Brett Field
Rot makes timber soft, spongy and fibrous, often with a fungus-like growth on it, and it starts where water sits. Termites leave mud tubes on walls and piers, and the Queensland Government lists blistered paint and fine sawdust-like material under timber as signs they may be active.
Below is how to tell the two apart, how to check your timber, who you call for each one, and how to stop it coming back. Termite inspection and treatment are licensed pest work in Queensland, not carpentry. A licensed termite inspector confirms termites. A carpenter repairs the timber after. Everything here was checked on Queensland Government, QBCC and National Construction Code pages on 18 October 2026.
What is the difference between wood rot and termite damage?
Rot is timber breaking down from water. Termite damage is timber eaten by insects. The Queensland Government's deck safety guideline says decay happens when timber decomposes from high moisture, often where two pieces of timber touch and trap water.
Termites are different. The QBCC says attacks on homes usually start from a nest in the ground, often outside the house. Termites build mud galleries (tubes) so they can cross piers or walls without being exposed, then reach the timber inside.
The two can turn up in the same place. The guideline says termites prefer humid conditions, and damp timber is where rot starts. That is why one inspection can cover both. The QBCC says a pre-purchase timber pest inspection looks for subterranean and dampwood termites, borers and wood decay fungi.
How can I tell wood rot from termite damage?
Look at where the damage is and what is around it. These are the signs the official pages list:
| What you see | What it usually points to | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Soft, spongy or fibrous timber | Rot | Qld Government |
| Fungus-like growth on the timber | Rot | Qld Government |
| Damage where timber touches timber, soil or pooled water | Rot | Qld Government |
| Mud tubes running up piers, walls or timber | Termites | QBCC, Qld Government |
| Fine sawdust-like material around or below timber | Can signal active termites | Qld Government |
| Discoloured or blistered paint | On the termite list | Qld Government |
| Timber that dips or sinks | Either one | Qld Government |
Sources: Queensland Government, maintaining and inspecting decks and balconies (undated) and its deck, balcony and window safety guideline (March 2017); QBCC, termite management systems advisory notes (April 2024). Checked 18 October 2026.
No sign on this list proves termites on its own. If you see mud tubes, sawdust-like dust or damage you cannot explain, treat it as possible termites until a licensed inspector says otherwise.
How do I check timber for rot?
Poke it. The Queensland Government's guideline says a screwdriver or chisel pushed into suspect timber helps find decay. Sound timber resists. Rotten timber feels soft, spongy or stringy, and may break away.
Check the places where water sits:
- the base of posts, and where bearers sit on posts
- joints, including where decking boards butt end to end
- bearers and joists close to the ground, where soil or leaves have built up
- under pot plants that sit straight on the deck
- any timber that stays wet long after rain
Rot can sit inside timber where you cannot see it. The guideline mentions a small 3 to 4 mm drill test to find it, but warns the hole can weaken the timber. Leave that to the person inspecting. On a deck, the guideline also says you may need to lift a board to see the joists underneath.
If rot is in a post, bearer or joist, take it seriously. The Queensland Government's guideline describes a coroner's finding on a death caused by a decayed decking board, and says decay in structural timber needs expert advice. Our guide to deck restoration covers what a full deck check involves.
What are the signs of termites in a house?
Look for mud tubes first. The QBCC says termites build them to travel over piers or walls, and get inside through wall cavities, cracks in mortar or concrete slabs, and gaps where pipes and cables come in.
Other signs on the Queensland Government's list:
- fine sawdust-like material around or below timber
- discoloured or blistered paint
- termite mud nests
- soil built up around the base of timber
Look where the house meets the ground. The QBCC says most infestations start at the edge of the building, often because the termite barrier has been bridged. Common causes are garden beds or wood chips built up against the house, and carports, pergolas or fences joined to it without protection.
That matters on the Gold Coast. The QBCC says termites are a problem in most of Australia but are particularly active in hot, wet areas such as coastal Queensland.
What should I do if I think it is termites?
