A timber sill plate hollowed out into galleries by carpenter ants, with a pile of frass and wood shavings on the foundation below it.
Problem Sign

Carpenter Ant Infestation

Carpenter ants are attracted to moist or decaying wood, which is often found around homes with drainage or foundation-related moisture issues.

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What this symptom means

Carpenter Ant Infestation: Diagnosed and Explained

In Central Texas, the cause is usually one of two things: expansive Blackland clay swelling and shrinking under the home with every wet-dry cycle, or the moisture and drainage conditions that come with it. The specific pattern and location of what you're seeing is what tells us which one it is.

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Signs the Problem Is More Than Cosmetic

01

Sawdust-Like Material Near Baseboards or Framing

A common sign of tunneling activity in nearby wood.

02

Visible Ants, Especially Large Black Ones, Near the Foundation or Crawl Space

Activity concentrated near the foundation often points to a moisture source nearby.

03

A Musty Smell Suggesting Damp Wood Nearby

Odor alongside ant activity strengthens the case for an underlying moisture issue.

Root causes

What Causes This Problem?

Not every instance is foundation-related, but in Central Texas, it usually is. Here's what we rule in or out on inspection.

Moisture-Softened Wood

Carpenter ants tunnel through wood that's already damp or beginning to decay, not sound, dry lumber.

Poor Drainage

Water pooling near the foundation keeps nearby wood damp enough to attract activity.

Crawl Space Humidity

Persistent dampness in a crawl space creates the moist wood conditions carpenter ants look for.
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"It's the diagonal cracks in the brick and the mortar stair steps that really say that there's a serious foundation issue."
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Central Texas homeowners
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Frequently Asked Questions

Moist or decaying wood, often tied to drainage issues near the foundation.

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Areas We Serve

Proudly serving homeowners across Central Texas.

Service Areas (all 54 cities)
How we work

What to Expect

Step 01

Free Inspection

A specialist from our own crew visits your home, evaluates the foundation, and explains what we find. Free for homeowners, no obligation.

Step 02

Written Estimate

You get a clear written plan with the repair that fits the problem, explained before any work begins.

Step 03

Repair to Maximum Practical Level

Steel push piers or Adjust-A-Piers are installed, the foundation is stabilized to its maximum practical level, and the warranty that applies to your job is stated in writing on the estimate.

Our reputation

4.9 Across 616 Reviews

Central Texas homeowners rate us on Google. Here's what backs that rating up.

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Tell us what you're seeing. An Austin specialist will reach out to schedule your on-site inspection.

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Where To Find Us

Three Locations Across Central Texas

Proudly serving Austin and the surrounding region with foundation repair and house leveling.

Austin, TX HQ
Quality Foundation Repair Austin - House Leveling Specialists
8240 Georgian Dr, Austin, TX 78753
(737) 260-7340 View on Google Maps
Round Rock, TX
Quality Foundation Repair Austin - House Leveling Specialists
551 S I-35 Frontage Rd, Round Rock, TX 78664
(512) 601-8329 View on Google Maps
San Antonio, TX
Quality Foundation Repair
2186 Jackson Keller Rd Suite 2130, San Antonio, TX 78213
(210) 888-0118 View on Google Maps