How Termites Can Damage Your Hardwood Floors
WouterTermites can damage your hardwood floors if you don’t know how to identify them. A single termite can chew through your wood and cause a lot of hidden damage to your home. If you notice a lot of squeaking or crumbling, you could have a termite infestation.
The first thing to notice if you suspect that your hardwood floors have been damaged by termites is that they make abnormal sounds. If you listen to the sound, you will probably hear a hollow sound. This is because termites eat the cellulose, the fibers found in plants, in wood.
Termites can also eat plastic, paper, and other organic materials. Some termites are particularly attracted to cellulose. You can find cellulose in the plant fibers used to make wood and in paper products.
Wood is the most common food of termites. Termites prefer soft woods. Some prefer live trees, while others prefer non-live wood. Untreated wood is often the most attractive to termites.
The best way to protect your hardwood floors is to keep the area dry. If you live in a humid climate, you may want to get a treatment that contains a chemical barrier. If you don’t want to use chemicals, you can always buy pressure-treated wood. This type of wood has been treated with a chemical barrier to make it resistant to rotting and fungal infestation.
Termites aren’t the only problem you may see with your hardwood floors. You may also notice a splintering along the grain of your wood. Some types of hardwoods are naturally resistant to termites, such as teak and cedar.
