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. However, these types of wood are not as long-lasting as treated lumber.
Available locally, redwood may be one of your best bets for a reasonably priced option easily available here. The wood is known to be moderately to very durable and is resistant to termites. Among these options, teak is obviously the top choice for termite resistance.
The only wood that I am aware that termites won't eat is cypress wood heart, redwood and some teakwood. These don't last as long as treated woods. Some wood treated with creosote is very resistant to termites, but in areas with wild hogs the hogs have found that the creosote helps repel lice and ticks.
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.
After six weeks, six woods—redwood, Brazilian jatoba, Peruvian walnut, Honduran mahogany, Alaska yellow cedar, and teak—showed some level of natural resistance and caused an average of better than 75 percent termite mortality. Termites found southern pine and spruce the most palatable and teak the least palatable.
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.
Royale Touche Termite Proof Plywood are one the best choices when one is looking to design furniture and interiors keeping termites away. This termite and borer proof plywood provides protection against termites thereby ensuring longevity of the wooden structures.
3 - Tea Tree Oil & Other Essential Oils
If you want to avoid termites at home, you can use essential oils, such as cinnamon oil, clove bud oil, or the famous tea tree oil. To use them properly, all you have to do is to fill them in a mist sprayer and spray on the damaged areas to repel termites.
If nothing else suits you, go and try the successful heat treatment to control termites at home. Just use hot air or increase the temperature of the infected area up to 120 degrees and maintain it for half an hour. This much heat for this much time will kill the termites instantly.
Ants are the greatest predators of termites, and may have a considerable local impact on termite populations in some areas of the world. A few parasitoids of termites are known, but their potential for regulating termite populations seems negligible.
In the Northern states, where termites are less likely to thrive, older homes have a better chance of surviving. With this being said, while older homes do play a role in termite susceptibility, there is no true correlation between the two in this study.
Though teak is one of the best termite-proof floorings it is pricier than other options due to various reasons. The price of teak flooring is high because this all-weather wood is extremely durable.
Termites can live only a few days without water, and only two weeks without food.
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. However, these types of wood are not as long-lasting as treated lumber.
Apply Natural Oil
Natural oils like orange oil and neem oil can be used to control termites. Orange oil contains a compound called d-limonene which comes in contact with termites and kills them. Neem oil should be applied repeatedly on the wooden furniture till the termite colonies are completely destroyed.
GREENZONE® Termite Paint uses a chemical known as bifenthrin, which is proven to be an effective repellent against pests. GREENZONE® Termite Paint contains two-percent bifenthrin which ensures maximum protection for longer periods.
Best Termite Foam for Direct Spray: Termidor Foam
If you have termite problems in the cracks and crevices in your home, Termidor Foam gives you a major advantage. Different from baits and liquid barriers, Termidor Foam can be used inside the home.
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.
Thus, neem oil for termites can be the best natural termite killer and help you get rid of termites permanently from your wooden structures. If you are wondering how to do neem oil treatment for termites, simply inject it inside the wooden structures.
Vetiver grass contains a chemical compound called “Nootkatone”, which could work to ward off the termites as well as a broad range of other pests naturally. You could plant the vetiver grass around the termite-infested areas in your property, and when they are planted, the termites will find such areas unfavorable.
Will Irish Spring repel termites? No definitive scientific studies suggest that Irish Spring soap repels termites. If you have a serious termite issue, it's always advisable to seek professional pest control assistance.
Cayenne pepper is an excellent termite repellent that is completely natural. If you have termite problems in a small space, try sprinkling the pepper generously in the targeted area and repeating until all termites are gone.
BWP (Boiling Water Proof) Plywood: This plywood is made with phenolic resins that offer excellent resistance to moisture and termites. It's a popular choice for both indoor and outdoor applications. Gurjan Plywood: Made from the Gurjan tree, this plywood has natural oils that repel termites.
Physical, non-chemical barriers include sand and basaltic particle barriers, as well as stainless steel mesh barriers. Chemical versions include soil treatments and plastic barriers that are treated with termiticide.
Hardwood flooring, such as oak, maple, and walnut, is generally more resistant to termites than softwoods. The dense cellular structure and natural compounds found in hardwoods make it more difficult for termites to penetrate and digest the wood.