Termite Damage vs. Wood Rot: How to Tell the Difference Between the Two
Learn which problem is which so you don’t bark up the wrong tree
Signs of termites include mud tubes, unsealed cracks or gaps, and insect debris.
Wet rot makes wood dark and spongy, while dry rot makes it brittle and orange.
Prevent termites by sealing cracks and gaps and treating soil around your foundation with pesticides.
Keep wood rot away by limiting moisture and removing wood from around your house.
If you find damaged wood in your home, odds are you’re going to have a lot of questions: How much will it cost to repair, can I fix it myself, and, most importantly, is it termite damage or wood rot? Because it’s not always obvious, knowing what signs to look for will help you determine which of these two issues is responsible for the problem—and give you enough time to call in the right pro before things get out of hand.
Here are all the major differences when it comes to termite damage versus wood rot, including what causes them and how to prevent their occurrence in the first place.
What Are the Differences Between Termite Damage and Wood Rot?
Not sure if you’re looking at termite damage or wood rot? Termites hollow out wood by creating tunnels, leaving weak wood that may still look intact from the outside, while wood rot results in wood dust and spongy, warped, discolored wood that’s visibly damaged.
Keep in mind that there are two types of wood rot: dry and wet. Wet rot happens when wood has prolonged contact with moisture. When this is the underlying problem, wood darkens and becomes soft and spongy to the touch, and it will usually only be in a small area—say, where a leak meets the floorboards.
By contrast, fungal spores are what cause dry rot, so it can form with or without moisture. What does dry rot look like, though? Keep an eye out for orange-colored dust or wood that’s breaking down into cubes and has a sawdust-like texture. You’ll also want to act fast if it turns out that you’re dealing with dry rot because it can infect your entire home—not just the parts made of wood like wet rot.
| Termite Damage | Wood Rot |
|---|---|
| Caused by termite infestations | Caused by fungal spores and contact with moisture |
| Look for visual clues like mud tubes and insect debris | Exterior clues include orange dust and warped wood |
| Severe structural damage likely upon detection | Damage is less invasive if remediated quickly |
| One type of termite damage | Multiple types of wood rot |
Termites vs. Wood Rot: Differences in Appearance
Although they’re both bad news, termite damage and wood rot look very different. Termite-damaged wood may not have any visible exterior damage, but you can still see, hear, and feel signs of termites making a meal of your wood. Wood rot is much more visible and can have several different causes. The type of damage you see can help you narrow down what kind of wood rot you’re dealing with.
| Termites in Wood Appearance | Wood Rot Appearance |
|---|---|
| Mud tubes | Orange dust |
| Insect droppings and debris (like discarded wings) | Buckling or blistering |
| Hollow, tunneled wood | Moldy |
Fungus or Mold
Whether it’s white or black mold, it’s never fun to discover areas of your home are decomposing. The silver lining? If they are present on your wood, that’s a big indicator that you’re dealing with wood rot and not termites. A local mold removal specialist can help you with the problem.
Wood Density
Knock, knock—is what you should do to your wood if you suspect termites. These little nuisances chew their way from the interior of wood all the way to the exterior. That means that wood will produce a hollow sound when tapped if it’s infested. By contrast, wood rot doesn’t necessarily affect timber’s density or the way it sounds.
Wood Texture
Termites don’t drastically alter the texture of wood, but wood rot does, and both kinds in their own way. For instance, wet rot will make wood moist and spongy, while dry rot will make it brittle and rough like sawdust. If you’re noticing textural changes, wood rot should be your prime suspect.
Proximity to Foundation
There are a couple of ways termites enter a home, the chief of which is when the foundation is in direct contact with soil. You’ll be able to tell the reason for your lumber-related woes if you spot mud tubes—which are brown, winding paths that termites use to burrow into your home. They’re located on both interior and exterior walls.
Insect Droppings and Debris or Termite Swarms
If wood damage is paired with an increased presence of insect droppings and debris like discarded wings, prepare to hire an exterminator near you because you’ve got termites. Similarly, termites swarm a few times a year during mating season, and any wood problems that develop during these moments could be linked to that.
