You might think your brick walls are a fortress against termites—after all, how could something as tiny as a termite take down something as solid as a brick, right? While your brick walls may look strong on the outside, termites are more interested in what’s behind them.
With termites, the “out of sight, out of mind” approach doesn’t really work. They don’t exactly announce themselves with a parade but prefer to quietly work behind the scenes, causing damage that can go unnoticed for months—sometimes even years.
You might only start to realize there’s an issue when it’s too late, and repairs become a costly nightmare. But don’t worry; there’s a way to deal with termites before they cause serious damage.
Can Termites Really Affect Brick Walls?
When termites are mentioned, your mind might immediately jump to wooden homes or old structures that seem more vulnerable. But here’s the thing: just because your home is made of brick doesn’t mean you’re off the hook.
It’s easy to assume that brick walls create an impenetrable barrier, but termites are clever. They don’t munch on the bricks themselves; instead, they go after what’s hidden behind them—the wood framing and other materials that keep your home standing strong.
You wouldn’t expect termites to take an interest in your home, but they’ll find a way to get in if they smell wood. So, while the brick may give a false sense of security, it’s important to remember that termites are nothing if not resourceful.
How Do They Access Your Walls?
Termites can affect brick walls by sneaking into the wood framing behind them. They can access your home through small cracks or gaps in the mortar or foundation.
Once inside, they target the wooden supports, slowly eating away at your home’s structure. The brick may look untouched, but inside, the termites are doing their dirty work.
Mud tubes are often the first sign of trouble, as termites build these small tunnels along brick surfaces to stay hidden while they travel back and forth from their underground nests.
Common Signs of Termites in Brick Homes
You might assume that termites are a problem reserved for homes made of wood, but termites are nothing if not adaptable. Just because you live in a brick home doesn’t mean you’re completely safe from an infestation.
While the bricks themselves are off the menu, the wooden framing and structural elements behind those walls are what termites are really after. If you know what to look for, you can stop them before things get out of hand.
| Sign | Description |
| Mud Tubes | Small, pencil-thin tunnels along brick walls or foundations. |
| Wood Damage | Hollowed-out or sagging wooden beams, floors, or walls inside the home. |
| Termite Droppings (Frass) | Tiny, pellet-like droppings often found near entry points like the foundation. |
1. Mud Tubes Along the Brick Wall
Termites are sensitive to dry environments, and they build mud tubes to stay moist while they travel from the ground to their food source. These pencil-thin tunnels are typically found along your brick foundation or exterior walls, leading from the soil to wherever the termites have set up shop.
Spotting these mud tubes early is a clear sign that termites are already making themselves comfortable in your home.
2. Wood Damage Inside the Home
Termites feast on wood from the inside out, leaving behind hollowed-out beams and floorboards. If you notice sagging floors, buckling walls, or wood that sounds hollow when tapped, termites could be to blame.
Even though you can’t see them, they might be hard at work destroying the wood structure of your home.
3. Termite Droppings Near the Foundation
Termites leave behind more than just destruction—they also leave droppings, known as frass. These tiny, pellet-like droppings are usually found near entry points, like your foundation or small cracks in the brickwork.
If you notice a buildup of termite frass around your brick walls, it’s a sure sign that termites are active in your home.
How to Deal with Termites in Brick Walls
If you’ve discovered signs of termites in your home, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed or unsure of what to do next. However, with the right approach, you can tackle the issue and protect your home from further damage.
Taking action quickly is key, and knowing your options can make all the difference.
1. Conduct a Thorough Inspection
Before taking any action, you’ll want to confirm the extent of the termite problem. This means checking your entire home for damage, inside and out.
Look closely at the brick foundation, the interior walls, and areas where wood meets brick. You might not be able to see the termites themselves, but their mud tubes, wood damage, or droppings can give them away.
If you’re unsure, you can always call a professional to inspect your home and make sure nothing is missed.
2. Call a Professional Pest Control Service
While DIY solutions might seem tempting, termites are notoriously difficult to get rid of on your own. A professional pest control service has the tools and expertise to handle termite infestations effectively.
They’ll assess the damage, identify the termite species, and recommend the best treatment options for your home.
3. Apply Termite Treatments
Once the infestation is confirmed, it’s time to take action. The treatment you choose will depend on how severe the infestation is and where the termites are hiding.
Liquid termiticides can be applied around the foundation to create a barrier, while bait stations attract termites and poison them. In more serious cases, fumigation may be necessary.
The goal is to eliminate termites and prevent them from returning, so make sure you follow the treatment plan recommended by your pest control expert.
4. Preventing Termites from Returning
Once you’ve dealt with a termite infestation, the last thing you want is for them to stage a comeback. While the immediate threat may be gone, termites are persistent little creatures, and if your home provides the right conditions, they’ll happily return for round two.
Preventing termites from coming back is all about creating an environment that makes your home less appealing to them.
