What Are The Difference Between Termites And Wood Rot?

There are certain creatures that damage the human belongings. These very small things including the termites and wood rot work against the people in a similar manner by destroying the valuable items but are different in nature. Few differences are mentioned as under.

Termites – These most dangerous small insects known as Subterranean Termites generally live underneath the soil in the residential or other areas and are capable of digging tunnels on the surfaces. The cellulose that exists inside the wood is the source of their major food. The inner wood is eaten by them making the piece totally hollow and worthless.

Wood Rot – The wood is attacked by the fungi through this type of rot and is totally damaged making it hard and strong by eating its inner portion making it hollow. The water from the wet areas is carried over to the dry areas through fungi.

Differences – It may be noted that fungi and termites are much harmful for our belongings by creating channels. However, formation of these channels is quite different in the case of the two that is illustrated as under –

Wood rot known as dry rot too seems similar to dry blocks or dry bricks. They usually form channels in the inner portions of the wood through carriage of water and eating the wood. However, tubes known as mud tubes are dug with salvia, water, fecal or soil through the termites that affect the things in an adverse manner. The termites are assisted by these tubes to shift from soil for their hunt for food. The channels created through the termites and the former are quite similar to tree branches.

Due to their direct contact with the soil, the wooden structures are prone to attack by the fungi and termites through the cracks in the moisture and foundation of the floors or walls. Excessive contact with the moisture leads to wood rot, i.e. the dry rot. Water is carried to the dry surface from the Wet Rot  through the fungi whereas the termites penetrate the houses through the cracks in the foundations thereby causing great damage to the wooden structures.

Treatment – The damages through the dry rot can be controlled by checking the defective pipes and entry of water in the building foundations. Borate or boric acid may be much useful for the enhanced attacks through the dry rot.

Termiticides or insecticides are useful for checking the Subterranean Termite. Different types of insecticides are able to kill the termites. Pyrethroid and Organophosphates are the ones that have become popular due to their effective results.

Prevention is better than cure is true in the case of termites and wood rot too. It is suggested that moisture is checked at the initial stage itself. Apt drainage system and well drained sites are a must to control moisture. A gap of eighteen inches should be there between the ground and the untreated wood. Use of plastic sheeting and vapour barriers on the soil surfaces help to control moisture. The underground covered areas should have apt ventilation. Use of dehumidifiers etc is also a good preventive step to check moisture that leads to termites and rots. Debris should be cleared from the rain gutters and roof leaks should also be fixed on immediate basis.