Types of Wood Termites Don’t Eat

Kelsey W. Popham

A lovely option to add usefulness to your property is an outdoor wooden fence, gate, or deck, which increases your access to an outdoor area, improves privacy, and controls access to your land.

This natural, visually beautiful material may significantly improve the appearance of your house. However, there is frequently one disadvantage: termites.

These little insects spend their entire lives devouring wood. Termites may appear little and inconsequential, but they exist in large colonies, and their sheer numbers may swiftly demolish a fence.

But there is some good news. You may still enjoy a lovely wooden fence or patio without worrying about termites destroying it. How? Some woods are resistant to termites. Hence, by using such wood types for your home construction or furnishings, you won’t need to search for “termite treatment brisbane” or “termites control near me”.

Check out which woods are the most termite resistant below:

Bamboo

Termites will not consume processed bamboo. However, termites, particularly drywood termites, prefer unprocessed or raw bamboo.

Many people believe that because bamboo is grass rather than wood, it is naturally resistant to termites. But it isn’t.

Termites feed mostly on cellulose. And bamboo is 73.8% cellulose. Termites convert cellulose into sugar, which they use for energy. However, processed bamboos are devoid of cellulose. Bamboo is treated with borate to remove cellulose.

Borate kills protozoa, allowing termites to convert cellulose into sugar. Furthermore, termites can recognize borate in processed bamboo. The borate repels termites and makes the bamboo termite resistant.

Medium Density Fireboard (MDF)

MDF is not eaten by termites. However, this does not mean that MDF is immune to termite attacks. According to research, MDFs are extremely vulnerable to termite attacks. So, what’s the difference between termite attacks and termites eating MDF?

It implies that termites can drill through the MDF and go on to other pieces of wood in your home. They won’t eat the MDF. MDF is a type of artificial wood created by gluing together layers of pulpwood.

MDF is used to construct trim for your doors and windows within your home. The glue used to make MDF can also work as a termite repellent. But not for long. Termites may simply tunnel through the trimmings and into your wall.

Plywood

Termites do not feed pressure-treated plywood. However, they feed on ordinary plywood. So, what exactly is pressure-treated plywood?

Pressure-treated plywood is the product of a chemical treatment that conventional plywood goes through. Plywood manufacturers utilise chemicals such as Copper Azole (CA), Alkaline Copper Quaternary (ACQ), and Micronized Copper Azole (MCA) to make the plywood resistant to termites, water, and fungus.

You may use pressure-treated plywood or timber in your garden, patio, or outdoor buildings without fear of termite infestation. But if you have termites in other parts of your home, you need to search for “best termites control company Brisbane/near me” quickly.

Redwood

Termites do not eat redwood.

Redwood is both robust and naturally termite resistant. As a result, many builders prefer to utilise redwood for their construction projects. It also resists degradation caused by humidity and moisture.

Redwood is thicker, darker, and less permeable to termites. Furthermore, the natural compounds found in redwood and other hardwood species make them resistant to termites.

Painted Wood

That’s a difficult question to answer since the answer is either yes or no.

Without a doubt, paint on wood prevents termites from attacking the surface wood. However, paint coats cannot prevent termites from attacking painted wood from subterranean.

That is why subterranean termites eat painted timber fences and beams. Termites attack these subsurface fences and beams.

They devour the bars and beams from within, hollowing them out, yet they leave the painted wood outside alone. However, coating furniture with wood preservation paints like Rust-Oleum makes it termite resistant.

So, if you want to stay safe from termite infestation, start using any of the above woods. And for current infestation, you should Google for “24 hour termites control Brisbane/near me”. Make sure to keep your place inspected by a professional to prevent future infestation chances.

FAQs

Is it worth having a termite contract?

If you want to save your home from termite damages then it’s worth investing in a termite contract.

How much does it cost to spray for termites?

The cost will depend on the pest control agency but the starting sum is $200.

How many years does a termite treatment last?

Termite treatment on average lasts about 5 years.

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