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Termite Resistant Wood

Summary: Learn the kind of lumber that is rated the most termite resistant wood. What kind of wood was used in the construction of your home?

Douglas fir, hemlock, and spruce are the most common types of wood used for structural lumber. Of these materials, Douglas fir is moderately resistant to termites, whereas the other two are not.

Remember that wood which is not naturally resistant to termites can be treated to make it resistant to termites. Use only "exterior grade" pressure-treated timber for areas that are exposed to weather; otherwise the chemical in the lumber may leach from the wood. Topical treatments, particularly borates that will be exposed to weather, also must have a sealer coat to stop leaching into the ground following rain. Wood rot will attract termites.

Moderately or very resistant	Moderately resistant	Slightly resistant or nonresistant
Arizona cypress	bald cypress (young growth)	alder
bald cypress (old growth)	Douglas fir	ashes
black cherry	eastern white pine	aspens
black locust	honey locust	basswood
black walnut	loblolly pine	beech
bur oak	longleaf pine	birches
catalpa	shortleaf pine	black oak
cedars	swamp chestnut oak	butternut
chestnut	tamarack	cottonwood
chestnut oak	western larch	elms
gambel oak		hemlocks
junipers		hickories
mesquite		maples
Oregon white oak		pines
osage orange		poplars
Pacific yew		red oak
post oak		spruces
red mulberry		true firs
redwood
sassafras
white oak

Comments

Steve
28 Jul 2009, 13:35

I'm looking for suggestions of wood that is both rain & termite(insect) resistent.

marcos
13 Sep 2009, 00:34

What is a the best type of wood to use to build a swing set outdoors in an area that is prone to termites? I have active termites in my back yard, which is why I'm asking. Thanks.

Gilberto Gonzalez
12 Mar 2010, 10:51

Which wood are both termite and rod resistant?

linda
15 Mar 2010, 06:54

i'm looking for suggestion for TIMBER FLOORING that is termite resistent and long lasting , do you recommend KEMPAS WOOD ? Thankyou
kind regards
Linda

dev
03 May 2010, 06:47

HI, I am using red Oak for door frames & they are used in a 5 star hotel building. The timber is kiln dried & will be receiving a very light color polish. I am concerned that the VAC VAC termite treatment would change the color. DO you strongly recommend treatment inspite of kiln drying? Or is OAk ( both white & red) naturally resistant to termite attacks?

Ask the Exterminator
03 May 2010, 09:16

The harder the wood the less attractive it is to termites.

Lori
04 Aug 2010, 12:42

I am looking for posts for a picket fence that is termite resistant. Thank you.

Ask the Exterminator
04 Aug 2010, 15:33

You will need to purchase pressure treated lumber. It will come with a certicate that says it has been treated to protect against wood destroying insects.

dana
15 Oct 2010, 18:56

do termites like wicker or ratain furnature. have some at my grandmothers house it seams not to have any resadue around it like all the other furnature dose...

Ask the Exterminator
17 Oct 2010, 10:48

Wicker and ratain are not termite proof.

Jeff C
11 Nov 2010, 23:47

Looking at possibley building a Log home on our return to the lower 48 states. 1 possible location would be Vegas where I hear Termites do not survive. Another place is in N Illinois where I already own property and might build on it. I know Cedar is pretty resistant against the critters but how does Tulip Poplar logs hold up or compare to Cedar logs

Mahalo

Ask the Exterminator
14 Nov 2010, 08:16

The harder the wood the better it resists termites. Tulip Poplar is fairly hard, so it will do nicely. I cannot give you a comparison to cedar.

william rizzo
16 Nov 2010, 13:54

is iroko wood highly resistant to termite as it is not indicated. thank you for your time

Ask the Exterminator
16 Nov 2010, 14:45

Iroko wood is very hard wood, so that automatically makes it less attractive to termites.

Peter
22 Nov 2010, 04:04

Indoor flooring. Termite resistant, White Oak or Merbau is better.

Thanks

Karen
21 Feb 2011, 20:40

Hi, I am in the region of Indonesia and want to build some bungalows do you know what kinds of Teak's are resistant to Termites, are these woods resistant Iron wood (Belian), Djati Teak & Bangkirai(Belau)? Thank you very much.

Ask the Exterminator
21 Feb 2011, 21:33

The only thing I can tell you for sure is that the harder the wood, the more resistant it is to termites.

frances
13 Mar 2011, 16:57

would a black walnut or red cedar that has been cut down be resistant if placed close to my house

Ask the Exterminator
14 Mar 2011, 12:19

Any wood that has been cut will loose some of its density and density is what makes wood termite resistant. Termites prefer food sources other than Western Red Cedar, however in the absence of alternative food sources, some termites will attack Western Red Cedar.

Sharon
25 Oct 2011, 13:26

I live in a tropical part of Mexico. Nearly ever wood object in my home is made of cedar or some other extremely hard local wood.

I bought a set of end tables purportedly made of cedar, but the top of one has developed a few tiny tiny holes --about the size that a pin would make. The holes are surrounded by fine sawdust. Only the top board of the piece is affected, which leads me to believe this part is not cedar...maybe mahogany. Anyway, the locals claim there are moths in the furniture (I guess they mean larva stage). I think, though that it may be a wood borer. Have you any experience with this?

JJ
27 Oct 2011, 20:16

Hi. I am looking to buy an Entrance Door. The Sales person said the wood is pine but it was not treated for termites. Can I get a finished product treated against termites?

Thanks

Ask the Exterminator
27 Oct 2011, 20:41

Yes, it's called pressure treated wood.

Ask the Exterminator
30 Oct 2011, 09:03

Sharon: Powder post beetles are probably infesting the wood. The wood needs to be treated with Bora Care, a product you can see by clicking on the "Pest control products" link at the top of this page.

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Termite Resistant Wood

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