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Termites in lumber stored in garage?
Myself
| Jan, 05, 2008
| drawsing
Posted on 01/05/2008 10:16:19 AM PST by Drawsing
I would like to continue storing my scrap lumber in the garage, but my wife is worried about termites. I told her that as long as it is stored off of the ground and not touching the walls that it is safe from termites. I cannot find the definitive word on the internet on this subject. Can someone here help me out? Thank you.
TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Hobbies; Outdoors
KEYWORDS: lumber; pests; storage; termites
I would like to continue storing my scrap lumber in the garage, but my wife is worried about termites. I told her that as long as it is stored off of the ground and not touching the walls that it is safe from termites. I cannot find the definitive word on the internet on this subject. Can someone here help me out? Thank you.
1
posted on
01/05/2008 10:16:21 AM PST
by
Drawsing
To: Drawsing
told her that as long as it is stored off of the ground and not touching the walls that it is safe from termites.If there's termites in the wall, I wouldn't be worrying so much about the scrap wood.
2
posted on
01/05/2008 10:19:50 AM PST
by
digger48
To: Drawsing; Allegra
To: Drawsing
If it’s a dirt floor, they can still get to it even if it’s blocked up off the ground. They’ll build little mud tunnels up the side of the blocking to get to it. Put a plastic sheet down first and you should be OK, IMHO.
4
posted on
01/05/2008 10:23:20 AM PST
by
tacticalogic
("Oh bother!" said Pooh, as he chambered his last round.)
To: Drawsing
Ever heard of that new thing they have come up with called insect spray.
5
posted on
01/05/2008 10:25:11 AM PST
by
org.whodat
(What's the difference between a Democrat and a republican????)
To: martin_fierro
LOL!
That guy needs a LOT of socks.
6
posted on
01/05/2008 10:28:37 AM PST
by
Allegra
(Back in the Middle East....that was a SHORT vacation.)
To: Drawsing
7
posted on
01/05/2008 10:30:16 AM PST
by
raybbr
(You think it's bad now - wait till the anchor babies start to vote!)
To: Drawsing
It’s all about moisture content. Termites need MC above 19% to live. I would think that storing the wood above ground and away from moisture sources would be ok in your climate. I’d also use ricking between layers in the stack (small-dimension sticks at right angles to the lumber.) If the stack is up on blocks, you should be able to observe any tunnels formed by termites.
8
posted on
01/05/2008 10:43:47 AM PST
by
xlib
To: martin_fierro
funny stuff, thanks for the laugh.
9
posted on
01/05/2008 11:52:22 AM PST
by
Blue Highway
(The only cure for RINOvirus - Fred Thompson)
To: Drawsing
Move to Alaska. No termites.
10
posted on
01/05/2008 12:27:17 PM PST
by
AlaskaErik
(I served and protected my country for 31 years. Democrats spent that time trying to destroy it.)
To: Drawsing
Wood is food for termites.
The way it is stored is important for the reuse of the lumber later and keeping it bug free.
Raised off the concrete with concrete or metal stickers placed appropriately to avoid bowing of the lumber. wood stickers should be placed between lumber stack levels to help air circulation and keep the lumber moisture content low.
You see termites require an easy water source to live. Like you and I they want to turn on the facet when they are thirsty.
They will travel up to 30 or so feet to get water, they will dedicate worker to be bucket brigade,this would only be after a colony has been established and the water supply has moved. Keep the area outside you garage including your whole home free of wood piles or any vegetation withing 12" (My personal belief is 6') to help avoid having the little critters living outside of the home in close proximity.
You should have no problem with wood destroying organisms in your wood pile as long as you keep it clean and dry in the location.
Kilned dried lumber that is left over from a build project is what I am referring to as the kiln process kills the insects.
Lumber that has been left outside for over a year and is dirty or recycled from a building will have to be individually surveyed for any insect holes.
11
posted on
01/05/2008 12:27:26 PM PST
by
Creationist
(May the Lord Jesus bless you.)
To: Drawsing
I have stored our milled lumber in our dry,
warm garage for 25 years and have never even
seen a termite. We have termites outside and
under the ground, but they never attacked this
wood.
If you want insurance, sprinkle some Boric Acid
(it’s a powder) on the floor where you stack the
wood.
If you have a serious termite infestation, sprinkle
Boric Acid around the borders of your and up on
your attic beams.
12
posted on
01/06/2008 11:34:46 AM PST
by
Jo Nuvark
(Those who bless Israel will be blessed, those who curse Israel will be cursed. Gen 12:3)
To: Allegra; martin_fierro
That cartoon reminds me of a line (may have been Robin Williams) where a tired centipede gets home after work, and his wife leads him towards the recliner, telling him, “Sit down and put your feet up, put your feet up, put your feet up, put your feet up, put your feet up, put your feet up, put your feet up....
13
posted on
01/06/2008 11:42:24 AM PST
by
ErnBatavia
(...forward this to your 10 very best friends....)
To: Drawsing
Thanks to everyone for your thoughtful replies.
14
posted on
01/07/2008 4:52:42 AM PST
by
Drawsing
(The fool shows his annoyance at once. The prudent man overlooks an insult. (Proverbs 12:16))
To: Drawsing
the termites i see in socal have wings and fly.
15
posted on
01/07/2008 4:59:52 AM PST
by
ken21
( people die + you never hear from them again.)
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