Quick Answer
Yes. Termites can potentially enter a home through or around expansion and construction joints when those areas provide a concealed pathway from the soil into the building.
Termites don’t need a large opening to gain access to a property.
Subterranean termites travel through the soil searching for food and suitable conditions. Small gaps, cracks, joints and penetrations associated with a building can provide pathways that allow them to enter without being immediately noticed.
This is one of the reasons a Canberra home can appear perfectly sound while termite activity is occurring out of sight.
At A1 Pest Control Canberra, we look beyond the obvious signs during a termite inspection and consider how termites could potentially gain concealed access to the building.
What Is an Expansion Joint?
Expansion joints and construction joints are deliberately incorporated into many buildings.
They allow different parts of the structure to accommodate movement caused by temperature changes, settling and other building movement.
The existence of an expansion joint does not mean there is something wrong with the property.
From a termite-management perspective, however, the important question is whether the joint or the surrounding construction creates a pathway that termites can exploit.
Termites don’t need to walk through your front door.
They simply need a concealed route from the soil into the structure.
How Can Termites Use Expansion Joints?
Subterranean termites live and travel through the soil.
Worker termites continually forage away from the colony searching for cellulose-based food sources.
Depending on the construction of a property,possible areas of concealed entry can include:
- Expansion joints
- Construction joints
- Cracks in concrete slabs
- Plumbing penetrations
- Pipe penetrations
- Gaps around services
- Slab edges
- Subfloor areas
- Brick piers
- Retaining walls
- Areas where soil or landscaping conceals the building edge
- Once termites find a suitable pathway, they may be able to travel into timber and other cellulose-containing materials within the property.
- The homeowner may see nothing happening from the outside.
But Termites Can’t Eat Concrete – Can They?
Correct.
Termites do not eat concrete.
But this is where an important misunderstanding occurs.
A concrete slab does not automatically make a property termite-proof.
Termites can exploit cracks, construction joints, expansion
joints, penetrations and other gaps associated with concrete construction to reach materials they can actually feed on.
Homeowners sometimes tell us:
“My house is on a concrete slab. How could I possibly have termites?”
The concrete itself isn’t necessarily the target.
The concern is the small concealed pathways associated with the slab and building construction that may allow termites to travel into the structure above.
Why Is Concealed Termite Entry So Important?
The real danger is not simply termites entering a property.
It’s termites entering without you knowing about it.
Subterranean termites prefer protected environments.
They can remain hidden behind:
- Walls
- Skirting boards
- Flooring
- Door frames
- Cabinetry
- Subfloor timbers
- Other building materials
By the time obvious evidence becomes visible, termites may have been active for some time.
Possible warning signs can include:
- Mud leads or termite workings
- Timber that sounds hollow when tapped
- Damaged skirting boards
- Changes to timber surfaces
- Swollen or distorted door frames
- Unexplained wall or flooring damage
- Winged termites
- Discarded termite wings
However, there is another important point.
Not seeing these signs does not prove your property is termite-free.
This is why regular professional termite inspections are important.
Are Canberra Homes Particularly at Risk?
Termites are a significant concern for property owners throughout Canberra and surrounding areas.
But termite risk isn’t determined by the suburb alone.
The technician needs to consider the property, its construction and the surrounding environment.
Some of the conditions we look for include:
- Mature trees and old tree stumps
- Excess moisture
- Poor drainage
- Timber stored against or underneath the building
- Garden beds against the property
- Soil concealing slab edges
- Retaining walls
- Subfloor conditions
- Building extensions
- Renovations
- Cracks and penetrations
- Previous termite activity
- Existing termite-management systems
This is why two homes sitting beside each other can have very different termite risk factors.
A termite-management recommendation should be based on the individual property rather than assumptions.
What About Steel-Framed Homes?
Another common misconception is:
“My house has a steel frame, so termites can’t hurt it.”
Steel framing certainly removes timber from one important part of the building.
But termites don’t need to eat the steel frame to cause problems within the property.
A steel-framed home can still contain cellulose-based materials such as:
- Timber flooring
- Skirting boards
- Door frames
- Cabinetry
- Built-in furniture
- Decorative timber
- Other internal materials
So the more useful question isn’t:
Can termites eat my frame?
It is:
Can termites get inside my property?
A steel frame should therefore not be used as a reason to ignore termite inspections.
Can a Chemical Termite Barrier Help Protect a Property?
Where appropriate for the construction, a professionally installed chemical termite-management system can establish a treated zone around identified areas of the structure.
The exact treatment method depends on the property.
Our termite technician may need to consider:
- Construction type
- Slab configuration
- Expansion joints
- Concrete areas
- Subfloor access
- Soil conditions
- Building perimeter
- Existing termite systems
- Extensions and alterations
- Plumbing and service penetrations
For some properties, concrete areas may need to be professionally drilled and treated to establish the required treated zone.
Other properties may require treatment of accessible soil, subfloor areas, piers or other vulnerable areas.
