Termite damage looks like wood hollowed out along the grain, often behind an intact surface: sagging or blistered floors, bubbling paint, pinholes and faint lines in drywall, doors and windows that stick, and wood that sounds hollow or crumbles when pressed. Subterranean damage is packed with mud; drywood damage is clean and leaves piles of tiny pellets. Typical repairs cost $600 to $3,000, and severe structural work can reach $6,000 or more, according to Angi’s 2026 data. Standard homeowners insurance usually doesn’t cover it.
Table of Contents
Termite Damage Pictures
Drywall and walls
Look for tiny pinholes, thin winding lines just under the paper surface, bubbling or peeling paint, and drywall that sounds hollow or sags. Subterranean termites may leave small mud patches over holes.
Floors
Termite-damaged floors feel soft or spongy, sag, squeak more than usual, or show blistering like water damage. Laminate and tile can lift as the subfloor beneath is eaten.
Wood and framing
Break open damaged wood and you’ll see galleries running with the grain. Subterranean termites leave the galleries lined with mud and soil. Drywood termites leave smooth, clean chambers and push out six-sided pellets. See termite droppings.
Trees and stumps
Termites mainly attack dead or decaying wood in trees, stumps and roots. A termite-hollowed tree near the house signals a colony close by, but it doesn’t mean the house is infested.
Subterranean vs Drywood Termite Damage
| Subterranean | Drywood | |
|---|---|---|
| Galleries | Follow the soft grain; lined with mud | Cut across the grain; smooth and clean |
| Debris | Soil and mud tubes | Piles of six-sided pellets |
| Where | Near the ground: sills, joists, lower walls, crawl spaces | Anywhere: attics, window frames, furniture, trim |
| Speed | Faster; large colonies | Slower; small colonies |
Termite Damage vs Water Damage
Both can cause blistered paint, swollen floors and soft wood. Water damage usually comes with stains, mold or musty smells and follows a leak. Termite damage shows mud tubes, frass or hollow galleries inside the wood. The two often go together because termites favor damp wood.
Termite Damage Repair Cost
| Repair | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Replace damaged wood (trim, boards, small sections) | $250 to $1,000 |
| Drywall repair | $300 to $900 |
| Structural repair (joists, sills, beams) | $1,000 to $3,000 |
| Severe damage | Up to $6,000 or more |
| Related water damage | $1,350 to $6,200 |
Source: Angi 2026 termite cost data. Treat the termites before repairing, or new wood will be eaten too.
How Fast Do Termites Cause Damage?
Slower than most people fear. A mature subterranean colony takes years to cause serious structural damage, and drywood colonies are smaller still. Large Formosan colonies are the exception: the National Pest Management Association notes a mature colony can destroy a foot of 2×4 in about 25 days. Damage often goes unnoticed for years because termites eat wood from the inside.
Termite Damage but No Termites?
Old damage can stay after termites have been treated or have left. To tell, break open a mud tube or damaged wood and look for live workers, check whether frass keeps appearing, or get an inspection. Many home inspections note old damage from treated infestations.
Does Insurance Cover Termite Damage?
Usually not. Insurers treat termite damage as preventable with maintenance. A termite bond or warranty that includes repair coverage is the main way to protect against repair costs. See termite bond cost.
Next steps: signs of termites, termite inspection cost and termite treatment cost.
FAQs
Termite damage looks like wood hollowed along the grain, with sagging or blistered floors, bubbling paint, pinholes in drywall, sticking doors and wood that sounds hollow.
Typical termite damage repairs cost $600 to $3,000, and severe structural repairs can reach $6,000 or more.
Standard homeowners insurance usually doesn’t cover termite damage, because it is treated as preventable. A termite bond with repair coverage is the usual protection.
Most termite colonies take years to cause serious structural damage. Large Formosan colonies can do damage faster.
No, but they look similar and often occur together. Water damage shows stains and mold; termite damage shows mud tubes, frass and hollow galleries.
Sources
Facts in this guide are checked against the sources above and reviewed when they change. See how we research in our editorial policy.
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