Pole buildings and Termites

[OzarkMan]

So I live in East Mesa, AZ where it is the capitol of Termites. If you don't have termites at your house here, you will get them. I love the idea and cost efficiency of a wooden pole barn, but worry about the termites coming in from underground and inside the wooden supports. Should I be concerned? I would love to do a 40x50 building on my property but don't want to find it becomes the next "Termite Terrace". They are quick eating voracious variety. We've been battling them in our house and every so often there will be a 3" mud tube dangling in the ceiling. I can't tell you how many times the termite company has been out here drilling away. The original owners never believed in pesticides and I now inherited this eradication process. Been two years so far and they still pop up every now and again.

 

[redmondjp]

Treatment of the wood with boric acid may be a solution.

 

[bmxdukie]

Could you use steel poles?

 

[TommyN]

A friend has a pole style building near 40th St and Union Hills in NE Phoenix. All Steel.

 

[matt_i]

I am pretty sure you won't find many wood-post pole barns in that area for this exact reason. Steel and concrete would be preferred.

 

[Farrier]

I had a pole barn once. Started out with 14' walls, but when I got termites, they ate it down to 10' walls.

 

[-Brent-]

The cost of repelling them has to catch up (or even break over) the difference in price of a steel vs wood building pretty quickly, no? I don't know what pest control costs but I've heard some horror stories.

 

[Cyberbear]

What you may save in construction costs, you lose in termite damage and repair. Bite the bullet and have the pros come out and do it right. Or, perhaps put up a stick built structure and not worry as much about termites years later. What about cinder block, too expensive?

 

[OzarkMan]

Cinder block is more expensive than conventional framing. i would have preferred cinder block construction over steel or wood. Money is tight and will be for the foreseeable future. I guess, I like how quickly some of these pole barns go up that you folks put up. Still makes me wonder as to the longevity of termites. On our house addition, I did spray Boric acid as a preventative and had the ground pre-treated.

 

[lakeroadster]

Simon,

Are you familiar with Perma-Column? https://permacolumn.com/

 

[theoldwizard1]

So I live in East Mesa, AZ where it is the capitol of Termites. If you don't have termites at your house here, you will get them. I love the idea and cost efficiency of a wooden pole barn, but worry about the termites coming in ...

You should ! There are building techniques that will deter termite. 2x6 built up PT posts area good start. Check out perma-columns. Google is your friend.

If possible, do not finish the interior. Or at least consider some kind of "inspection plate" to give you access to each post.

I would be paranoid enough that once or twice a year, I would inspect and treat each post. Well worth the hour or 2 of your time.

 

[Oceandweller]

Go with cinder block, just save up. Heck you could get the block and do most of the labor yourself. In fact I am in the same exact boat, I need to do a garage 30x60 and am trying to figure out how I can do it the cheapest. My thought is pay for a level concrete pad and spend the money on a good foundation and then cinder block it off myself. Then get a shed company with metal trusses to come out and frame it. When pouring I plan on getting 8 or 10 Solid steel I beams to support the trusses. I know I am looking at some money in the foundation, 5-8k here and another 4 for the I beams installed but also can get the blocks for 2k and with the roof am shooting for around 25k on the complete build. I am going for hurricane resistance more than anything.

 

[Jlbc212]

Termites can be found in most areas of the United States. Termites will eat through pressure treated wood. The best protection is to keep wood away from the ground and to keep the wood as dry as possible. I like to see wood at least 8" or more up on a concrete foundation. It's best to leave the concrete exposed so you can regularly inspect for termite tunnels. That means no insulation board up against the concrete. Sadly, the more recent ICC building/energy codes don't take this problem into account.

 

[barnjunkie]

You can use post protectors to provide protection. Theres really nothing that will completely eliminate the possibility of termites unless you go with steel.