Buyer guide
Signs of termites in Brisbane homes, and what to do if you find them
Termites, often called white ants, are common across Brisbane. The signs are easy to miss: thin mud tubes on stumps or walls, timber that sounds hollow, paint that bubbles, and doors that suddenly stick.
Signs to look for
- Mud tubes or leads running up stumps, slab edges, piers or walls
- Timber that sounds hollow or papery when tapped
- Bubbling or rippled paint, or skirting boards that crumble
- Doors and windows that start to bind without an obvious cause
- Swarms of winged termites around lights on humid summer evenings
Why Brisbane is high risk
Warm, humid weather, leafy gardens and lots of timber homes make South East Queensland a favourite place for subterranean termites. Slab homes are not immune: termites can come up through slab joints and around pipes, and travel behind cladding unseen.
Conditions that invite termites
Our timber pest reports also note conducive conditions: things that make an attack more likely. Common ones are garden beds and mulch against the house, leaking taps and downpipes, timber in contact with soil, poor subfloor ventilation, and covered slab edges.
Found termites in a home you want to buy?
Do not disturb them. Talk to us about what the report found, get a quote for treatment and repairs from a licensed pest manager and a builder, and speak to your solicitor before your Inspection Date. Damage that looks small can run further than you can see.
Questions people ask
Are termites the same as white ants?
Yes. 'White ants' is the common Australian name for termites, though they are not actually ants.
Does a termite inspection include treatment?
No. We inspect and report. We do not sell treatments, which keeps our advice independent.