Do Termites Eat Treated Pine?

Ever wondered if those pesky termites can chomp through your treated pine?

Turns out, termites CAN eat treated pine. Treated pine is made to resist termite attacks, but it is not immune. Under certain conditions, termites might still decide to eat the treated pine.
In this post, We’ll shed some light on when and how termites eat treated pine.

It might come as a surprise, but those persistent little termites can eat treated pine!
Now, don’t get me wrong – treated pine is designed to resist termite attacks and it isn’t their favorite snack, and it does put up a fight.

The special chemicals in the treated pine timber are meant to make the wood taste bad to termites or even be toxic to them, so that termites will think twice before taking a bite.
But here’s the thing: under certain conditions or if the termites are hungry, they’ll give almost anything a try.
So treated pine does offer some protection against termites, but it’s not a 100% guarantee.

Why Termites Still Eat Treated Pine

Now let’s take a look at the conditions and situations when termites would eat treated pine:

#1 Moisture Levels

One of the biggest factors that make treated timber vulnerable to termite damage is moisture. Termites love moisture almost as much as they love wood.
If the treated pine gets wet or stays in contact with damp soil, the moisture can cause the protective chemicals to leach out of the wood, making it more vulnerable.

Plus, damp wood is generally more attractive to termites, treated or not.

#2 Level Of Treatment

Not all treated pine is the same. There’s actually a whole range of treatment intensities, usually labeled from H1 to H6. The higher the number, the stronger the protection against termites.
But it doesn’t stop there – there are different preservatives too.

Some common ones you might hear about are CCA, ACQ, LOSP, PEC, etc…

Now here’s the kicker: even wood that’s supposed to be treated the same way can end up with different levels of protection.
It depends on things like how dense the wood is, how much sapwood it has compared to heartwood, and how well the chemicals soaked in during treatment.

So, two pieces of treated pine sitting side by side might actually offer different levels of resistance to termites.

#3 Age And Wear Of Treatment

The protective qualities of treated pine don’t last forever. It will wear off over time.

The sun, rain, and just general weather can really do a number on those protective chemicals.
They can break down or wash away, leaving the wood more vulnerable to termite attacks.

This means that treated pine that’s been around for a while, especially if it’s outdoors or in areas exposed to the elements, might not be as termite-resistant as it once was.
So that treated pine deck you built five years ago? It might not be as termite-proof now as it was when you first put it up.

#4 Different Termite Species

Termites aren’t all the same either.
There are different species out there, and they don’t all react the same way to treated wood. Some types of termites are more persistent or resistant to certain treatments.

There are even some clever termites that have figured out how to build little mud tubes over the treated parts of the wood!
This lets them bypass all the chemicals and get to the tasty wood inside.

#5 Termites Can Be Persistent

Let’s give credit where credit is due – termites are tough little critters.

They are resilient and don’t give up easily – especially when they’re hungry. If treated pine is the only wood around, they’ll keep trying to make a meal of it.
Termites work around the clock, and a colony can have millions of members.

So even if the treated pine slows them down or turns away some termites, others might keep testing its defenses.

Over time, their determination can pay off.

#6 Other Environmental Factors

The world around your treated pine matters too.
If you’ve got untreated wood nearby, it can attract termites to the general area, increasing the chances they’ll stumble upon and maybe decide to sample the treated wood.

Climate and soil conditions are important too.
In places with lots of humidity or rain, treated pine might have a harder time fending off termites because of all the moisture.

The soil itself can make a difference – things like how acidic it is can affect how well the treatment in the wood holds up over time.

Also Read: Termite Risk Management Systems for Homes

How Termites Attack Treated Pine

Termites might be small, but they’re pretty clever when it comes to getting what they want. They’ve developed a few tricks to deal with treated pine.

Remember those mud tubes I mentioned earlier? That’s one of their favorite tactics.

They build these little tunnels out of soil and their own poop (gross, I know) to travel over the treated surface of the wood.

But that’s not their only trick.

Sometimes, they find ways to get into the wood through parts that didn’t get treated as well. This could be through the ends of boards where the treatment might not have soaked in as deep, or through the very center of the wood.

They’re also really good at finding and exploiting any little cracks or splits in the timber.

Bottom Line

Treated pine can help keep termites away, but don’t count on it as your only defense. Termites can still eat it if conditions are right.

The best way to protect your home is to use a bunch of different methods together.

So get those regular inspections, control moisture, and make sure your termite barriers are doing their job. You’ve got to stay alert and take action before they cause extensive damage.

If you think you may have termites damaging treated pine in your garden – Such as retaining walls, pergolas, fences or garden beds.
Book a Termite Inspection so we can see if they have taken up residence and prevent them from causing further damage.

FAQs

Is H3 Treated Pine Termite Resistant?

Yes, H3 treated pine is generally considered to be highly resistant to termites. But again, under certain conditions the termites will still eat it.

Do White Ants Eat Treated Pine?

White ants are also known as termites, and they can eat treated pine if the conditions are right or if they’re under extreme pressure for food or shelter.

Do Termites Eat Treated Pine? (Yes – Explained)

Do Termites Eat Treated Pine?