Termites after heavy rain and floods: the signs to check
Termites become more active after heavy rain and flooding, and they can do major damage to a house in a short time. After wet weather in Queensland, check for mud tubes, hollow-sounding timber and discarded wings. If you find signs, or flood water reached your floors, get an inspection from someone with a QBCC termite management licence.
Why do termites get worse after rain?
Termites need moisture. QBCC warns that wet weather combined with Queensland’s humidity gives them ideal conditions to spread. Flood water can also damage the termite barrier around your house.
What are the signs of termites?
- Mud tubes on walls, foundations, or next to skirting boards and architraves
- Sagging floors, doors or ceilings
- Damaged skirting boards, door frames or architraves
- Cracked or bubbling paint or plaster
- Timber that sounds hollow when you tap it
- Discarded wings near windows, in spider webs or in light fittings
- Small piles of dry, sand-like droppings near holes in timber
- Unexplained power faults
What should I do if I find termites?
Get an inspection from someone who holds both of these:
- A Queensland Health pest management licence. Anyone doing pest control for a fee needs one, and carries a photo card showing it.
- A QBCC termite management licence. Queensland Health says this is needed as well for termite inspections, termite reports and termite barriers.
Ask to see both. The QBCC licence comes in two classes:
- Termite Management - Chemical, for chemical treatments and barriers
- Termite Management - Physical, for physical barriers such as mesh
Chemical termite work needs a licence at any price, even a small job. If the termites have damaged timber, ask whether it needs replacing and whether the barrier needs repair.
Did flood water damage my termite barrier?
It might have. If flood water surrounded the house or covered the floors, QBCC says to check the termite management system for damage. A licensed termite contractor can do this.
How can I make my house less attractive to termites?
- Clear water pooling in gutters, cans and pots around the house.
- Fix leaking pipes and taps.
- Move timber and wood piles away from the house, and keep timber off the ground.
Take care when building garden beds, paths, patios or pergolas, or laying turf. This work can cover or bridge the termite barrier, or hide where termites get in. Treated timber, steel, concrete, masonry and fibre cement all resist termites.