Do Termites Eat Solid, Laminate & Engineered Hardwood Floors? Termites will damage solid wood floors as well as laminate and engineered wood floors. However, hardwood floors most frequently fall victim to termite damage.
Unlike natural wood, engineered wood siding has a moisture-resistant barrier that keeps termites from burrowing into your exterior. Plus, this protective coating also keeps other animals, like woodpeckers and rodents, from pecking or chewing on your siding.
Hardwood flooring, such as oak, maple, and walnut, is generally more resistant to termites than softwoods.
Termites can damage laminate flooring, as well, by eating the backing off of the laminate. If you get a home inspection and you're in the clear, here are some things you can do to prevent future infestations. No one wants to come across termite damage in their home.
Naturally Resistant
To deter the pests, homeowners can obtain heartwood-grade lumber for construction projects. Termites also tend to avoid specific species of trees such as redwoods, yellow cedar, Laotian teak, and cypress.
In order to address damage done to laminate flooring, it is often necessary to rip up old laminate and lay new flooring. When termites damage a laminate floor, it is not possible to repair the laminate material.
Engineered hardwood flooring resists water to a certain extent, making it suitable for moisture-prone areas like kitchens. However, it's important to note that engineered hardwood is only partially waterproof and requires proper maintenance to preserve its integrity over time.
On average, engineered hardwood floors can last anywhere from 20 to 30 years, depending on the thickness of the top layer (veneer), the quality of the product, and the conditions it's exposed to. High-quality engineered hardwood with a thicker veneer can even last up to 40 years if well-maintained.
Installing engineered hardwood flooring in a 1000 square foot space typically ranges from $6,000 to $12,000. The average cost lands around $9,000. This includes both materials and labor, but factors like the type of wood and installation complexity can influence the final price.
One common problem associated with engineered floor systems, especially in certain circumstances, is moisture-related issues. Engineered wood flooring is more stable and less prone to expansion and contraction due to changes in humidity compared to solid wood flooring.
Termites dislike certain odors that act as repellents to them. Some of the common smells they hate include orange oil, neem oil, garlic, cinnamon, vinegar, mint, and citrus.
Use mats and protectors.
Use felt protectors or protective pads under all furniture legs to protect your engineered wood floor from scratches and indentations. Refrigerators and other heavy objects should never be moved without proper floor protection.
When applied to wood with pressure treatment, borates soak deep into the material to provide long-lasting termiticidal benefits. When termites feed on treated wood, the borates disrupt their metabolic functions and prevent them from correctly processing food. Essentially, the pests die slowly from starvation.
Thanks to the composition of engineered flooring, which consists of multiple core pieces of plywood, HDF, or softwood, topped off with a beautiful layer of hardwood, it means that engineered flooring can last for up to 30 years in the right conditions.
Laminate's sturdy, scratch-resistant wear layer makes this floor strong in the durability category. Laminate is also becoming more resistant to moisture. Meanwhile, engineered hardwood is a bit more vulnerable to wear and tear since it has a real wood veneer.
If you use water on an engineered wood flooring installation, then there's a chance that it could warp the wood under the veneer and cause mold and mildew growth.
Seven other exotic timbers, teak, iroko, mahogany, Australian cypress pine, niove, greenheart, and holywood lignumvitae were found to be most resistant to termite damage, while two types of oak, black locust, Osage-orange, and redwood proved to be the most termite-resistant domestic timbers.
For this reason, cedar mulch is a great option for termite proof landscaping. Where other types of mulch draw termites toward the foundation of your home, cedar creates a barrier that can help ward of unwanted colonies. Another type of wood that is inedible to termites is wood that has been pressure treated.
Do Termites Eat Solid, Laminate & Engineered Hardwood Floors? Termites will damage solid wood floors as well as laminate and engineered wood floors. However, hardwood floors most frequently fall victim to termite damage.
Vinegar, particularly white vinegar and apple cider vinegar, contains acetic acid, which can corrode the exoskeletons of termites, leading to their dehydration and eventual demise. When applied directly to termites or their nests, vinegar disrupts their bodily functions, ultimately causing them to perish.
The best way to clean laminate floors is to use products made especially for them. If you don't have laminate floor cleaner, you can use a teaspoon of unscented clear dish soap in a gallon of water. A teaspoon of baby shampoo in a gallon of water will also work.