We've done a lot of termite inspections over 30 years in Newport News — and most of the time, by the time a homeowner calls us, the termites have already been there a while. That's the thing about Eastern Subterranean termites: they work quietly, from the inside out, and they don't announce themselves. By the time you see obvious damage, there's usually a lot more you can't see yet.
Newport News has real termite pressure. The clay-heavy soil throughout the city holds moisture long after it rains, which is exactly the environment termites need to thrive. Older neighborhoods like Hilton, Hidenwood, and parts of Denbigh have some of the highest activity we see anywhere in Hampton Roads. If your home was built before 1990 and hasn't had a professional inspection recently, read this carefully.
1. Mud Tubes on Foundation Walls or Crawlspace Piers
Subterranean termites build pencil-width mud tubes to travel between the soil and the wood they're eating. They can't survive in open air — the tubes protect them from drying out. If you find these on your foundation, crawlspace piers, or along exterior walls, that's not a maybe. That's an active termite colony. Check your crawlspace twice a year. Most homeowners never go in there — and that's exactly why termites go undetected for so long.
2. Wood That Sounds Hollow When You Tap It
Termites eat wood from the inside, leaving a thin outer shell intact. Tap along baseboards, door frames, and window sills with a screwdriver handle. Solid wood produces a dense thud. Termite-damaged wood sounds hollow or papery. If you knock on a baseboard and it sounds like you're knocking on cardboard, press a screwdriver tip into it — if it sinks in with little resistance, you likely have damage. We find this constantly in older Newport News homes during inspections.
3. Discarded Wings Near Windows and Doors
Termite swarmers — the reproductive members of a colony — emerge in spring, typically between March and May in Hampton Roads, to start new colonies. They shed their wings after landing. If you find small, translucent wings in piles on windowsills, around door frames, or near light fixtures, a swarm happened near or inside your home. Swarmers are often mistaken for flying ants. The wings are the telltale sign: termite wings are equal in length; ant wings are not.
4. Doors and Windows That Suddenly Stick
As termites damage structural wood, it can warp and swell — causing doors and windows to stick or become difficult to open and close. Humidity can cause this too, so sticking doors alone don't confirm termites. But if you're seeing this alongside any of the other signs on this list, it's worth getting an inspection. Don't assume it's just the humidity.
5. Visible Damage in Crawlspace or Basement Wood
If you go into your crawlspace and see wood that looks like it's been carved out in a honeycomb pattern — layers of wood with soil and debris packed inside — that's textbook termite damage. We also look for darkening or blistering in wood that looks water-damaged but isn't near any moisture source. Termite galleries follow the grain of the wood, and the damage has a distinctive layered look once you know what you're seeing.
What to Do If You Find Any of These Signs
Don't panic, but don't wait either. Call a licensed pest control company for a professional termite inspection — not a big-box store treatment kit. Termite treatment requires knowing where the colony is active, how extensive the damage is, and which treatment method makes sense for your home's construction. We've been doing termite inspections in Newport News for over 30 years. We'll tell you exactly what we find and give you an honest assessment — no pressure, no upsell.
Annual termite inspections are the smart play for any Hampton Roads homeowner. They're not expensive, and they give you documentation that's valuable if you ever sell your home. The cost of prevention is a fraction of what structural repairs cost after a colony has been working for a few years unchecked.