A house cannot be ruined overnight. They are generally large compared to other ants. For specific identification, how to locate nests, and control measures, see Fact Sheets 2063 and 2064, References Ento.15 and Ento.16. Carpenter ants do not eat wood. They excavate it for their nest.
Carpenter ants can seriously damage wood structures.
They normally nest in decaying wood that is easy to invade. Carpenter ants can nest in or just outside a house and invade rooms in search of food. Carpenter ants infest undisturbed piles of damp or rotting firewood stacked outside on the ground. They also nest in the rotting wood of trees. Do not store wood in damp basements or on the ground against the house.