There is no responsible one-size-fits-all termite treatment.
The property should be assessed before the appropriate protection system is recommended.
What About the 8-Year Termite Warranty?
Where A1 Pest Control Canberra installs a qualifying termite barrier system, an 8-year warranty may apply to the termite protection provided.
An important condition is that the required termite warranty inspection is carried out every year.
The annual inspection helps us check that conditions around the property haven’t changed in a way that could compromise the termite-management system.
For example, changes may occur through:
- Renovations
- Extensions
- New landscaping
- Plumbing work
- Soil movement
- Concrete work
- Building alterations
- Changes in drainage or moisture
The annual warranty inspection is currently $350 and is paid by the property owner.
The purpose isn’t simply paperwork.
It gives us the opportunity to check the property and the termite-management system regularly rather than assuming nothing has changed.
I Already Have Termite Bait Stations. Isn’t That Enough?
Bait stations and chemical barriers perform different functions.
Termite monitoring or baiting systems can form part of a termite-management strategy.
However, homeowners should not assume that having stations positioned around the property makes every possible concealed entry point inaccessible to termites.
Expansion joints, slab cracks, penetrations and other concealed pathways still need to be considered when assessing the property.
The appropriate termite-management strategy depends on:
- Building construction
- Existing protection
- Previous termite history
- Current termite activity
- Inspection findings
- Environmental conditions around the home
What Should I Do If I Find Termites Near an Expansion Joint?
This is important:
Do not spray them with household insecticide.
And don’t unnecessarily break open or disturb the termite workings.
Disturbing the area can cause termites to retreat from that particular location and may make professional assessment more difficult.
Instead:
- Leave the area as undisturbed as possible.
- Take photographs if this can be done without disturbing the termites.
- Contact a professional termite technician.
- Arrange a termite inspection.
- Have the rest of the property checked for evidence of activity and possible concealed entry points.
- Discuss treatment and longer-term protection if termite activity is confirmed.
Finding termites in one location doesn’t necessarily tell us everywhere they are travelling.
The property needs to be assessed as a whole.
What If I Can’t See Any Termites?
This is exactly why termite inspections matter.
A professional termite inspection isn’t simply someone walking around looking for visible termites.
An experienced technician is looking for:
- Evidence of current termite activity
- Evidence of previous activity
- Termite damage
- Moisture
- Conditions conducive to termite attack
- Concealed entry points
- Building features that may increase risk
- Areas where inspection is restricted
At A1 Pest Control Canberra, specialist equipment including moisture detection and thermal imaging may be used where appropriate as part of the inspection process.
The aim is to identify concerns as early as possible rather than waiting until obvious damage appears.
Should Expansion Joints Be Checked During a Termite Inspection?
They should be considered as part of the overall construction and termite risk assessment of the property.
A good termite inspection goes beyond simply checking visible timber.
The technician should be asking:
How could subterranean termites travel from the soil into this building without the homeowner noticing?
Expansion joints can form one part of that investigation.
So can slab edges, plumbing penetrations, cracks, subfloor areas, retaining walls and other construction features.
Buying a Canberra Property? Don’t Ignore Concealed Termite Entry Points
If you’re purchasing a property, don’t assume that a concrete slab, steel frame or relatively modern construction means termite risk has disappeared.
A professional pre-purchase termite inspection can help identify:
- Evidence of current termite activity
- Evidence of previous termite activity
- Visible termite damage
- Conditions conducive to termite attack
- Areas where inspection access is restricted
- Existing termite-management systems
- Areas that may require further investigation
Understanding these issues before purchasing can help you make a better-informed decision about the property and any termite protection that may be required.
The Question Isn’t Just “Can Termites Get Through an Expansion Joint?”
The more important question is:
Where could termites enter my home without me seeing them?
Termites don’t need an obvious hole in the wall.
Expansion joints, slab penetrations, cracks, plumbing penetrations and concealed construction areas can all need consideration when assessing termite risk.
And because subterranean termites operate largely out of sight, waiting until you physically see termites isn’t a good termite-management strategy.
If you’re concerned about termites, have discovered suspicious activity or haven’t had your home professionally inspected recently, A1 Pest Control Canberra can assess the property and explain what we find in plain English.
Our experienced termite team services Canberra and surrounding areas and can recommend an appropriate termite-management approach based on the construction and risk factors of the individual property.
Concerned About Termites?
Call A1 Pest Control Canberra on 0407065413 to arrange a termite inspection or discuss termite protection for your property.
Related Articles
- How Termites Enter Homes in Canberra (And How to Stop Them)
- Termites Coming Through Concrete Floors in Canberra (Real Case Study)
- Steel Frame Homes in Canberra: Why Termite Protection Still Matters
- Chemical Termite Barrier vs Bait Stations in Canberra – What Actually Works?
- Are Termite Bait Stations Worth It in Canberra?
- Pre-Purchase Termite Inspection Canberra: What It Covers, What It Costs, and What to Do If You Find Damage