Pests in Queenslander Homes

Design features that matter

Queenslanders were designed for a hot, humid climate: raised on stumps for airflow, built from timber, with high ceilings, large roof spaces and wide verandahs. Those same features create sheltered spaces and gaps that pests use.

• Raised floors on stumps with open or battened sub-floors.
• Timber cladding and single-skin internal walls (often VJ boards) with gaps between boards.
• Large, ventilated roof spaces with many joints at eaves and ridges.
• Verandahs and established gardens that bring vegetation close to the house.
• Decades of renovation, where old and new construction meet and gaps are left behind.

None of this makes a Queenslander a bad house for pests; it means the places to check are different from a modern brick home on a slab.

Under the house

The area under a Queenslander is often used for storage, laundries, workshops or built-in rooms. Stored cardboard, timber and rarely moved items give cockroaches, rodents, redbacks and wasps shelter, and damp soil in shaded areas suits cockroaches and slaters.

• Store items on shelving off the ground, in sealed plastic tubs rather than cardboard.
• Keep the area ventilated and fix drainage so water does not pool.
• Do not stack timber, firewood or rubbish against stumps; it also hides termite activity.
• Check for redbacks under furniture, around laundry tubs and in meter boxes — wear gloves.
• If the under-house area has been enclosed, keep vents and air paths clear.

Built-in and enclosed sub-floors

Many Queenslanders have been raised and "built in underneath" to add rooms. This can change the pest picture in two ways.

First, airflow under the original floor drops, so moisture can build up in the remaining sub-floor spaces, cavities and timber. Moisture suits cockroaches, silverfish and termites.

Second, new walls and slabs meet old stumps, bearers and cladding, often leaving gaps at the junctions. Those gaps connect the ground, the wall cavities and the original floor.

If your home has been built in, check that any remaining sub-floor areas are still ventilated, that downpipes discharge away from the slab, and that junctions between old and new construction are sealed. A timber pest inspector can advise on whether the work has affected termite management, such as access to inspect the stumps.

Walls and floors

Timber boards shrink and move over time, leaving gaps between floorboards, around skirting and between wall boards. Cockroaches and ants use them to move between the sub-floor, wall cavities and living areas.

• Fill gaps along skirting boards and around pipes with a suitable sealant.
• Use pipe escutcheons where plumbing passes through floors.
• Seal where kitchen and bathroom cabinetry meets walls and floors.
• Check where extensions join the original house for gaps under cladding.

In the roof

Older roofs often have gaps at eaves, ridge capping and where roofing materials meet. Roof rats and possums are common in leafy Brisbane suburbs, and silverfish thrive in warm, humid roof voids.

• Cut back vegetation so branches, vines and palms are at least a metre from the roof.
• Seal gaps with rodent-resistant materials; a roofer may be needed for tile and ridge repairs.
• Check the roof void from the manhole with a torch for droppings, nests and daylight showing through gaps.

See why rats are in my roof and the noise in my ceiling.

Possums and Queenslanders

Brushtail possums are the most common cause of heavy thumping in Queenslander roofs. They are protected native animals, so they can’t be trapped, harmed or sealed out in a way that traps them inside.

A licensed possum catcher can confirm a possum is living in the roof and, where permitted, install a one-way exit and provide an alternative nest box nearby. State rules govern how possums can be handled and where they can be released. Once the possum has left, seal the entry points with durable materials so it can’t return.

Never use rodent baits where possums can reach them, and never block an entry while a possum may still be inside.

Verandahs and gardens

Verandahs are ideal for spiders because lights attract insects and railings provide web anchors. Mature gardens bring Australian cockroaches, ants and rats close to the house.

• Use warm-coloured lighting and brush down webs regularly.
• Keep a clear, mulch-free strip along the base of the house.
• Pick up fallen fruit and keep compost enclosed.
• Trim climbing plants on verandah posts and lattice, which rodents and ants use as ladders.

