Damaged Drywall From Termites

Tubes and Tunnels

• Termites create tubes of mud to travel between their underground nest and the above-ground structure where they feed. Termites may build these tunnels on concrete, metal, wood, plaster or drywall. These tubes vary in size, depending on their purpose. Termites use wide utility tubes regularly to transport various materials, such as water, food and mud. They use smaller exploratory tubes to look for food. These tubes make the drywall appear dirty but help you confirm the presence of termites.

Holes

• When termites look for new sources of food through exploratory tubes hidden behind the drywall, they may sometimes reach the other end of the drywall. When they detect air, they determine that no food source is present, and they seal the hole with mud. You may see such holes in the drywall if you have a termite infestation. The area around each hole may have pieces of mud sticking to it.

Drywall Coverings

• If you have termites behind the wall, they may cause moisture problems that lead to cracks in the paint. If you have wall covering on the drywall, such as wallpaper, the glue may fail due to the moisture and the wall covering may peel off the wall. You may also have uneven surfaces where the termites build their tubes. For example, there may be ridges and sunken areas on the wallpaper.

Other Damages

• Generally, the damage to drywall is not as severe as the damage to wood because termites don't feed on the drywall itself. However, termites may eat drywall's paper covering because it contains cellulose, which is also present in wood. When you exterminate the termites, you may have to remove the drywall to expose the termites hiding behind it, which may also lead to more drywall damage.