What Termite Damage Looks Like in Floorboards

Floorboards are one of the more common places termite damage gets noticed, usually because someone feels something underfoot that wasn't there before. Here's what to actually look and feel for.

Why floors show damage the way they do

Termites feed from the inside of timber outward, which means a floorboard can be structurally compromised while the surface, the paint, the polish, the visible grain, still looks essentially normal. That's true of any timber they're working on, but floors get noticed differently to walls or ceilings because you physically interact with them every day. A change underfoot often gets picked up before a change would be spotted by looking.

What to check for

Springy or soft spots. A section of floor that feels like it gives slightly underfoot, more than the rest of the room, can indicate the timber underneath has lost structural integrity. This is one of the more reliable physical signs, since it's something you feel rather than something you have to spot visually.

Hollow sound when tapped. Tapping a floorboard and listening for a hollow or papery sound, compared to a solid knock elsewhere in the room, is a simple check anyone can do. Termites consume the interior of timber while leaving the surface intact, so a board that should sound solid can instead sound noticeably different.

Blistering or bubbling in the finish. Paint, polish, or varnish that's bubbling or lifting in a way that doesn't match normal wear can be a sign of moisture or activity underneath, not just an ageing finish.

Sagging or uneven sections. A floor that's visibly dipped or uneven in one area, particularly in an older home, can point to compromised bearers or joists underneath, not just the boards themselves.

Sticking doors or windows near floor level. Frame distortion caused by structural movement can make doors or windows that used to close easily start sticking, which is sometimes the first thing anyone notices, well before they connect it to the floor.

Why these signs often show up late

By the time any of these signs are noticeable, the damage underneath is usually well progressed. Surface signs like these appear after significant structural compromise has already occurred, since the whole reason they're visible at all is that the damage has reached far enough to affect how the surface behaves. That's not a reason to panic if you notice one of these signs, but it is a reason to get it checked promptly rather than wait and see.

What I check when floor damage is suspected

I inspect the floorboards themselves, but the more revealing check is usually underneath, in the subfloor, where the bearers and joists that actually support the floor are more accessible and often show clearer signs than the boards above them. Thermal imaging can pick up temperature differences consistent with hidden activity, and a moisture meter checks whether elevated moisture is part of what's going on.

Common questions

Is a springy floor definitely termites?
Not necessarily. Springy or soft floors can also result from general timber ageing, past water damage, or structural settling. It's worth having assessed properly rather than assuming either way.

Can I fix a damaged floorboard myself without checking for termites first?
I'd recommend getting it inspected before doing any repair work. Replacing a board without knowing whether termites are still active in the area means the same problem can affect the replacement.

How much of the floor usually needs replacing if termites are found?
That depends entirely on how far the activity has spread, which is exactly what an inspection determines. Some cases involve a small section, others involve more, and I'll tell you honestly what I find rather than guess before looking.

Does new flooring over old boards hide termite damage?
It can. New flooring laid over existing boards without addressing what's underneath doesn't remove any existing risk, and can make future damage harder to spot visually, which is part of why a proper inspection checks the subfloor directly rather than relying on the visible surface.

Get your floors checked properly

Call 0405 790 927 to book a termite and timber-pest inspection. I'll check the floorboards and the subfloor beneath them with thermal imaging and a moisture meter, and hand you the written report on-site before I leave.