The most common signs of termites are mud tubes (thin mud trails on walls or piers), timber that sounds hollow when tapped, paint that bubbles or ripples, doors and windows that suddenly stick, and small piles of discarded wings. Termites work silently, so these are easy to miss until damage is advanced.
Pencil-width mud tunnels on foundations, walls, piers or in the subfloor are the classic giveaway — termites build them to travel between the nest and their food while staying hidden and humid.
Tap skirting boards, architraves and door frames. A hollow or papery sound means the timber has been eaten from the inside out, leaving just a thin shell.
Paint that looks bubbled or rippled can be termites tunnelling just beneath the surface, and the moisture and damage they create warps timber — so doors and windows that used to open freely start to jam.
Winged termites emerge to start new colonies, then shed their wings — small piles of identical wings near windowsills or light fittings are a strong warning sign.
Check the subfloor, the damp zones around bathrooms and kitchens, the garden and fence line, and any tree stumps or timber touching soil. Bush-fringe suburbs like Menai and Engadine carry the highest risk. If you find a sign, don't disturb or spray it — book an inspection.
Often invisible from outside — hollow-sounding timber, faint mud trails, or slightly rippled paint. By the time damage is obvious, the colony is usually well established.
Sometimes a faint clicking or rustling in walls when the colony is large, but mostly they're silent — which is why visual signs and inspections matter.
Don't disturb or spray them, and book an inspection. Disturbing the colony just makes it spread through the house.
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