Termite guide · Wollongong & the Illawarra
The First Signs of Termites in a House
The earliest termite signs are usually mud tubes on brick or piers, timber that sounds hollow when tapped, doors that suddenly stick, and paint that looks blistered or rippled.
Last updated 28 August 2026 · Premier Pest Control, Wollongong
Fully Licensed
No Mess Left
Local Knowledge
Responsive Support
Why termites are so easy to miss
Subterranean termites do not eat timber from the outside in. They work through the middle, following the soft grain and leaving a thin shell of surface timber intact, which is why a skirting board can look perfectly normal while being almost hollow behind the paint. They also avoid light and moving air, so they build enclosed mud tubes to travel rather than crossing open surfaces. The result is a pest that can be active in a house for a long time without producing anything a homeowner would recognise as damage.
- Mud tubes — pencil-width earthen tunnels on brickwork, piers, subfloor walls or foundations
- Timber that sounds hollow or papery when tapped, especially skirtings, door frames and architraves
- Doors and windows that suddenly stick, as damaged timber swells and distorts
- Paint that looks blistered, rippled or faintly bubbled over a flat surface
- Small piles of what looks like fine sawdust or gritty pellets near timber
- Discarded wings on window sills or in cobwebs after a warm, humid evening
What makes an Illawarra property higher risk
Termites need timber, moisture and access, and the Illawarra supplies all three generously. The escarpment puts a great deal of housing close to bushland, the coastal humidity keeps subfloors damp well into the cooler months, and the region's older weatherboard and timber-framed stock offers exactly the conditions a colony looks for. Garden beds banked against the wall line, timber retaining walls, stacked firewood and leaking or poorly directed downpipes are the four things we most often find have made a property attractive.
Can you ever fully get rid of termites?
Honestly: you can eliminate a colony that is attacking a building, and that is what treatment sets out to do. What you cannot do is make the surrounding land termite-free — subterranean termites are a normal part of the Australian bush and there will be colonies in the area regardless of what happens on your block. That is why the accepted approach is elimination of the active colony followed by ongoing management and regular inspection, rather than a single treatment described as permanent. Anyone promising your property will never see termites again is promising something the biology does not allow.
What to do if you think you have found something
The single most damaging thing people do is the most instinctive one — poke it, break it open, or spray it.
- 1
Do not disturb it
Breaking open a mud tube or spraying a supermarket product causes the colony to retreat and re-route, often to a part of the structure you cannot see. It makes the problem harder to find and harder to treat, and it destroys the evidence a technician needs to work out where the colony is coming from.
- 2
Photograph it where it is
A photo of the tube, the damage and its position on the building tells an inspector a great deal about the likely entry point before anyone arrives.
- 3
Note what else you have seen
Sticking doors, blistered paint, a musty smell in a cupboard, wings on a sill — individually unremarkable, together a pattern.
- 4
Get it inspected properly
A timber pest inspection covers the roof void, subfloor, perimeter and the timber structure, and reports on what is active, what is old damage and where the conditions are letting them in.
How often should an inspection happen?
The Australian Standard for termite management, AS 3660, sets the framework the industry works to, and competent annual inspection is the general expectation for most homes — more often where a property borders bushland, has a history of activity, or has a damp subfloor. Termite activity is also seasonal: colonies are most active through the warmer, wetter months, which in this region means the risk window builds from spring into January. That is the argument for booking an inspection before summer rather than after something is noticed.
What our customers say
Rated 4.9 out of 5 by 210 local customers on Google.
Friendly, efficient, helpful and great service. Would definitely recommend the guys.
Really impressed with the service. The team were friendly and very professional. My big wasp issue was no problem for them and was resolved quickly. The job was carried out efficiently with no hassle. I would definitely recommend their services and would use them again
The service was efficient and they were punctual. Nothing was too much trouble. It was great to see Will and Buzz arrive with big smiles friendly and such a happy demeanour when doing a job. It is so rare nowadays. Keep up the great work guys Would highly recommend.
Frequently Asked Questions
The questions we actually get asked on this — answered plainly. Call 02 4217 0117 any time if yours isn't here.
Call 02 4217 0117Are white ants and termites the same thing?
Yes. "White ants" is the common Australian name for termites — but they are not ants at all; they belong to a completely different insect group. If a report or a neighbour mentions white ants, they mean termites.
Does a brick house get termites?
Yes. Brick is usually only a veneer over a timber frame, and termites travel through wall cavities and up piers to reach it. A full brick house still has timber in the roof structure, door frames, skirtings and often the subfloor.
How quickly can termites damage a house?
It depends entirely on the size of the colony and how long it has been undetected. The important point is that significant structural damage frequently occurs before any visible sign appears, which is why inspection is recommended on a schedule rather than in response to symptoms.
Is termite damage covered by home insurance?
Generally no. Most Australian home and contents policies specifically exclude damage caused by termites and other insects, treating it as a maintenance issue rather than a sudden event. Check your own product disclosure statement — but do not assume you are covered.
Do you do building and pest inspections?
We carry out timber pest inspections, which report on termites and other timber pests, and we are licensed for that work. We are not licensed building inspectors, so we do not provide a combined building-and-pest report — if you need both, you will need a licensed building inspector alongside us.
Sources
Every claim on this page can be checked against a public authority. These are the ones we used.
Want it dealt with properly?
Licensed, insured pest technicians across Wollongong, the Illawarra, Shellharbour, Kiama, the Southern Highlands and the Macarthur corridor. Tell us what you have seen and we will tell you what it needs.
Free quote · No obligation · Open 24/7
Related: Termite inspections · Termite treatment · Pre-purchase timber pest inspection · Termite baiting systems · Termite barriers