Subterranean termites in Irving don’t stop at the foundation. Once a colony breaches a slab through an expansion joint or plumbing penetration, worker termites travel through mud tubes into wall voids, where they feed on anything cellulose-based:

• Wood furniture — legs, drawer frames, and any piece in direct contact with a slab or baseboard are the first casualties, especially in garages and ground-floor rooms.
• Drywall and baseboards — paper-faced drywall is a food source; damage often shows as fine blistering or a hollow sound before it’s visible.
• Hardwood and laminate flooring — subfloor damage from below can cause floors to feel spongy or buckle in humid months.
• Cabinets and built-ins — kitchen and bathroom cabinetry attached to slab-adjacent walls are common secondary damage points.
• Wooden structural framing — the highest-cost damage category; repair frequently requires opening walls to replace load-bearing members.

According to the EPA’s termite identification and control guidance, subterranean termite colonies can remain active and undetected for years before furniture or structural damage becomes visible — which is why an annual termite inspection matters more than reacting to visible damage.