Some Florida residents take pride in the homes they’ve built or renovated for themselves. After your home or renovation project is complete, termites can be uninvited house guests that a majority of Florida homeowners may have to deal with. These pests can eat your newly built house down while hiding within the walls. By the time you find the pests, they may have caused too much damage. Instead of playing hide-and-seek with termites, be sure to build your house with termite-resistant wood.
Otherwise, these pests can wreak havoc not only on your home but also on your wallet. Building your house with termite-resistant wood will save you from heavy house repair bills. Although termite-resistant building materials may be expensive, they’re worth it in the long run.
Let’s discuss five building materials that termites can’t damage:
Cedar is a low-density wood that is great for termite control. It produces natural oils that repel insects like termites, ants, and mosquitos. Additionally, it has a consistent density that prevents the wood from warping. That makes it good for siding the house.
Redwood is a strong softwood that is naturally resistant to termites and pests. You can use it as posts or siding material for your house. It’s also great for building a fence and outdoor furniture because it’s more resistant to termites.
Teak is a tropical hardwood popular for making outdoor furniture. It’s hard and strong, making it highly durable. The high density of the wood, together with its natural oil, helps to discourage termite activity.
Since it’s quite expensive, you can use it to make door frames and interior furniture. In addition to durability and termite control, it can make your house look beautiful.
Fiber cement siding combines cellulose fiber, cement, sand, and water. It’s popular for building siding due to its durability. Since it’s not 100% wood, it’s resistant to termites.
Plus, it’s too hard for termites to chew. Unlike wood, this material is fireproof and highly customizable.
If you can’t access termite-resistant wood, use pressure-treated wood. Wood treatment involves soaking it in a termite-resistant chemical and then applying pressure to it. Termites can’t eat wood with such chemicals.
It’s also a common practice to spray termite treatment chemicals on the ground where you want to build the house. That helps protect your wood-framed structures that are in contact with soil.
Sometimes it can be hard to find the type of wood you want. Since termites love to eat anything made of wood, they might find a way to eat the wood once it gets old. As such, consider using non-wood construction materials like concrete and metal to stop termites completely.
If you don’t want to build the entire house with concrete, use it for the foundation. That’s because it creates a gap between the soil and the wood in the house.
So, subterranean termites, which attack foundations and framing, won’t find their way in. You can also use metals like aluminum to build door frames and steel for exterior walls.
You can also use plastic composite materials as an alternative. They can help with interior and exterior construction projects like fences, furniture, and floors.
If you’re building or renovating your home, it’s advisable to use termite-resistant wood. These include cedar, teak, and redwood. You can also use other termite-resistant building materials like concrete, metal, and plastic composite. Doing so will protect your house from damage and avert huge repair expenses.
If you already have a termite infestation in your house, McDonald Pest Control can help you get rid of the menace quickly. We provide pest control and prevention services to residents throughout Clearwater and Tampa.
