How to Spot Termites in Wood to Be Used for Furniture

Termites could be in your home right now without your even realizing it. By the time you discover a termite infestation, those little critters have long been feasting on your antique wooden armchair. Every homeowner in Utah should learn how to spot termites in furniture because they pose the greatest risk to interior designs constructed with wooden materials. Keep an eye open for these signs of termites in wood furniture, and call an exterminator as soon as possible.

Wet spots near a colony

Termites love dark environments with plenty of moisture. You’ll know these insects have moved into your home when mysterious wet spots start cropping up along wooden furniture. It’s a sign that termites have been around for a while and have already developed a colony.

Houses that have a difficult time regulating moisture levels are particularly susceptible to termite infestation. If you have a finished basement, the furniture down there is most likely to reveal wet spots. Homeowners should check their insulation to make sure they’re not creating a damp environment that termites will love.

Cracks in the wood

It’s normal for wooden furniture to crack over the years. However, cracks that show up alongside other signs of termites are cause for concern. This occurs when termites burrow through bookshelves, table tops, sofas and whatever else they can reach. If you find similar cracks along the house’s foundation and baseboards, the damage may be a sign of termites in wood furniture.

Holes and mud tunnels

The way to spot termites in furniture isn’t by seeing the insects themselves. Homeowners can only detect their presence by picking up on the signs of termites in wood furniture, like tiny holes and mud tunnels. Termites enter wood via holes that are smaller than the diameter of a pencil eraser. These holes will go unnoticed unless you know to look for them, which is why termites can easily get away with infesting your home.

Termites create what are known as mud tunnels to travel from one colony to the next or as a safe route to their food source. Moisture aids the process of building mud tunnels because termites pack soft particles of dirt along the walls. Concerned homeowners who want to get rid of an infestation can spot termites in furniture by following mud tunnels until they lead to the colony’s nest.

Fecal matter around the furniture

Evidence of a termite infestation can exist outside of wooden furniture. If you suspect intruders, search the floor around wooden furniture for tiny pellets of fecal matter. Although it’s rare to catch a termite wandering around in plain sight, you’ll easily be able to tell where they’ve been. From there, contact a specialist in Utah for how to go about exterminating the termites.

Homeowners with further questions on how to spot termites in furniture are more than welcome to contact the professionals at Huberwoods. We’ve been distributing natural wood in Utah for over 20 years, and are well acquainted with the damage termites inflict upon wooden furniture. And if you’re looking for wood that hasn’t been eaten up by termites, you’ll find plenty of it here!

Categorised in: Projects with Wood

This post was written by Writer