Termites and other timber pests

Timber construction makes regular termite inspections by a licensed timber pest inspector essential, including the sub-floor and roof void. Keep stumps visible and free of soil build-up, fix leaks promptly and do not store timber under the house. PestMan provides only a basic termite overview; in-depth information will come from TermiteMan.au.

Termites aren’t the only timber pests. In older homes, wood-boring beetles can attack some timbers; small round exit holes and fine powder below them are typical signs. A timber pest inspection normally covers borers as well as termites.

Buying, restumping and renovating

Big works are the best time to pest-proof a Queenslander, because walls, floors and roof spaces are open.

• Before buying: arrange a timber pest inspection by a licensed inspector. Inspections in Australia are commonly carried out to the Australian Standard for timber pest inspections.
• Restumping or raising: ask your builder and a licensed pest manager about termite management for the new stumps and any new slab, and keep stumps accessible for future inspections.
• Opening walls and floors: seal service penetrations, fit pipe escutcheons and check for old rodent nests or termite damage while everything is exposed.
• Re-roofing: fit sarking and seal eaves and ridge gaps against rodents.
• Landscaping: keep garden beds, retaining walls and timber edging away from the house to avoid bridging any termite barrier.

Extensions, bathrooms and lean-tos

Many Queenslanders have been extended over the decades, often with a bathroom, laundry or kitchen added at the back or built in underneath. The joins between old and new work are a common weak point. Timber meets brick or concrete, floor levels change, and plumbing runs through walls that were never designed for it.

• Check where an extension meets the original house for gaps, cracked render and soil or garden beds built up against the join.
• Look under and behind wet areas for leaks; slow leaks under bathrooms keep timber damp and attract cockroaches, silverfish and termites.
• Make sure new concrete slabs and paths have not covered or bridged a termite barrier.
• Seal plumbing penetrations through floors and walls with suitable sealant or mesh.

If you are planning an extension, ask your builder how termite management will be handled for the new section and how it will connect with any existing system.

Seasons in a Queenslander

• Spring: ants become active along stumps and verandahs, and wasps start nesting under eaves and in lattice.
• Summer and the wet season: cockroaches, mosquitoes and termite swarming flights peak, often on warm, humid evenings after storms. Keep verandah lights low and screens closed.
• Autumn: rats and mice start looking for shelter in roof voids and sub-floors. Trim trees back from the roof.
• Winter: possums and rodents are most noticeable in ceilings. It’s a good time to get under the house, check the roof void and plan repairs.

See what pests are common in Queensland homes.

Working with inspectors and pest managers

Queenslanders reward an experienced eye. When booking an inspection or treatment, it helps to ask:

• whether the inspector will access the sub-floor and roof void, and what they will do about areas they can’t reach;
• what they think is causing the problem, not just what they will spray;
• what proofing or repairs they recommend, such as sealing gaps, fixing leaks or improving sub-floor ventilation;
• how any treatment will affect pets, children, gardens and tank water;
• what follow-up is included.

If your home is heritage-listed or in a character area, check with your council before making changes to the exterior, such as replacing lattice, enclosing the sub-floor or altering eaves. Your pest manager or builder can usually suggest ways to proof the house that respect its character. You can also tell PestMan what’s happening.

A yearly check for Queenslander owners

• Walk under the house with a torch: look for droppings, mud tubes, damp soil and stored items against stumps.
• Check the roof void from the manhole for droppings, nests and daylight through gaps.
• Walk the roofline outside for vegetation contact and damaged tiles or sheets.
• Look along skirting boards and around plumbing for gaps and ant trails.
• Check verandah posts, steps and lattice for timber damage and soil contact.
• Book a timber pest inspection at the interval your inspector recommends.

Local detail: pests in Queenslander homes in Brisbane.

Answers related to this guide

• Why Do Queenslander Houses Get Pests?
• Why Are Rats in My Roof?
• What Is the Noise in My Ceiling at Night?
• Why Do I Have Silverfish?
• What Should I Do About Redback Spiders?

Local information

• Pests in Brisbane Queenslanders
• Common Pests in Ashgrove

Pests in this guide