Thread: Termites - What type they like/dont like?

Termites seem to like softer woods over harder ones but if they are hungry and put their minds to it they will pretty much tackle most wood.

If your structure is on steel you should be OK even with pine provided nothing else touches the ground and gives them an alternate pathway up to the pine.

If you want species specific info on Termites then for WA woods I look here Forest Products Commission: Plantations: Species information
There are quite a few species that are found in other states listed there as well
The species are divided into 4 classes, class 1 (e.g. Gidgee) is termite resistant, class 4 (eg pine) is like waving a big sign for free lunch.
Treated pine of course could be used in the ground.

If you specify a less general location in your personal details rather than "Australia" someone closer to your area may be able to give better information relevant to your area.

The long and the short of it is termites in Australia will eat anything unless it is treated

Do a search and read up on borates, safe product that will protect the timber from fungal decay and termites,im a pestie with 21 years exp and its a good option

I am a great advocate of Cypress Pine. I have the advantage that it is sourced locally. I have never been happy about ANY timber species to be in the ground even if treated. The treatment my slow insect damage but rot is a real threat as well. Locally we have a treated timber mill. They are using their own grown Radiata Plantation timber. Virtually all of their stuff goes into Landscape Suppliers. (The quality of the logs, to start with is on the low side)
My recommendation would be steel brackets concreted in the ground to support your floor framing, then Cypress wall frames with fibro-cement wall cladding externally, then clad the inside with MDF. I would also put batts in the wall cavities so you don't have "cooked kids" when its hot

Just a note, that steel etc is a major deterrent but not a 100% guarantee the little buggers can eat through steel and concrete if they feel the need, they can also build towers to get up to dinner so stump caps can be rerouted around. . But like others have said they will go the easy option first.

If you can get it Alaskan Yellow cedar

I have been assured that "Batu" is 100% termite proof.

I have some, it is very heavy & hard also. Doesn't turn too good either.
Many people use it for decking.

HTH
Col

Originally Posted by DSEL74

Just a note, that steel etc is a major deterrent but not a 100% guarantee the little buggers can eat through steel and concrete if they feel the need, they can also build towers to get up to dinner so stump caps can be rerouted around. . But like others have said they will go the easy option first.

Exactly. Ant caps are there so you can see what is going on and take action before they move in.

Originally Posted by AlpineRaven

G'day guys,
I want to ask a question here, since we are in termite infested zone (our house is termite protected with mesh, steel frames etc)

I want to build an Cubby House and Shed out of timber - I would like to know what timber to use/avoid... (Shed - will be on steel base frame, hoping to use treated pine inside frame, MDF walls inside, but outside - hoping to use treated pine pilings if available otherwise cement sheet pilings.

Question: What timber termites does not like/like?
What can we prevent from termites - I have read posts of diesel, sump oil, grease etc

Thank you in advance.
Cheers
AP

Greetings AR,
U might like to get some advice on what chemical is being used to treat pine these days. It used to be copperchromearsenate(sp?). Some councils had to spend a lot of money replacing playground equipment made from treated pine.
I like the idea of raising the cubby off the ground with galv stirrups set in concrete.
Over 3 yrs ago I placed a few boards of Celery top pine on the lawn to be taken to the rubbish tip - finally got around to it to find - no termites or even rot! I have the Nathan forest(Brisbane) across the road & plenty of termites nearby. My lawns are also infested with big biting ants & I'm told they help keep termites away - not good for the kids tho!
cheers,
Kiwi

Back in the dark ages, when building timber shearing sheds etc, the carpenters would get arsenic powder and spread it on the face of a say Karri board, lay another board on top and use long nails to nail thru both boards then cleat (bend) the points on the other side over, flip over & repeat, to keep the boards permanently together - with the arsenic powder in between.

They would toss it in under the shearing shed where the shearing board floor is (i.e. where the sheep feces and urine doesn't get under) and leave it there on the raw ground.

Any termite that get near the building would go for the karri straight away and eat it as well as the arsenic powder and take the arsenic powder back to the nest and kill the queen.

Becuase uts under a roof and a sealed floorboards floor - it stays dry so the arsenic can't leach out into the soil or water table etc. Nothing else but a termite can eat its way in and when it does 0 it kills the entire nest thru protecting the timber framed shearing shed.

So in effect a termite sacrificial anode.

I know its not 'legal' these days - but back when I built the factory, we out it up on steel stirrups & before we formed and poured the floor - I make up pine sacrificial blocks, planed faces routed out to make a pocket - araldited (epoxied) together and screwed together from both sides.. and arsenic powder sandwiched in between in the routed out space.

Iplaced theres around all edges under where the concrete floor would be poured, well in from the eaves line outside so they would stay dry under the concrete floor and under the main roof line.

In essence any termite thats attractyed to the timber frames, Karri roof trusses and roof purlins, first had to get past the pine sacrificial anodes.

Again not legal these days, but bloody effective against termites when nothing these days is any more... organo - chlorines are gone as are the organo - phosphates that replaced them.

Termi mesh seems to have a good rep... me I like the good old day methods that actually work.

Others mileage will vary.

One old method for treating termites is terrifying these days - opening a run in the timber, getting arsenic in a straw and blowing it in!