The wood around your home is susceptible to a number of things, although the most common two will be wood rot and termite damage. Damaged wood on your property, or in some cases even the structural integrity of your home, can be caused and lead to expensive repairs. In order to protect your home from both, you need to know what to look for and how to distinguish wood rot from termites, along with the proper treatment approach for each.

Wood Rot

In some cases, where wood comes into contact with moisture, warmth and oxygen, it creates an environment for fungi to thrive that result in what’s known as wood rot. While you can’t control the warmth and oxygen around your home, you can control the moisture – something many homes with wood rot deal with are leaks. Check for leaks that could be caused by missing shingles on your roof, an improperly installed or shifted downspout, foliage planted too close to home, and air conditioner leaks are all common culprits and should be checked. Wood rot that is caused by moisture is called wet rot, while wood rot caused by the fungi alone is called dry rot.

Termites vs. Wood Rot

Termites will often leave signs of damage, by way of wavy or hollowed out areas in the wood. You may also be able to spot signs of tunneling, discarded wings, or termite excrement around the foundation of your home or the source of damaged wood.

If the situation is caused by wood rot, you may see the wood crack and crumble when touched. You may also see the growth of the fungus of the routine wood. Wood rot also has a distinctive smell that termite damage does not leave.

What Type Of Treatment Do I Need?

If you are dealing with termites, you should immediately seek professional assistance. Termite infestations cannot be taken care of alone and need specific planning to eradicate. Arizona Organic Pest & Termite Control offers comprehensive termite control plans, and you can get started with a free quote today.

If the source is rot, you will need to address the source of moisture first. Once you have sourced and repaired that part, you can repair or replace the damaged wood, sometimes treatable with a fungicide.

Unfortunately, damages in our homes will happen. What you can do is remember to be vigilant in repairs, and to always be on the lookout for unusual signs around your property. By paying close attention, you should be able to catch many of these problems early, although in the case of an infestation, we do encourage you to get an inspection. Arizona Organic offers free quotes and will help devise a comprehensive pest control plan, specific to the needs of you and your family. Fill out our online form, or call us at (602) 923-1457 to get your quote today!