One of the most silent, insidious destroyers of the interior of homes is termites! Unfortunately, these little pests are often undetected until they have caused considerable damage to cabinets, wardrobes and other expensive wood-based products, as well as the house structure itself. While surface treatments may appear to be an expedient solution, your real defence against these pests starts with the material itself. Whether you have termites or simply want to prevent them, your first and foremost line of defence is to choose the best plywood on the market.
Why standard plywood may let you down
There are numerous low-cost plywood products available on the market that were manufactured with little or no pest protection measures, and as these boards age, the glues and wooden fibres used to make them eventually become ideal breeding grounds for borers and termites. Once these insects invade your furniture, you’ve compromised the structural integrity of that furniture; you will eventually end up with hollow frames or sagging shelves, and ultimately be forced to spend money replacing the cabinets and furniture.
What to look for in termite-resistant plywood
If you want your furniture to act as a fortress against pests, be on the lookout for the following criteria when selecting a plywood product:
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Scientific chemical treatment: The best plywood products have undergone a specialised treatment process; specifically, a veneer layer was treated with a chemical preservative to prevent termites from consuming the wood fibres.
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Glue line protection: Gaps between the layers of plywood are common points of entry for termites. The best plywood products are made with high-quality, fortified glues that contain anti-termite additives, creating weaknesses in the glue to be exploited.
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Core veneer quality: The hardwood veneer used to make the best plywood products is far less likely to harbour a pest infestation than an equivalent amount of soft, low-density timber. Therefore, it is important to ensure that the plywood you purchase contains a dense, high-quality core.
Prevent-first strategy
It is significantly less expensive and far less disruptive to invest in high-quality materials before having to deal with an active termite infestation. Therefore, when designing your home interiors, request complete, documented proof of termite resistance from your supplier.
Investing in peace of mind
When provided with protection over the long term, you must choose an option that provides more than just basic manufacturing processes. The best option is to select plywood that has been specifically manufactured to withstand extreme environmental conditions and pest pressures. When you select high-performance plywood products such as those manufactured by Royale Touche, you are selecting furniture foundations that have been treated with advanced, proprietary anti-termite technology. This is a proactive investment that will save you the hassle of paying for future repairs, and will provide you with a strong, pest-free home many years into the future!