Do termites affect brick houses?

Brick veneers

The brick veneer on wall sidings can mislead you at times. You may think that the house is constructed using solid brick. However, the brick veneer presents a decorative finishing to the interior wooden frames. After the termites enter the brick veneer, they can gain full access. As a result, they affect your home’s wooden area. The termites can also access the wooden frames through the foliage, patios, footpaths and garden linked to the concrete slab.

Another likely entry area is the weep holes. These describe small spaces between bricks that act as water drainage in the wall. After entering all these access areas, your interior wooden frames are fully susceptible to termite infestation. Therefore if you want to buy a home, please have a pest inspection. The inspection helps you establish the existence of termites in the concrete walls of the home you intend to purchase.

Experienced property inspectors undertake an inspection before the purchase. They give you a report that will show any termite activity or infestations. In addition, the report indicates possible termite entry points in the concrete slabs. The inspectors offer advice to avoid infestation. For example, the weep holes can be moved hence facilitating termite detection.

Alternatively the holes can be cleared completely. So if you intend to buy a property, have a pest inspection, despite the material structure. It ensures your property is free from termites.

Indications of termite activity

Termites can destroy a house gradually without being detected. They live in your home’s moist and dark areas and eat any wooden material. However, even though termites can remain undetected, you should detect their presence to prevent them from destroying your property further.

Below are some termite infestation signs:

• Presence of white insects that look like ants: Termites resemble ants. However, their colour is much lighter.

• Flying termites called ‘alates’ or ‘swarmers’ are present: These termites move from their nests and go to a different colony to find mates. You may see them flying around your property. Alternatively, you can see tiny discarded wings. It means your home may have a termite colony.

• Strange banging and buzz noise: Termites eat very noisily. So if there is infected woodwork, you will hear the termites eating it from the interior. Also, you will hear the soldier termites banging on the walls to warn their colony of danger.

• Wood sounds hollow: Tap or knock on any wooden area of your house. Do you hear a papery or hollow sound? It is likely that termites have eaten the interior and left a thin wood lining.

• Visible termite droppings: You might notice tiny black marks or a dark powdery substance around the woodworks. These are droppings from termites which are known as ‘frass.’

• Hard-to-open windows and doors: Termites emit moisture that makes the window frames and doors warp. As a result, they become tight-fitted.

• Tiny tunnels: Lastly, if you have broken wood pieces around your home that have tunnels, it is an indication of termite presence.