Termite Myths and Facts
The most common termite myths are that brick or slab homes don't get termites, that you'd see them if you had them and that a store-bought spray will stop them. In DFW, subterranean termites live in the soil around nearly every house, work out of sight and come back once a treatment wears off.
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Common Termite Myths at a Glance
Most termite myths make the problem sound smaller or more obvious than it is. This table lines up eight myths DFW homeowners believe with what the research says.
| Myth | Fact | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Brick and slab homes don't get termites | Termites build mud tubes over brick and come up through slab cracks and pipe gaps | Texas A&M AgriLife |
| New homes are termite-free | Problems usually show up 10 or more years after a house is built | Penn State Extension |
| You'd see termites if you had them | Workers stay hidden in wood and mud tubes, so visible damage reflects years of feeding | Penn State Extension |
| Termites leave piles of sawdust | DFW's subterranean termites leave mud in their galleries, not pellets or sawdust | Forterra technicians |
| Termites die off in winter | Colonies slow down in cold weather but keep feeding underground | University of Arkansas |
| A store-bought spray will get rid of them | A colony can hold several hundred thousand termites spread across linked nests | University of Arkansas |
| You have to sign a contract today | Termites damage wood slowly, so a few days to compare companies seldom matters | University of Arkansas |
| One treatment lasts forever | Termiticides tested in Texas lasted about 4 to 10 years | Texas A&M AgriLife |
Why Brick and Slab Homes Still Get Termites
Brick doesn't feed termites, but it doesn't stop them either. Subterranean termites never need to chew through masonry. They build mud tubes up the outside of a slab, squeeze through expansion joints and follow plumbing lines up through the concrete to reach wood framing.
That's why most DFW homes sit squarely in termite territory. Brick veneer over a wood frame on a concrete slab describes much of the housing here, and every one of those houses has wood a few inches above the soil. The slab slows termites down and makes their tubes easier to spot. It doesn't keep them out.
Why Termite Damage Takes Years to Show
Termites work slowly and out of sight. Penn State Extension's subterranean termite page notes that problems usually appear 10 years or more after construction, and that visible damage is usually the result of years of infestation.
Colony growth explains the delay. The University of Arkansas termite biology guide says a colony takes 6 to 7 years to mature and may not send out its first swarm for 2 to 6 years. By the time a homeowner sees swarmers or soft trim, the colony has usually been feeding for a long while.
The good news is that slow damage gives you time. The same guide notes that an extra day, week or month of activity seldom adds significant damage. It also warns against companies that push "specials" or scare tactics to get a signature on the spot.
Why a Spray Can Won't Stop a Colony
A can of termite spray kills the termites it touches and nothing more. The colony lives in the soil, spread across several linked nests, and keeps sending workers to the wood. A typical professional treatment can take more than 200 gallons of termiticide solution, according to the University of Arkansas guide. Crews inject it into the soil, under the slab and inside foundation walls.
Texas A&M's termite FAQ suggests limiting do-it-yourself termite products to small structures like sheds, fence posts and decks. It also points out that termites often enter a house far from the spot where someone first finds them, which is why spot treatments miss so often.
Why New Homes Still Need Protection
A new house often starts with a soil treatment under the slab, and that's worth having. It doesn't last for the life of the home, though. Texas A&M field tests found registered termiticides lasting about 4 to 10 years, so a house built a decade ago may have little protection left.
New neighborhoods also sit on soil that already held termites before the houses went up. If you're building, ask about new construction termite pretreatment before the crew pours the slab, when the soil under the house is easiest to reach. For an existing home, Sentricon termite control relies on bait stations, and the termites themselves spread the bait to the rest of the colony. Dallas homeowners can start with a termite inspection in Dallas to see where the house stands.
Termite Myths FAQ
Can termites damage a concrete foundation?
No, they can't eat concrete. They get past it through cracks, expansion joints and the gaps around pipes, then feed on the wood above the slab.
Will a cold house keep termites away?
No. Subterranean termites live in the soil under and around the house, where your thermostat makes little difference. They reach the wood through the slab, not through the air inside.
Are termites just white ants?
No. Termites are more closely related to cockroaches than to ants. Scientists now classify them with cockroaches, and termites have a straight waist and straight antennae, while ants have a pinched waist and bent antennae.
If one of these myths has kept you from checking, now is a good time to look. Get pricing by phone or through the website, and we'll look for the signs that are easy to miss.
