Use Termite Resistant Building Materials for Added Protection

Wood can be protected against termite damage by use of preservative treated wood (e.g., ACQ, CA-B, CA-C or Borate). CCA was used in residential construction up until 2004 when it had been voluntarily discontinued. Using treated lumber to frame a home can add hundreds or few thousands of dollars to the price of a typical home. Such a drastic measure, however, is only used in particularly severe termite hazard areas like Hawaii.

As an alternative, preservative-treated wood may be used in isolated locations such as foundation sills and floor framing directly above the foundation. This practice is particularly appropriate for crawl space construction and for basement construction when ceilings are finished such that these elements are not easily inspected for infestation. Alternatively, naturally decay-resistant wood (e.g., heartwood of redwood and eastern red cedar) may be used, but at even greater expense than preservative treated lumber. For this reason, materials such as galvanized cold-formed steel may be a cost-effective alternative and are frequently used in Hawaii to complement or compete with the use of preservative treated wood. Concrete and masonry building materials are favored alternatives in areas such as Florida.