Leave the timber as it is and book a licensed termite inspection. In Queensland, this is not a job for a carpenter or a handyman without the right licence.
The QBCC's termite management advisory notes say a contractor must hold a Termite Management (Chemical) or Termite Management (Physical) licence to give advice or reports on termite infestations. A chemical treatment also needs a government-issued pest control operator's licence on top of the QBCC licence. Chemical termite management needs a QBCC licence at any job value.
You can check any contractor's licence for free on the QBCC website. Once the termites have been treated, a carpenter can replace the damaged timber.
Our guide to termite damage repair cost has published price ranges for treatment and repairs, and the order to do them in.
How often should a house have a termite inspection in Queensland?
At least once a year. The QBCC recommends an inspection at least every 12 months by a QBCC-licensed termite management contractor, and more often in high-risk areas such as near trees or bush. It also asks owners to keep checking between inspections.
Look in your meter box. The National Construction Code says a home with a termite management system must have a durable notice fixed in a prominent place, such as the meter box. It shows the system used, the date it was installed, how long any chemical is expected to last, and how often the installer recommends inspections.
Buying a house? The QBCC recommends a pre-purchase timber pest inspection by a QBCC-licensed contractor, as well as the building inspection. It covers ground-dwelling (subterranean) and dampwood termites, borers and wood decay fungi.
Can rotten or termite-damaged timber be repaired?
Small, non-structural damage sometimes can. Structural timber usually needs replacing. The Queensland Government's guideline says decayed posts, joists, bearers, handrails and balusters need new durable timber, because repairing them to a structural standard may not be practical.
For small non-structural areas, the guideline says the rotten part can sometimes be cut out and new timber joined in, or fill a very small area with an epoxy repair kit after cutting back to sound timber. It is clear these are temporary fixes that only delay failure.
Fix the cause first. For rot, that means the water: a leak, poor drainage, soil against the timber, or a spot that never dries. The guideline says there is "little or no benefit" in a repair if the damage will soon come back. For termites, the treatment comes before any repair.
Repair work over $3,300 needs a QBCC licence. If the damage is in a post, bearer, joist or wall frame, a certifier or engineer has the final word on what the structure needs.
How do I stop rot and termites coming back?
Keep timber dry and keep the ground away from it. The Queensland Government's tips for decks and balconies:
- sweep instead of hosing, and let wet timber dry with good airflow
- put pot plants on trays or feet
- cut back plants that shade the deck all day and creepers on the rails
- clear soil and leaves away from bearers, joists and posts
- recoat timber finishes at regular intervals
- near the coast, use oil-based paint on exposed bearers, joists and posts, as decking oil alone may not be enough
- remove timber stacks, old stumps, sleepers and logs from around the house
The QBCC adds a few termite rules. Keep at least 75 mm between the bottom of brick weep holes and the top of any garden bed, concrete or paving. Do not build garden beds or wood chips up against the house. Do not join a carport, pergola or fence to the house without asking how it affects your termite barrier.
Pick the right timber for repairs. Business Queensland rates spotted gum Class 1 above ground (more than 40 years), Class 2 in ground (15 to 25 years) and termite resistant. The Queensland Government also says not to use Oregon pine for structural parts of a deck, as it will not last. Our guide to decking timber for the Gold Coast compares the main options.
We repair and replace timber damaged by rot or termites across the Gold Coast, from deck boards and posts to stairs, door frames and window frames. We do not inspect for or treat termites: a licensed pest manager does that first. See our carpentry work for the repairs we do.
Where does this information come from?
Checked on 18 October 2026: the Queensland Government's pages on maintaining and inspecting decks and balconies (undated) and its deck, balcony and window safety guideline (March 2017); the QBCC's termite management systems advisory notes for builders and homeowners (April 2024), its protect against termites page (March 2024) and its when you need a licence page (August 2021); the National Construction Code 2022 Housing Provisions Part 3.4, termite risk management, with Queensland's variations; and Business Queensland's properties of spotted gum (May 2021). We will check these pages again every three months.
See our carpentry work, or check what your job will cost.