Buckling or Blistering
Because wood rot warps timber, it also affects your ability to open and close doors or windows with ease. For instance, if the floor is buckled or blistered where your front door meets the floors, shutting it will be that much more complicated. If issues like this have started to pop up around your home, you could be looking at wood rot.
Different Causes
In addition to their varied appearances, wood rot and termite damage are also caused by different things.
High Humidity
One of the best ways to prevent mold and therefore wet rot is to keep wood and water far apart, but that’s not always easy depending on where you live. Particularly wet or humid environments are more prone to such issues than dryer terrains, so you might want to invest in a dehumidifier or opt for another building material altogether. How much moisture the wood is exposed to will determine how long wood takes to rot.
Contact Between Wood and Home Exterior
Dry rot stems from fungal spores that form on wood in nature, which means that homes in especially wooded places—like forest environments—have a higher chance of becoming infected.
Power Washing
It’s a good idea to limit contact between water and wood, but that’s especially true when it comes to power washing. The high levels of pressure and heat used in this cleaning method strip away any protective coatings and allow water to penetrate wood more easily. Even pressure-treated wood can rot from repeated power washings.
Pressure-treated wood resists moisture and pests but contains chemicals that may not be suitable for indoor use.
— Felicia Wilkes, Comfort Specialist at A-One Refrigeration & Heating Inc
Unsealed Openings
If there’s an opening in your foundation, no matter how small it may be, termites can find and use it to feast on your timber. Taking care to seal small gaps and cracks throughout the interior and exterior of your home will limit the chances of an infestation.
Where You Live
Some areas of the United States have larger populations of termites than others, in which case you need to be extra prepared for potential infestations and get preventive termite treatments. These tiny bugs prefer warmer climates, so they’re more likely to be an issue in the South and Southwest.
Prevention Differences
Stopping wood rot in its tracks or preventing wood rot entirely is a totally different process from avoiding termite infestations. Here are the best preventative measures to take for each.
Termites
Reduce contact between soil and foundation
Seal openings
Turn lights off outside during the swarming season
Treat the soil surrounding the foundation with anti-pesticide
Wood Rot
Treat all exterior wood with finish or stain
Reduce humidity levels inside
Limit contact between wood and water
Remove wood from around the house
Repair Differences
Both termite-damaged wood and wood damaged by rot should be repaired or replaced as soon as possible to prevent further problems and maintain the wood’s structural integrity. Wood with minor rot damage can often be treated with wood hardener, filled with epoxy wood filler, and sealed. Since termite damage hollows out wood, replacement is generally the best choice rather than repair for all levels of damage except very minor superficial damage.
If your wood rot problem is extensive, your best bet is to call a pro who fixes wood rot to ensure the entire problem is handled. Dry rot repair costs between $500 and $3,000 on average.
Frequently Asked Questions
The first signs of dry rot include a musty smell, discolored wood, brittle, crumbling wood, or wood that has shrunk or looks dried out. You may also see the actual fungal growth on the wood—this may look like fluffy white cotton or can be actual mushroom fruiting bodies. Wood with dry rot will also peel or flake easily.
Termites are active year-round in warmer areas and most active in the warmer months in cooler climates. Once termites begin causing damage, they’ll continue to destroy your wood year-round, even in cold weather. Termites tend to swarm in warm weather, but colonies can be hard at work, tunneling through your wood 365 days a year.
Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover termite damage since it’s considered preventable damage. Termite damage is not considered sudden or accidental—it can happen over long periods of time and can be prevented. Proactive pest control and annual termite inspections are the best way to prevent expensive termite damage repair costs.
Dry rot damage is not generally covered by homeowners insurance. This type of damage is classified as preventable gradual deterioration, which is excluded from coverage by most insurance policies. In some rare cases, it may be covered if it was caused by a covered event like a burst pipe. Check the specifics of your policy to see if dry rot is included.
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