Natural wood is a beautiful siding material but is prone to costly damage from fire, water, and pests⎯especially termites. Termites can cause more damage to your wood siding more quickly than most other creatures, and unfortunately, once they’ve inhabited your home, there is little you can do to keep them away. Fortunately, there is one way you can maintain the authentic woodgrain appearance of your home’s siding without attracting termites—engineered wood siding. Discover why this popular termite-resistant siding is an excellent choice for homes in termite-infested areas like Kansas City.
What Damage Can Termites Do to Wood Siding?
Kansas City is home to subterranean termites—an insect that feasts on wood, such as cedar and pine, and causes severe damage to wooden structures, like the exterior of your home. Termites eat wood from the inside out, so once they have burrowed through your exterior, they can cause thousands of dollars of damage and compromise the structural integrity of your home.
Some common signs of termite damage include:
- Siding boards that sound hollow when tapped
- Tiny “exit holes” in your siding boards
- Peeling paint that looks like water damage
- Wood that is crumbling or damaged
- Termite droppings near your exterior
Despite the many treatments available to deter termites, the best way to keep these pesky creatures away is to install a pest-resistant exterior, like LP SmartSide from Smart Exteriors.
Why Engineered Wood Siding Is the Perfect Termite-Resistant Siding Solution
LP SmartSide is an engineered wood siding product that mimics the appearance of natural wood but keeps pests, like termites, away.
This durable product is made from wood fibers and is bound together with water-resistant adhesive resins to create an artificial material stronger than natural wood. Termites are particularly attracted to soft, moist wood, so the water-resistant exterior of LP SmartSide helps to keep these destructive creatures away.
During the SmartGuard Process, each board is treated with zinc borate, an inorganic compound that deters flames and resists deterioration in wet, humid climates. Most importantly, zinc borate is a natural termite repellent, so you can rest assured these pesky critters won’t burrow through your engineered wood exterior.
Durable Composition
Unlike natural wood, engineered wood siding has a moisture-resistant barrier that keeps termites from burrowing into your exterior.
Plus, this protective coating also keeps other animals, like woodpeckers and rodents, from pecking or chewing on your siding. It repels water, so your siding won’t develop mold or fungus, which can lead to rotting.
Help Keep Termites Away with Termite-Resistant LP SmartSide Installation from Smart Exteriors
If your home’s exterior is already experiencing termite damage, or you’re concerned your wood siding may be vulnerable to termite infestation, our experienced team at Smart Exteriors recommends replacing your natural wood siding with LP SmartSide.
During the installation process, we always keep our eyes peeled for underlying termite damage your home may have, so we can completely rid your exterior of the problem before installing your pest-resistant engineered wood siding.
Contact our team at Smart Exteriors to begin the conversation about replacing your natural wood siding with LP SmartSide engineered wood, so you can keep termites (and all pests, for that matter) away from your Kansas City home.
