is it safe to keep split wood on porch or in garage from termites?

[firewatcher]

I have place approximately a cord of split maple on my porch and a cord of split oak in my garage. I sprayed bug spray down on both spots before I placed them. However, a friend of mine who builds cabinets and is a true woodworker told me that I am just asking for trouble from termites and he told me to remove them both as soon as possible. He said that as long as we havent gotten into any true freezing temps(its only been between 40F and 60F for the past month and occassional 30s at night) that bugs are moving and growing. AM I being paranoid? Does anyone else do this? Has anyone else experienced any termite or bug problems of any sort?

 

[kevinmoelk]

I think it's a matter of preference. Certainly placing wood around building structures in general will invite bugs, mice, snakes and other creatures. Some people store wood inside, others outside. Some folks have bugs and some don't.

It would be my personal preference to keep the wood outside, covered, but within a short walk of the stove. I can recall my father being in the habit of only bringing in enough wood for the day, and going out to get more as required. He was in the habit of bringing in the wood right after he got home from work, that way he still had his jacket, boots, hat, etc on. My 2 cents.

 

[Robbie]

I have mine stacked in a metal holder (large) and the holder is sitting on a green tarp. I don't see any way a termite could come off the wood and get to my house. I inspect the tarp and sweep around it almost daily.

Below is a pic of the holder, it's several inches off the porch and the tarp is located under it and between the porch wall.

Holder,

(broken link removed to http://www.plowhearth.com/product.asp?section_id=2002&department=3050&search_type=category&search_value=1035&cm_val=&cm_pos=&cur_index=&cm_type=&pcode=8891)


Robbie

 

[axleman]

I keep a few days worth of burning inside my garage. I have not noticed an increase in insects or rodents, but then again I have two cats to take care of the larger stuff. =)

 

[MrGriz]

I keep a cord or so of seasoned, ready to burn, wood close to the garage. I will bring one or two days supply of wood into the garage at a time and usually take an arm load at a time to the basement. I have not had a bug problem doing it this way.

 

[nshif]

My .02 cents. Its not like you are going to store this wood there for years. Any bugs in it are about to go up in flames. If you are really worried about it get some sheet metal to place between the wood and the house/porch and have it inspected every 2 or so years.

 

[philaphire]

I've had termites before - but NOT because of a woodpile - so I've done a fair amount of research. They live in colonies underground because they need moisture and once frost hits they go dormant beneath the frost line. Having said that, if your wood is up off the floor and you have it in/by your house during frost, I can't see how that would be "asking for trouble."

 

[Dunadan]

I have about 3 cords of wood in my garage and 1 cord right outside it.

My garage walls are painted cinder blocks, so I figure if the bugs can find a way through, they deserve it.

 

[DiscoInferno]

I don't think that termites can "sense" the wood from afar; the main risk is that if they do stumble upon good eats, they'll bring lots of friends. Our house is surrounded by termites; any untreated (and some treated) wood in ground contact gets eaten eventually. They have to run mud tunnels across inedible stuff to get to wood, so as long as you can see your walls then you'll know if termites are around. We had an infestation (not firewood related) in the front of the house where wood framing is at ground level (concrete elsewhere) and I had the house perimeter treated with Termidor. Now in theory any termite that goes for my woodpiles near the house will live just long enough to poison the colony, and I'll see them if they try to climb the basement walls in any case.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

I keep some wood in the shed. I liberally spread boric acid under the pile and every few rows. It's cheap insurance IMO.

Matt

 

[velvetfoot]

I didn't realize termites were such a problem in a cold area like Michigan.

 

[DiscoInferno]

The termites are in Maryland. AFAIK, you are correct that there are no termites in upper Michigan. There are carpenter ants, however; I saw an old house this summer that had been completely infested, and some unsplit logs I left on the ground were full of ants also. Not sure where they go in the winter. In general I don't think carpenter ants are as big a problem as termites.

 

[Gooserider]

The termites are in Maryland. AFAIK, you are correct that there are no termites in upper Michigan. There are carpenter ants, however; I saw an old house this summer that had been completely infested, and some unsplit logs I left on the ground were full of ants also. Not sure where they go in the winter. In general I don't think carpenter ants are as big a problem as termites.

Carpenter ants CAN be a BIG problem however - We had some get into a wall a few years back, the munching got so loud at times it sounded like static on an AM radio when you stood near the wall! The base problem was that the vertical shiplap siding on the house had gotten a few knotholes in it and was letting rain into the sheathing. Bugs LOVE damp wood, but can't do much with dry stuff. If your wood is dry, you may have things that live in it, (spiders and such) but not things that eat it. As such it shouldn't be a problem.

Gooserider

 

[CrazyAboutOrchids]

We avoid issues by waiting till snow is forecast to bring wood in. In the meantime, I treck out to get wood every couple of days. I load it up in rubbermaid containers and store it right out my back door off my deck on a rock walkway. The evening before snow, we load up our garage. The hope is that by the time snow is in the forecast, the temps have dropped. It's not just termites you need to worry about. Ticks love woodpiles and ticks are active anytime the temps are above freezing. CT has a horrid problem with tick borne Lyme disease. I worry about them more than most other bugs. Our garage is cement and cement walls and we don't pile the wood up anywhere close to anything edible. They'd have to travel a bit to get to anything they'd like and hopefully we'd see signs of them beforehand. You can use diatomaceous earth, landscape grade not pool grade, anywhere there is a fear of bugs. It's is a safe alternative to chemicals sprays, not harmful to you, your family or your pets, but nasty to bugs. Does need to be reapplied if it gets wet. I don't use any chemicals in or out of my home. I sprinkle the garage where the wood will be with it before laying down the wood. Not going to get everything, but may cut down some on issues.

 

[Mike Wilson]

I have 3 cord within 40' of my garage, and another 1/3 cord inside the basement. I've never had a termite from the woodpile, however have found a few odd bugs abandoning ship once their home was inside the stove... too late. Regarding termites, they live under ground, not inside the wood. They only go into the wood to feed, and then return to their underground lairs. The only way they travel above ground is when it is above freezing temps, and then only in little mud tunnels that they build, and which you can see and destroy with your foot. Just keep your wood elevated 8 - 12 inches or so and it will be fine. I use a long row of cinderblocks to elevate the main supply outside, and one of those metal racks to keep the wood in the basement.

-- Mike

 

[jldunn]

I think a lot of it has to do with the quality of your porch/siding too. If everythings nicely primed and painted termites/carpeneter ants should generally leave it alone even with an exposed wood pile on it. If your porch is scuffed up or your wood siding has peeling paint though you're at risk even without the wood pile there.