How To Safely Remove Termite-Infested Wood

Key Takeaways

• If you find termites in wood, do not disturb them. Call a professional pest controller first and get expert advice.
• Subterranean termites are the most common and destructive type. They live in soil and build mud tubes to reach food.
• A shop-bought spray may kill thousands of termites, but the rest of the colony simply moves away and keeps feeding.
• Firewood can act as a bridge into your home, so store it away from the walls and off the ground.
• Book a termite inspection and treatment plan so the colony, not just the wood, is dealt with.

Know What To Look For

Finding termites in your home is a common but very serious problem in Australia. Knowing how to deal with them properly matters if you don’t want a mass of damage and expense. If you think you have found termites, do not disturb them. Call a professional pest controller and get some expert advice first.

Termite colonies can house a million or more termites, and all those hungry mouths will devour wood and other cellulose-containing materials like cardboard and paper. The damage can be devastating. There are two main types of termites that infest homes: subterranean and drywood termites.

Feature	Subterranean termites	Drywood termites
Where they live	In the soil, travelling to food	Directly inside the wood they eat
Mud tubes	Yes, built from soil and saliva	No
Common signs	Mud tubes around windows and doors, sawdust-like droppings near the tubes	Damaged timber that sounds hollow when you knock on it
How common	The most common and the most destructive	Less common, but still capable of significant damage

Look out for any damaged wood or timber. If it sounds hollow when you knock on it, it could be a sign of termites. Our guide to DIY termite inspection lists more early signs.

Call In The Pros

To treat termites successfully, you need to identify the type causing the issue so the most suitable treatment can be used. A simple spray bought from a shop will not do the job. You may kill thousands of termites in one go, but the tens of thousands of others will simply move away and continue to devastate your property.

A technician will also check how far the activity has spread, where the colony is nesting and which entry points need protecting. Different treatments suit different situations:

• Bait stations: bait is consumed and shared with the colony over time.
• Liquid treatments: applied along the foundation of the property to create a protective zone.
• Fumigation: generally reserved for severe drywood cases, and we will tell you if it applies.
• Spot treatment: products applied directly to active galleries for a quick response to known activity.

Whichever method is chosen, ask what is covered, what is not and when the next inspection is due. A clear written plan avoids surprises later, and it gives you something to keep with your home records for future inspections.

What If You Find Termite-Infested Wood On Your Property…

Firewood can act as a bridge for termites to access your home, especially if the pile is touching your property. Always store firewood at least a few feet away from the foundation of your property. Try to store wood in a raised position off the ground to keep it drier and away from other potential cellulose sources.

If you suspect any piece of wood is infested, follow these steps:

1. Keep your hands and tools away from any mud tubes and do not break them open.
2. Move the suspect piece away from other wood and off the ground. Termites cut off from the soil and its moisture struggle to survive.
3. Take photos and note where the wood was found.
4. Do not bring it inside, and do not stack it with other timber.
5. Call a professional to check whether a colony is nearby.

If possible, burn the infested wood in an outdoor fire pit, as long as the wood hasn’t been treated with insecticides, which can produce toxic fumes. Check your council’s fire rules before lighting any fire. If you suspect a termite infestation, always call a professional for the best advice.

What Not to Do With Infested Timber

A few common reactions make the problem harder to fix. Avoid these mistakes until a technician has inspected the property.

• Spraying visible termites, which scatters the colony.
• Pulling out damaged timber in the wall or subfloor before the colony is found.
• Moving infested wood into a shed, garage or other part of the home.
• Sealing up holes or tubes, which can push termites to a new entry point.
• Waiting to see if the problem goes away, because the colony keeps feeding in the meantime.
• Treating the wood and ignoring the soil, entry points and moisture that let the termites in.

Where Else Should You Check?

Wood on the ground is rarely the only source. Termites often reach the house from the garden, so check these areas as well.

• Tree stumps, old fence posts and retaining walls.
• Garden beds and mulch against the slab or brick course.
• Decks, pergolas and timber steps in contact with soil.
• The subfloor and roof void, where a technician can safely look.
• Sheds, garages and any stored timber, cardboard or paper.

Our landscaping tips to prevent termite infestations explain how to set up the garden so it is less inviting.

Worried About Termites in Wood? Call Us

Control Pest Management technicians are licensed, fully insured and police checked, and our treatments are suitable for children and pets. We service the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Gladstone and Logan. Request a free quote or call 1300 357 246.