Timber Borers in Homes

What Buyers Need to Know

Timber borers are wood-destroying insects that can weaken floorboards, beams, or trim over time. While not as aggressive as termites, borers can still cause damage that affects both safety and value — especially in older homes. At True Inspect, we check for borer activity as part of every pre-purchase building and pest inspection, following Australian Standard AS 4349.3.

What Are Timber Borers?

Borers are typically beetles that lay eggs in timber. The larvae tunnel through the wood as they feed, creating exit holes and wood dust (frass) when they emerge. Borer damage is often overlooked by homeowners because it progresses slowly and may appear cosmetic at first.

Our inspectors identify borer activity through small, round exit holes (1–2 mm), fine dust beneath timbers, and signs of weakening in floorboards, beams or joists. If undetected, active infestations can continue for years — eventually requiring repairs or replacements.

Common Borers in Australian Homes

We most often see these three species:

Lyctus Borers (Powderpost Beetles)
These target the sapwood in new hardwoods, producing very fine, flour-like dust. They are generally cosmetic in nature and don’t cause structural harm. In most cases, no treatment is required as the infestation dies out once the sapwood is exhausted.
Anobium Punctatum (Common Furniture Beetle)
Common in older homes, especially in Baltic pine floors, these beetles tunnel for years inside softwood, causing hollow or weakened boards. Active infestations often occur in moist, poorly ventilated subfloors and may require timber replacement or chemical treatment.
Queensland Pine Beetle (Calymmaderus incisus)
Found mostly in southeast Queensland and old homes built with hoop or Bunya pine, this beetle infests untreated softwood sapwood and can re-infest until timber is severely weakened. Damage can be extensive in neglected or older properties.

Signs of Borer Activity We Check

Our inspectors examine all accessible timbers, including subfloor beams, floorboards, roof voids, and decorative trims. We look for:

1–2 mm round exit holes
Powdery frass (fine with Lyctus, gritty with Anobium or Queensland pine beetle)
Hollow-sounding or spongy timber when tapped
Surface cracking or signs of internal tunnelling
Evidence of weakened flooring or support elements

We also assess whether infestations are active (e.g. fresh dust, light-coloured frass) or old/inactive (e.g. faded holes, no new activity), and we document everything with clear photos in your report.

How Serious Is It?

Inactive borer signs are often minor — requiring only monitoring or light repairs. For example, a few Lyctus holes in skirting are typically cosmetic.
Active infestations (especially with Anobium or Queensland pine beetle) can weaken structural timber over time and may require replacement or treatment.
Safety risks can emerge if floorboards are fragile or beams are heavily tunneled — this is rare but important to identify early.

Our inspectors explain each case in context: is it a legacy issue or something to act on now?

How True Inspect Assesses for Borers

All True Inspect pre-purchase reports include a full timber pest assessment, covering termites, borers, and fungal decay. We inspect:

All accessible timbers inside and outside the home
Roof and subfloor cavities (where possible)
Timber condition using non-invasive tools and expert judgement
Exit holes, frass type, timber species, and moisture conditions

We comply with AS 4349.3 and AS 3660.2, and provide honest assessments of what we find. If needed, we’ll recommend further treatment, repair or pest control, and note whether the issue is likely to recur.

What Should Buyers Do?

If borer activity is reported:

Understand if it’s active or old — we’ll note this in the report
Get quotes for repair or treatment if timber strength is affected
Negotiate with the seller or factor repairs into your purchase decision
Improve ventilation in damp areas to prevent future infestations
Use sealed or treated timbers during renovations or repairs

Most borer issues are manageable, and many are cosmetic — but early detection helps you avoid hidden repairs later.

For more information, download the full information pack on Timber Borers in Homes.

This includes species details, visual examples, inspection process, treatment options, and buyer advice.

Timber Borers in Homes

What Buyers Need to Know

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