to keep an eye on:

Walls
Ceilings
Foam insulation
Floor slabs
Drywall
Flooring
Windows

Outdoors, termites can be found in:

Piles of firewood
Roof underlayment
Patio furniture
Decaying logs

Are There Any Termite-Resistant Materials?

Luckily, there are certain building materials that don’t appeal to termites as much. This includes:

Redwood and cedar wood. Termites aren’t as attracted to these types of wood – though they will still infest it if conditions are right.
Cement and concrete. Termites can’t eat these, but if they’re cracked and there’s wood on the other side, they will make their way through.
Treated lumber. Lumber can be treated to make it more resistant to termites – however, it’s important to remember that it isn’t termite-proof. If you’re building a new structure on your property, it’s important to make sure that the wood is treated to resist termites.
Metal. Like concrete and cement, metal is inedible to termites.

Termite Damage in Your Atlanta, GA Home