With the rising number of pest control businesses in the U.S., it’s right to conclude that pests, especially termites, are a big menace in the country. Termites are notorious for chewing through wooden buildings and structures, leaving behind frail figures of formerly strong buildings if not discovered and eliminated early. Below, we’ll discuss some of the best termite-resistant building materials for your new construction.
Highly Polished Concrete Floor
If you plan on selling your house in the future, termite damage on your floor can drastically reduce your home’s value, attracting a poor return on investment. Termites thrive in organic matter in the ground, making it easy to build their nests on your floor if it’s not perfectly polished.
A highly polished concrete floor is less attractive for termite growth, which is why this is now a rising trend in residential and commercial buildings. This type of floor also defies the odds of wear and tear and will undoubtedly serve its purpose for a long time.
Termite-Resistant Woods
Whether you’re building an utterly wooden house or need wood for roofing and flooring, choosing termite-resistant wood types is crucial. Some of the common choices to consider here are:
Redwood
Redwood is known for its moderate to high durability standards and is one of the best bets against termite infestation. It is best described as a strong softwood ideal for building posts or siding materials for a new house.
Teak
Teak is revered for being extremely durable and dependable for making wooden walls and outdoor furniture. This strong tropical hardwood has a natural oil that repels termites, making it an ideal choice for construction. However, it’s still one of the most pricey woods out there, but that’s a small price to pay for a sustainable, termite-free home.
Cedar
Like teak, cedar also produces natural oils that help repel termites, mosquitoes, ants, and other insects. It’s also quite durable and is known for its admirable density that prevents it from warping. Given its admirable qualities, you can expect it to be slightly more pricey than regular wood, and this is for a good reason.
Mahogany
From beautiful pink or red-brownish aesthetics to rigid and sustainable hardwood tree characteristics, mahogany is one of the most reliable construction trees. Top that with its ability to resist the attack of dry wood termites, and you have a near-perfect tree for sustainable house construction.
Metallic Window Frames
While wooden window frames are popular for their flexibility and cheap availability, they are not particularly the best option, especially when worrying about termites. Using metallic window frames like aluminum can go a long way in shutting out termites from your windows. Since dirt and moisture can easily accumulate on window corners, it’s easier to keep off termites when using metallic window frames than wood.
While the above building materials are among the best options you can consider, you must keep an eye on your property to ensure no termite invasions. Termites are very cunny and stubborn insects that need constant attention to lock them out completely.
