Because of how trending this question was, I almost had doubts and wondered: do termites eat brick? I had to do my research, and this article is a product of that research.
Does using a brick wall guarantee your safety from termite infestation? In fact, do termites eat brick? Are they built to consume this concrete material?
Let’s now find out together. Now, stay with me!
Do Termites Eat Brick?
Do termites eat brick? No, termites do not eat brick. However, this does not mean that your brick structure is quite safe from these pests.
Since termites cannot feed on the brick itself due to their digestive system’s ability to process only cellulose materials, they will readily consume the other structural materials that make up your building, including the following:
- Furniture
- Doors, etc
Even though the brick may be difficult for them to chew through due to their digestive system’s inability to process this concrete material, the above structural materials are not safe from them either.
Do termites eat brick? Even though brick walls are hard to chew through, as long as your home is built on concrete slabs, termites will have a liking for it.
Homes that are built on concrete slabs provide the termites with their basic environmental requirements, and they include the following:
- Dark
- Secluded
- Humid
Under the slab is a perfect place for these termites to thrive, so you see that using brick walls does not directly prevent termites from accessing your home.
The worst-case scenario will be when there are cracks in the foundation walls. Yes, termites can still use these small cracks to access your home.
Read also:Â Termites On Brick Wall: Are Modern Day Houses Now Penetrable In 2024?
Do Termites Eat Brick Mortar?
Do termites eat brick mortar? Well, from the above information, I stated earlier that termites are unable to eat brick or even chew through it due to the fact that their digestive systems are unable to process concrete.
No, termites do not directly eat brick mortar; however, they are able to use small cracks in your brick walls to access your home, and this is how they do it:
- The termites find the small cracks.
- They remove the small grains of mortar from the crack.
- This way, they are able to widen the crack
- Now they have access to the wood behind your brick wall.
What are Signs of Termites on Brick?
- Mud tubes on your walls.
- Hollow sound when you gently tap on the wall.
- Swelling in timber makes doors and windows difficult to open and close.
Read also:Â Do Termites Like Light Or Dark?: Think Like A Termite
Conclusion
Although termites may be very destructive pests and capable of aggressively chewing through cellulose materials, their ability to chew through brick is quite limited.
One may think that with a brick-walled house, preventing termites is unnecessary; however, that does not seem to be the case. Termites will still find a way, no matter how small.
I hope you enjoyed going through my research report, just like I did. If you have any questions or comments to make on this subject matter, please do drop them via the comments section provided below!
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