PestKeen

Termites vs Rot

One requires a $2,000 chemical treatment. The other just requires a dehumidifier and some carpentry. Don't waste money treating rot like it's a bug.

🐜

Termite Damage

Insect Attack • "Galleries"

  • Wood looks normal outside but is hollow inside (paper thin).
  • Mud inside the galleries (Subterraneans bring soil up).
🍄

Wood Rot

Fungal Decay • "Cubical"

  • Wood cracks into cubes or rectangles (Cubical fracture).
  • Must be wet/damp. Often spongy to touch.

Diagnosis Guide

SignTermitesWood Rot
TextureHollow, honeycombed galleries inside. Clean.Spongy, crumbly, or shrinks into cubes (Checking).
DebrisMud tubes (soil) plastered on wood.Fungal spores, white sheets (mycelium), or discoloration.
Growth DirectionFollows the grain (usually).Across the grain (Cubical fracture).
MoistureCan eat dry wood (Drywoods) or wet (Subs).REQUIRES moisture source (>20%) to survive.
Note: It is possible to have BOTH. Termites love wet, rotting wood.

The "Screwdriver Test"

Take a flathead screwdriver and poke the damaged wood.

  • Termites: The screwdriver will likely punch through a thin outer layer into a hollow cavity filled with mud or dust (frass).
  • Rot: The wood will feel spongy, soggy, or crumble into cubes. It is usually solid matter, just decayed.