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- Termite damage and wood rot look similar and are damaging to a home.
- Termite damage is due to insects, while wood rot is caused by fungus or water.
- Knowing the difference between termite damage and wood rot is vital to preventing and treating them.
It’s easy to confuse termite damage and wood rot. Both result in deteriorating wood and can be devastating to a home. However, termite damage and wood rot have entirely different causes, so their symptoms, prevention, and treatment methods are different.
Learn about the difference between termite damage and wood rot so you can address these potentially devastating conditions in time.
What Is Termite Damage?
Termite damage is the degradation or loss of wood caused by termite activity. Termite-damaged wood is usually dry, cored, and hollowed out, and the termites may be visible.
Wood is food for termites. Starting underground, the termites make their way to the source of the wood—usually building timbers—and then consume the wood, hollowing it from the inside out.
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What Is Wood Rot?
Wood rot is the natural degradation, softening, or crumbling of wood. Rotted wood usually feels spongy and mushy and has a musty smell. It starts wet but eventually dries out.
With rot, the wood organically breaks down due to fungus, poor ventilation, or excess moisture. Insects do not cause rot, though they may eventually feed on the rotted area.
Termite Damage Versus Wood Rot
| Feature | Termite Damage | Wood Rot |
| Description | Wood degradation due to insects | Wood degradation due to fungus or moisture |
| Appearance | Dry, hollowed-out, with termite mud tunnels | Damp, spongy, and crumbly |
| Odor | Similar to mildew or damp leaves | Musty, dank |
| Sound | Hollow when tapped | Dull when tapped |
| Location | Close to the ground | Near plumbing, ventilation, or in ceilings |
Which Is Worse?
Termite damage and wood rot are equally damaging to a home, potentially compromising structural elements and resulting in costly repairs.
Termite damage can be more destructive to a house because the termites can rapidly feed on wood without being noticed for a long time. By that time, the wood may be beyond repair.
Wood rot develops more slowly than termite damage and can often be addressed if caught early on, before moisture issues have gotten out of control.
Where Termite Damage or Wood Rot Are Found
Termites are found where wood comes into contact with ground. Wood rot is found in areas prevalent in moisture.
Termite Damage
- Foundations
- Crawl spaces
- Porch posts
- Deck supports
- Wood steps
- Siding
- Wall studs
Wood Rot
- Leaking roofs
- Gutters
- Sinks
- Showers
- Utility rooms
- Laundry rooms
- Showers
- Toilets
- Tubs
- Windows
- Doors
How to Detect Termite Damage or Wood Rot
Termite Damage
You’ll find evidence of termite damage either in the wood itself or from visible evidence of the termites or termite tubes.
- Termite-damaged wood: The wood will be hollowed out, with cored tunnels running parallel to the wood grain.
- Termites: Alive or dead termites, discarded wings, or exoskeletons (casings) may be visible in or leading to the area.
- Termite tubes: Look for signs such as mud termite shelter tubes running on the sides of building timbers. Shelter tubes can sometimes drop vertically, like stalagmites in caves.
Termites vs. Carpenter Ants
Termites and carpenter ants both cause wood damage to homes. While termites create mud tubes, carpenter ants leave small, conical piles of sawdust. Both should be treated by licensed pest control pros.
Wood Rot
You can detect wood rot by appearance (color and texture), touch, or smell.
- Color: Rotted wood is often darker than surrounding wood, ranging from yellow-brown to black.
- Texture: Rotted wood is usually cracked or crumbled, falling off in chunks. If painted, the paint may remain intact, while the inside of the wood invisibly rots away.
- Touch: Rotted wood typically feels soft, mushy, or spongy. When pressing rotted wood, the wood may spring back to shape.
- Smell: A musty, rotted, or rank smell will accompany most rotted wood.
What to Do When You Discover Termites
As soon as you discover termite activity, call a licensed pest control professional. Take photos of the damage for possible insurance claims. Do not try to control the termites by yourself, since DIY pest control treatments for termites may not be effective.
After the area is fully clear of termites, call a licensed building contractor to repair the damaged wood.
What to Do When You Discover Wood Rot
If you discover wood rot, first locate the source of the moisture. Stop the leaks. Dry out the area. Remove all rotted wood.
Improve the airflow, then repair the affected area. Consult a licensed contractor to ensure proper repair and reinforcement.
When to Call a Pro
Termite Damage
When you discover termites, call a pest control professional immediately. Termites work quickly, so timing is important. Licensed professionals will assess the extent of the infestation and apply effective treatment.
Typically, professionals will apply a combination of EPA-approved liquid soil-applied termiticides (termite poisons), termite baits, wood treatments, or building materials impregnated with termiticides.
Wood Rot
With wood rot, you can mitigate the source of the leak by yourself. For difficult leaks, such as around eaves or around foundations, you may want to have a professional do this for you.
Contact a licensed building contractor to repair major structural elements like beams, joists, or subflooring.
How to Prevent Termite Damage
To prevent termite damage:
- Keep wood away from soil contact.
- Avoid pooling water on the ground.
- Install moisture barriers in crawl spaces.
- Use termite-resistant lumber (such as redwood) or treated lumber.
- Seal all cracks in the foundation.
- Do not allow mulch to contact the house foundation.
- Schedule annual termite inspections from a licensed pest inspector.
How to Prevent Wood Rot
To prevent wood rot from developing around your home:
- Seal all leaks, such as around the roof, eaves, and gutters.
- Make sure that attics, crawl spaces, bathrooms, and basements are well ventilated.
- Build with pressure-treated wood when wood will come into contact with moisture.
- Keep all wood sealed or painted.
- Periodically inspect wood for rot by probing with a screwdriver.
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