[Home Tips] Wallpaper hides termites, how to deal with it thoroughly?
🐜 Why is wallpaper prone to harboring termites?
Hong Kong's humid and warm climate is ideal for termites to breed, especially during the transition from spring to summer and the return of the south wind. The back of wallpaper often becomes their "hidden passages":
- Humid environment : Wallpaper is placed against the wall, air does not circulate, and moisture accumulates.
- Paper materials : Wallpaper contains cellulose, which is food for termites.
- Decoration structure : The gap between the wallpaper and the wall facilitates the extension of the ant trail.
- Adjacent wooden structures , such as wooden baseboards and door frames, become sources of termite invasion.
💡Editor 's opinion : Behind the beautiful wallpaper, it may actually be a "hothouse" for termites. The risk is especially high in units over 15 years old.
⚠️ The dangers of termites hiding in wallpaper
- Structural damage : Termites will eat along the walls and wooden frames, and even extend to the floors, doors and windows.
- Renovation scrapped : The wallpaper is eaten away or has mud lines and needs to be replaced completely.
- Health impacts : Although termites do not bite people directly, their excrement and mud debris can increase indoor dust and irritate the respiratory tract.
- Rapid spread : A termite colony can expand to an entire unit or a neighboring home within a few months.
🔍 How to determine whether there are termites in the wallpaper?
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Wallpaper is bulging or deforming🫧
- Ant trails or mud lines cause the surface to be raised.
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The knocking sound is hollow
- When I tapped the wallpaper with my fingers, the sound was hollow.
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Mud lines/mud spots appear
- Termites seal their tunnels with mud to prevent drying out.
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Drops sawdust powder
- There is fine powder on the ground or at the base of the wall, which may be the residue left by their chewing.
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Flying ants appear
- In the spring and summer evenings, when the lights are turned on, flying ants flock in, which is usually the termite breeding season.
🛠️ How to completely treat termites in wallpaper (Hong Kong version)
1️⃣ Immediate isolation and reduction of spread
- After discovering ant trails, do not tear off the wallpaper at will to avoid alarming the termites and scattering them.
- Remove furniture from affected areas to reduce their migration paths.
2️⃣ Seeking a professional ant extermination company
- There are many licensed pest control companies in Hong Kong that use hydrazone (Fipronil) or hexaflumuron baits to kill ants.
- Professionals will drill holes and inject pesticides, or place bait stations on ant trails so that termites can carry the poison back to the nest.
- Inspect the entire house, as termites often act in groups.
3️⃣ Remove damaged wallpaper and base
- Wait until professionals confirm that the termite colony has been eliminated before removing the wallpaper.
- Check the wall plastering and woodwork, and remove mud lines and ant droppings.
- If the wall is damp, it needs to be completely dry before redecorating.
4️⃣ Add anti-termite treatment during renovation
- Apply anti-termite and anti-mildew primer to the wall.
- For carpentry, choose plywood or solid wood that has been treated with anti-termite treatment.
🛡️ Long-term prevention and treatment methods
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Control humidity
- Maintain humidity at 50-60% throughout the house, with a focus on dehumidifying the bathroom and kitchen.
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Regular inspections
- Check wallpaper, wooden baseboards, and cabinet bottoms every six months.
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Anti-termite treatment
- Spray anti-ant medicine (available in Hong Kong hardware stores) on wall corners and door frames.
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Flying ant season protection
- Close windows and draw curtains at night in spring and summer to reduce the risk of flying ants entering the house.
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Avoid long-term accumulation of debris
- Cardboard boxes and old books piled in dark and damp places are breeding grounds for termites.
📋 Editor's real case sharing
The wallpaper of a unit in Kwun Tong (25 years old) was bubbling, and after inspection, mud lines were found:
- Professional inspections revealed termite activity behind the walls and along the baseboards.
- Use bait + injection of medicine, and the activity disappears after two weeks.
- After removing the wallpaper, I found a large area of mud line on the wall, and the plastering needed to be redone.
- After renovation, anti-termite primer is added and the humidity of the whole house is controlled at 55%.
✨Results : No termites were found after 2 years, and the indoor air is fresher.
✅ Editor's Lazy Man's Checklist for Termite Prevention
- Use a dehumidifier during humid seasons
- Check wallpaper and woodwork every six months
- Close windows and turn off lights during flying ant season
- Add anti-termite coating during renovation
- If you find ant trails, contact a professional first, and don't remove the wallpaper yourself.
