How to Build a Termite-Free Deck

Spring is the perfect time for remodeling your home, especially the exterior. If you’re looking to upgrade your deck, do so with termites in mind. You’ll want to build a deck with materials that will be unattractive to those pesky and costly pests.

Pressure-Treated
This lumber is specifically treated to withstand rot and insects such as termites. Preservatives are forced deep into the wood making it impenetrable to decaying factors. Two popular choices for this type of wood include Alkaline Copper Quaternary and Copper Brown Azole.

Naturally Resistant Woods
There are some types of wood that are naturally resistant such as redwood, cypress, and cedar. When purchasing these types of woods, choose hardwood over sapwood. Hardwood is the innermost part of the tree and it’s most resistant to rot and termite damage. Sapwood is the outermost wood beneath the bark which is not as resistant.

Plastic & Composite
Even though these two options aren’t necessarily wood, they are perfect choices when you’re looking to avoid rot and termites while still mimicking the look of real wood. Plastic lumber is made from 100 percent plastic, and composite lumber is made from a mixture of recycled plastic and sawdust. Some people might not like the fact that this lumber is not a real wood, but it makes up for it in its longevity — 10 to 50 years.

Avoid termites altogether by building a deck that doesn’t attract them in the first place. However, for those with regular wooden decks, it’s important that you have a termite inspection as soon as possible. To find out if you have an infestation or not, contact the pest management professionals at Knockout Pest Control. To learn more, or to schedule an inspection, give us a call at (800) 244-7378.

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