Do brick homes get termites?

It is perfectly normal to not want to have any type of crawler or swarmer in your home, especially when it can be harmful to you, your family, and your house. Unlike cockroaches, ants, and bedbugs, termites do not necessarily cause harm to the dwellers in a property. However, they are one of the pests that can cause damage to your home’s structure, and can do so without you even knowing that they exist. Because they are also called “silent pests” and “silent destroyers”, most homeowners will not notice its presence until they have already caused significant damage to their houses.



As many people know, termites prefer to make wood their home, which is why termite infestations are a cause of concern for people who have houses or furniture that are made of wood. If this is the case, does it mean that houses made of bricks will not get termites?

Brick homes can still be infested with termites

Unfortunately, the preference of termites to stay in places that are prone to decay and moisture such as wood does not necessarily mean that they will not be seen and will not wreak havoc on homes that are constructed with an entirely different material. In fact, there are a lot of instances where homes that are not made of wood – such as concrete and brick homes, are reported to have a problem with termite infestations every year in the United States.


Because of this, not having a home made of wood does not mean that you will not get termites. When you think that there are termites on your property, it would be best to have your home inspected before the damage is already too severe to repair. 

Brick homes can be more difficult for termites to enter, but when they have already penetrated your walls and flooring, they will be there to stay, until you do something about them.

What is a termite?

Termites are insects that generally feed on wood, which is why they prefer to stay in places that are almost entirely made of the material. This type of pest does not typically cause danger directly to people and pets, but they will attack their home. The reason why termites damage houses and furniture is because they feed on wood, which contains nutrients and cellulose that they need in order for them to live.


Termites exist in groups that are called colonies. A colony can contain around 60,000 up to a million termites, which is why they are very dangerous to a house’s integrity. Imagine this, if your home has around 60,000 termites eating away the wood in your home every single day, what would the result be? A home that will not be able to support its own weight until it will possibly fall after a couple of years (and even months), depending on how serious the infestation is. 

How can termites affect brick houses?

As mentioned above, termites can still damage houses that are made of bricks. This is because aside from brick, it is highly likely for most homes to still have wood in their homes. For example, even though your home is made of bricks, your panels may be made of wood, and some houses also have floors that are made of wood, and furniture made with the same material.


To make a long story short, a brick home is not entirely made of brick, and will still contain and use materials made of wood, which can cause a termite infestation. 


When termites are present in your home, they can cause the following to happen:


1.Termites can feast on the wooden panels of your brick.


Most homes that are made of brick do not usually rely only on the brick material and are instead made with brick veneers. These brick veneers can be made of concrete which is much easier to penetrate. When the termites have made holes in the veneer or if there are already some cracks in the surface, it will then be a piece of cake for the colony to find a food source. 


2.  Termites can damage your furniture.


Beautiful and classic furniture that is made with wood is the favorite dwelling of termites. Sadly, when they have already made their way to your furniture, they will continue to munch on its material, causing it to have holes and to decay, until the termites are removed.

3. Termites can make your home unsellable.


Because termites eat the wood in your home, their continuous feast will result in your home having holes, appearing dilapidated, and looking a thousand years old. If you are planning to sell a house that has an ongoing termite infestation, you might as well kiss that dream goodbye. No buyer in their right mind will want to pay thousands of dollars for a home that will fall sooner or later. In fact, before selling a house, you will need to disclose the information that you have a termite problem, which will absolutely be a big problem. 


4. Termites can be dangerous to your family. 


As mentioned above, termites eat the wood in your home. Although they do not directly cause harm to your family such as biting them, termites can damage your home so much that it will eventually be dangerous for your family to continue to stay in the place. This is why it is beneficial for owners to have their homes inspected regularly in order for them to be able to address issues before they become more difficult to fix. 

How do you know if there are termites in your home?

Here are the signs of an ongoing termite infestation:


  1. Small holes in walls made of wood
  2. Damaged wood surfaces and furniture
  3. Mud tubes and maze patterns on your floors and walls
  4. Termite droppings, wings, and termite swarms
  5. Sagging floors and walls
  6. Difficult to open and close windows and doors
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