What Can Termites Not Eat Through?
Termites are one of the most common pests in the United States. They can invade your home and cause serious damage. However, there are many things you can do to keep them from causing harm. Some of these things include using termite-resistant building materials and keeping your home dry.
Termites are attracted to cellulose, a natural compound found in wood. They will search for cellulose to get to their food source. Plastic is also a cellulose based material, but it has no nutritional value.
Another non-food item that termites will not eat is glass. Termites do not chew through glass, as it is very hard to do so. Instead, they will go through a gap in the glass if it contains wood.
Termites are not attracted to concrete. Unlike wood, concrete has no nutritional value and is not flexible. But, some homeowners believe that they can tunnel through concrete. This is a misconception.
Some types of concrete are more resistant to termite attacks than others. For example, poured concrete foundations are the most resistant. If there are no visible cracks in the concrete, termites will not attack it.
Several composites are termite-resistant including fiber cement, borate containing foam, stone, and many other materials. Depending on the type of construction you have, your home may also be made of brick, stone, and other materials. These materials are more resistant to termite attacks than wood, so you might consider replacing them in your home.