Many homeowners assume that a concrete slab home is protected from termites. After all, concrete isn’t wood — so termites can’t eat it, right? Unfortunately, this is a common termite myth. While termites don’t damage concrete itself, concrete slabs do not prevent termites from accessing a home.
In fact, many modern brick homes built on concrete slabs remain vulnerable to termite attack if access points are present. If you’re buying a home built on a concrete slab, a professional building and pest inspection is essential to confirm whether termites have gained access — or could gain access — to the structure.
Key Takeaways
- Concrete slabs do not stop termites from accessing a home.
- Termites exploit cracks, weep holes, slab penetrations and concealed entry points.
- Many brick homes are brick veneer, with internal timber framing vulnerable to attack.
- Blocked weep holes and concealed slab edges increase termite risk and reduce detectability.
- Termite damage in slab homes is often hidden and advanced before it becomes visible.
- A professional building and pest inspection is essential for slab homes, old or new.
What is the concrete slab termite myth?
The concrete slab termite myth is the belief that homes built on concrete slabs are immune to termite damage. While concrete itself cannot be eaten by termites, it does not form a complete barrier.
Termites exploit small gaps, concealed entry points and construction details to bypass slabs and reach timber components within the home. In many brick homes, the structural timber framing sits close to ground level, making access easier than many owners realise.
If you’re considering buying a Sydney home built on a concrete slab, it’s important you have a pest inspection preformed to ensure termites have not, and are not able to, access the home.
How termites access homes built on concrete slabs
Termites do not need direct soil-to-timber contact to enter a home. Instead, they exploit concealed or poorly protected entry points around the slab and walls.
Common access points include:
- Brick mortar joints where gaps or cracks allow entry
- Weep holes that are blocked or covered by soil, paving or garden beds
- Cracks in the concrete slab caused by movement or shrinkage
- Slab penetrations, such as plumbing pipes, electrical conduits and expansion joints
Once termites reach concealed timber framing inside walls, damage can progress undetected for years.
Termites are able to gain access to brick, concrete slab homes through brick mortar joints, weep holes in the brickwork, cracks in the slab, as well as through slab penetrations like plumbing and electrical wiring.
Many modern brick homes are brick veneer constructions, not solid masonry. This means the external brickwork is primarily cosmetic, while the structural strength comes from internal timber wall frames.
In concrete slab homes, this timber framing is often located close to ground level, making it easier for termites to access once they bypass the slab edge or wall cavity protections.
Termites can also find access if the edge of the concrete slab is concealed by footpaths, patios, paving stones, gardens or foliage. From these access points they can make their way in to wall frames, causing extensive damage to the framing timbers.
They also like weep holes, which are small gaps in brickwork designed to drain water from wall frames. They need to be at least 75mm clear of ground level, not to stop termites from accessing the home, but to allow detection if they do.
Weep holes are not designed to stop termites. Their purpose is to allow moisture to drain and enable visual detection of termite activity. When weep holes are blocked or concealed, termites can enter wall cavities without being seen, allowing damage to progress unnoticed.
What inspectors check in concrete slab homes
During a building and pest inspection, inspectors assess whether a concrete slab home shows signs of termite risk, activity or damage. This typically includes checking:
- Slab edges and exposed perimeters
- Weep holes and brickwork clearances
- Concealed slab penetrations
- Garden beds, paving and paths built against walls
- Internal wall linings for signs of termite damage
- Evidence of previous termite treatments or barriers
Inspectors also identify conditions conducive to termite activity, even if no active termites are found at the time of inspection.
When our inspectors perform a pre-purchase property report, they check for things like termite access, activity and damage, also providing recommendations for clearing things like weep holes should you decide to purchase the home.
So regardless of whether you’re looking to buy an old wooden cottage, or a brick home on a concrete slab, it’s important to get a professional building and pest inspection done so you know where you stand, before you purchase the property.
If you would like a building and pest inspection in Sydney, contact us on 1300 337 447 or book online today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can termites damage a home built on a concrete slab?
Yes. While termites cannot eat concrete, they can bypass slabs and access timber framing through cracks, joints, weep holes and service penetrations.
Are brick homes safe from termites?
No. Many brick homes are brick veneer with timber frames inside. If termites gain access, significant damage can occur without visible warning signs.
Do concrete slabs eliminate the need for a pest inspection?
No. Concrete slab homes still require regular pest inspections to identify termite access points, activity and conditions conducive to infestation.
What increases termite risk in slab homes?
Concealed slab edges, blocked weep holes, gardens or paving built against walls, moisture issues and poor drainage all increase termite risk.
