Building Codes and Termites

[Rob Tucker]

I demolished an old home on my site that was built from redwood. It was a old plantation home but termites owned every board. Couldn't salvage a thing. Redwood has a high tannic acid content and resists termites longer than common woods. But resists doesn't mean it is termite proof.

Some years back I attended a seminar on termites put on by the entemology department of U.H. Manoa. They asked how many builders or architects were in the audience. I was the only raised hand. Anyway U.H. does a lot of termite testing for products. They said that years ago they had wood preservatives that worked.....but the were poisonous and were banned. The borate treatment in use today, according to them, was effective for about three years if applied properly. As Cary mentioned proper application requires treating every cut end.... something practically never done by building crews. I have only seen end treatments done by owner builders. Low bid framers simply don't take the time - or are they being paid to.

For this and other reason I have abandoned wood frame as an economic building method. In my analysis it is the least practical investment. Wood frame is short term with very high maintenance cost.