What Do Termites Damage?

Termites are infamous for their ability to damage wood. This makes not just the structure of your property but many items within or outside of it vulnerable to these pests.

Inside a home or business in Albuquerque, termites can target a number of areas: support beams, flooring, posts, wall studs, foam insulation, and more. Outside in your front or backyard, termites will target piles of lumber, fallen logs, wooden decks or patios, outdoor furniture, and more. Needless to say, termites can damage a lot more than you may think.

Where Does Termite Damage Happen?

Termites are capable of infesting any wood source. Subterranean termites need contact with the soil, whereas drywood termites can infest dry wood in higher elevations of your property. Most homes are built primarily with wood, which is why termites find your property so appealing. Inside, this means your walls, support beams, drywood, ceilings, floor boards, baseboards, windows, and insulation. In your backyard, termites can infest piles of firewood, roof tiles, patio furniture, decaying logs, and more.

Termite-Resistant Materials

The good news is, termites won’t damage everything. There are a few materials that termites are not capable of infesting:

Treated lumber: This has chemicals in it that prevents rot and makes it undesirable to pests. This is why treated lumber is often used in new builds.
Cement/concrete: Termites will not eat through these, as the material is too solid and lacks cellulose. They can make their way through small cracks in concrete, however.
Metal: Again, metal does not contain cellulose and is thus not suitable for termites.
Redwood/cedar: These types of wood are somewhat naturally resistant to termites. However, decay can attract termites to both of these.

Why Do Termites Damage Wood?

Termites need cellulose to survive. This is found within wood, which is why termites will tunnel through and devour wooden items. Severe wood damage typically occurs after termites have been infesting for more than a couple of years. To protect all areas of your property from termite damage, it’s best to work with a professional termite exterminator such as Pest Defense Solutions.

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