If a section of your wooden floor feels soft, bouncy, or gives slightly when you step on it, you’re looking at one of two problems: termite damage or water. Both weaken timber. Only one keeps eating. Knowing which you’ve got – fast – is the difference between a minor repair and a structural rebuild. This guide walks you through the visible signs, a side-by-side comparison, and what to do in the next 24 hours. If you’re in Perth and want a licensed technician to tell you for certain, we offer a free, no-obligation termite inspection. Call or scroll down to book.
If you think you’ve got termites in your floorboards, the next 24 hours matter. Here’s the exact order our Perth technicians recommend:
The tricky part about termites in floorboards is that the damage is hidden until very late. Scan for every one of these if three or more match, book an inspection.
None of these, on their own, is a diagnosis. Together, they’re a very strong signal, and in Western Australia, where subterranean termites are active year-round, worth taking seriously.
Water damage is usually easier to trace because it follows a source: a slow pipe leak, a failed shower seal, a leaking roof, rising damp, or poor subfloor ventilation. In Perth’s climate, rising damp and subfloor humidity are the most common culprits in older brick-and-timber homes.
Discolouration (dark patches or tide marks), cupped or crowned boards, peeling finish, persistent musty smell, mould growth on skirtings, and damp carpet at moisture points. If the soft spot sits directly under or next to a wet area, kitchen, bathroom, laundry, water damage is the first suspect.
Here’s the uncomfortable overlap: subterranean termites are drawn to moist timber. A slow leak under a bathroom or kitchen floor often becomes a termite nesting site within 6–12 months. If you’ve already had water damage, a termite inspection is the next logical step — not the one after.
Subterranean termites follow the grain of timber and leave a thin outer shell intact. You can run your hand over a floorboard that looks perfect and miss the fact that the inside has been hollowed out for months. This is why tapping, not looking, is the best DIY test.
A mature colony of Coptotermes acinaciformis (the most common destructive species in WA) contains 500,000 to over a million individuals and can consume around 500 grams of timber per day. Damage that would take water months to produce can happen in a matter of weeks.
Soft floorboards are typically a late-stage symptom. It means the termites have already eaten through enough of the board or the supporting joist below to lose structural integrity. That’s why we treat any soft spot as urgent, not because every case is termites, but because if it is, the clock is loud.
A Sherlock Pest Control termite inspection in Perth takes 60-90 minutes for a standard home and covers:
If your home is a pre-purchase inspection or you’re planning to sell, we issue a timber-pest report that meets Australian Standard AS 4349.3.
The right treatment depends on species, colony size, and how the termites are getting in. In Perth, the three options we use most often are:
Stations placed around the perimeter of the home. Worker termites carry slow-acting bait back to the colony. Best for eliminating a colony entirely when the nest location is unknown. Timeframe: 2–4 months.
A continuous treated zone in the soil around your home. Kills termites on contact and stops new colonies from establishing. Best for homes with known entry points or as a long-term prevention strategy post-treatment. Warranty up to 1 year.
Used when there’s a visible active colony inside the structure – applied directly into the termite workings. Fast-acting, often paired with a soil barrier for colony-level elimination.
After treatment, annual termite inspections are strongly recommended. In WA, that’s not marketing – it’s Australian Standard AS 3660.2, and it’s a condition on most residential termite warranties.
Maintain proper ventilation in subfloors and regularly inspect pipes for leaks. Clear gutters and fix roof issues promptly to prevent water damage, which can weaken wooden floors and attract termites.
Store firewood away from your home and reduce wood-to-soil contact. Ensure that gardens have good drainage, and schedule annual termite inspections to prevent infestations and protect your wooden flooring.
Arrange annual termite inspections to detect early signs of termite activity. Professional pest control experts can identify weak spots, apply treatments, and protect your home from potential structural damage.
Soft spots in wooden floors should never be ignored. They may stem from water damage or termites, both of which weaken timber and threaten safety. Early repairs, inspections, and professional termite treatment protect your flooring, preserve property value, and ensure a safe, stable home.
Yes, both cause soft floors. Water damage shows stains or mould, while termite damage looks intact outside but crumbles when pressed. Inspection confirms the cause.
Annual termite inspections are recommended. They detect hidden infestations, prevent major structural damage, and give homeowners peace of mind knowing their property is protected.
From above: usually nothing unusual, maybe a faint ripple or sagging between joists, a pin-hole, or a dull sound when tapped. From below (crawl space): mud tubes on joists, papery hollow boards, fine dusting of frass. The giveaway is always the tap test; termite-eaten hardwood sounds hollow and papery.
