Termite Resistant Hardwood Flooring

It doesn t matter if it is softwood or hardwood pine or oak.

Termite resistant hardwood flooring. The heartwood of some woods is naturally resistant to termites. Laminate flooring is also known as floating wood tile. This is a fear that keeps some homeowners from choosing this highly durable and beautiful option for their flooring. Chestnut oak lumber is less common but when available it s often sold as mixed white oak other naturally termite resistant wood species include.

Certain factors make wood even more desirable to termites. Termites can cause devastating harm to wood structures including hardwood floors. Do hardwood floors make your home a target for termites. Termites and your hardwood floors hardwood flooring is a timeless feature of any home.

But it is the most dramatic scenario in very uncared cases and can occur when the houses are already uninhabited for many years but it describes the major principle of house decomposition beginning with the floor caused by termites. Posted on june 25 2013 by admin. So let s explore the facts. Eastern subterranean termites and their tunnels and.

They ve also been known to eat materials which don t have any trace of wood in them such as linoleum and laminate flooring. According to studies termites find southern yellow pine and spruce to be the most appealing woods to eat. Termites are more likely to feed on soft woods than hardwoods. Your fear is well founded after all termites have an insatiable appetite for wood.

If termites find their way into your home you will soon see termite damage on laminate. Subterranean termites will happily feed on any of the common woods used for structural lumber in homes. Termites and hardwood floors. Termites will eat almost anything that contains wood.

Among these options teak is obviously the top choice for termite resistance. However any of these choices are highly preferred to woods that termites seem to enjoy most. Signs of their activity. White oak is a common choice for flooring thanks in part to its wide availability.

Alaskan cedar is shown to be a little bit hardier against subterranean termites than redwood in a study performed by the university of hawaii. However if the infestation is untreated for several years the wood may become weak and give way under general use. Redwood and alaskan cedar also known as pacific coast yellow cedar are two of the woods that have natural resistance to termites and decay. However if you suspect you have a termite problem you might worry about the structural integrity of your floors.

Best methods of treatment and diy methods. White oak and chestnut oak resist termites well. To help prevent these silent destroyers from invading keep all rotting wood such as firewood far away from the house. Hardwood floors may show evidence of termite damage although the damage often is not immediately visible to homeowners.

Any wood that s brought inside should be thoroughly checked look out for holes or hollowness that could house the insects.