If you want to help prevent the risk of termite infestation, then it is essential to use the right wood for your siding project. We’ll help you get started with an introduction to this topic. Always purchase timber sourced from commercial forests, to help protect Canada’s natural heritage.
The Termites You Want to Discourage
The termites you want to discourage share a common lineage with cockroaches, especially the wood-eating kind. They live in communities that are so successful that they have colonised almost every global landmass, although they do prefer warmer climates.
Our forebears called them white ants and and wood ants. The tiny creatures devastated their shacks planked with fresh softwood timber. Later they learned that mature, harder timber was the right wood for their siding projects.
Use Naturally Resistant Timber for Your Siding
Termites eat the cellulose fiber in wood that gives plants and trees their physical strength. The most intense concentrations are in the bark and the new wood, which gives an important clue.
You are thinking in the right direction if you figure termites dislike the harder dry wood in the core of a tree truck. That’s because it contains less cellulose fiber, and they have to work harder for sufficient nutrition.
The Best Wood to Choose for Your Home
Insist on purchasing heartwood timber for your siding, door frames and window frames. The raw timber should bear a visual marking such as ‘Clear Heart’ or ‘Heart B’. You’ll be glad to know that this grade is also more rot-resistant too.
Slow-growing, mature cedar trees – as opposed to saplings – naturally have less cellulose remaining in their core fibers. This is the main reason why we agree that cedar is perhaps the right wood for your siding project.
There are several varieties of cedar to choose from, each with their own distinctive hue. Choose between southern red, western red, and alaska yellow cedar varieties to get the finish you want.
But there are also several other durable heart woods to choose from. Cypress can be a good choice if you fancy a light finish with a straight grain. Alternatively, you may prefer oak for a distinctive effect.
Choose Your Siding Contractor Carefully
Siding is not like a coat of paint. It is expensive, and must last for a long time. After you choose the right wood for a siding project, your next step is finding a contractor you can trust. We work with the full range of siding materials at Valiant Exteriors. Call (403)829-1661 and we’ll help you choose the siding that’s right for you.
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