Do termites attack concrete slab homes?

Most property owners assume that external brick walls and slab construction prevents termites from entering their property. This is false. Termites can gain entry over the slab edge and can travel between brick mortar joints and weep holes in external brickwork. They also gain entry through small cracks in the slab and the slab penetrations like electrical wiring and plumbing entry points. Often homes built on concrete slabs are brick veneer with untreated timber wall frames. The timber framing is located close to the soil level and is easily accessed and consumed by termites. This is why it's critical that a building & pest inspection is carried out on homes with concrete slabs. In fact concrete slab homes are more difficult to detect termite entry as way of construction, there is no way to see under a slab built home as opposed to pier build subfloor homes as most termite colonies are subterranean.

Brick veneer slab built home with weep holes between bricks on the bottom course of brickwork

If the concrete edge of the slab is concealed by concrete, garden beds, paths, patios, pavers, lawns, foliage or soil then it is possible for termites to gain concealed entry into wall frames. They can then cause extensive damage to framing timbers that are concealed. With slab built homes it is very important that you expose the slab edge and ensure that garden beds or soil do not cover the slab edge. Weep holes must be kept free of all obstructions, and are there to help aerate any moisture from within the wall cavities.