5. Maintain Proper Moisture Levels
Termites love moisture, and damp conditions are basically an invitation for them to move in. Keeping your home dry is key to preventing termites from settling back in.
Make sure your gutters are clean and functioning properly to prevent water from pooling around your foundation. It’s also important to fix any leaks in your roof, walls, or plumbing that could lead to excess moisture.
If your home is prone to high humidity, consider installing a dehumidifier in key areas like the basement or crawlspace.
6. Seal Cracks in Brickwork and Foundation
Tiny gaps or cracks in your brick walls and foundation are like open doors for termites. Even the smallest opening can be enough for them to slip through and reach the wood behind your brick.
Regularly inspect your brickwork and foundation for cracks or gaps, and seal them up as soon as you find them. Use caulk or a specialized sealant to close off these potential entry points.
This not only keeps termites out but also helps protect your home from moisture, which we already know termites love.
7. Regular Termite Inspections
You can’t always spot termites on your own, which is why having a professional inspection on a regular basis is a smart move. A trained expert knows exactly what to look for, even in the early stages of an infestation.
Scheduling annual or bi-annual inspections gives you peace of mind and helps catch any signs of termite activity before they become a major problem. Prevention is an ongoing process, and regular check-ups can make sure your home stays termite-free in the long run.
Common Termite Treatment Options for Brick Walls
When termites make themselves comfortable in your brick walls, choosing the right treatment can feel like a balancing act between effectiveness and cost. Unlike wooden structures, brick walls present a unique challenge—termites tend to hide within cracks, crevices, or the inner structures behind the brick.
As a result, treatment options are tailored to target those hidden spots, ensuring that termites don’t just relocate but are eliminated for good. Depending on the extent of the infestation and the specific type of termites involved, several treatments are available to suit your needs.
1. Chemical Treatments
Chemical treatments are often a first line of defense for tackling termite problems in brick walls, especially for smaller, contained infestations. For example, localized sprays or foams can be applied through small openings, allowing the chemicals to seep into cracks where termites hide.
These treatments typically cost between $300 and $1,000, depending on the infestation size and location. If the termites are found closer to the base of the wall or in accessible areas, chemical treatments can be particularly effective.
Some homeowners also opt for soil treatments around the foundation to prevent subterranean termites from accessing the walls. This kind of perimeter protection costs between $800 and $1,500, offering an added barrier against future infestations.
2. Fumigation for Extensive Infestations
When the infestation spreads widely throughout a wall or multiple walls, fumigation may be the best option. This method involves sealing off the affected area (or even the entire structure, in extreme cases) and filling it with a gas that eliminates termites over a few days.
Fumigation is generally more expensive than other treatments, costing between $1,500 and $4,000, but it’s effective for extensive or deeply embedded termite colonies. While fumigation may sound like overkill, it’s often the most thorough option for severe infestations, ensuring termites are eradicated throughout the wall structure.
Because fumigation requires specialized equipment and a controlled environment, it’s typically handled by licensed professionals who oversee the entire process from setup to ventilation. If termites have set up shop in multiple areas of your brick walls, fumigation offers a comprehensive solution, albeit at a higher price.
3. Physical Barriers and Sealing
Physical barriers and sealing are ideal for homeowners looking to prevent future infestations after treatment. Once termites are removed, sealing cracks and applying physical barriers around the foundation can act as a long-term shield.
Although barriers alone won’t treat an existing infestation, they’re invaluable as a preventative measure. Installing physical barriers costs between $500 and $1,200 depending on the size of the area covered and the complexity of installation.
For brick walls, these barriers often involve filling cracks and crevices, applying waterproof coatings, or installing stainless-steel mesh near the foundation.
Why Acting Quickly Can Save You from Costly Repairs
When it comes to termites, speed is your best friend. The longer you wait to address an infestation, the more damage these tiny pests can do.
The longer they go unnoticed, the more extensive (and expensive) the damage becomes. While they might not tear things down overnight, they’ll slowly but surely work their way through your home’s structure if left unchecked.
Plus, it’s not just the cost of fixing the termite damage itself—you may also need to repair other issues like wood rot, structural weaknesses, or even mold caused by termites allowing moisture to seep into your walls.
The sooner you act, the less time termites have to weaken the integrity of your home’s wooden framework, which keeps your home safe and sturdy.
Exploring The Key Benefits Of Tuckpointing
Acting quickly and taking the right preventative steps is essential when dealing with termites. Termites might be persistent, but with the right approach, you can outsmart them and keep your home safe for the long term.
The same attention to detail that’s needed to prevent termites from wreaking havoc applies to the care of your brickwork. Just like termites, small issues with your brick walls can snowball into much larger problems if ignored.
That’s where things like tuckpointing come into play. Keeping the mortar between your bricks in top shape not only improves the structural integrity of your home but also seals up the tiny gaps that termites love to exploit.