Wood Rot vs. Termite Damage: Which One Is Eating Your Home?

1.The Core Difference: Wood Rot vs. Termite

Wood Rot is caused by fungal growth. It happens when wood stays damp for too long, allowing fungi to eat away at the wood fibers.

Termite Damage is caused by living insects. Termites consume cellulose (the stuff wood is made of), literally eating your house from the inside out.

2.How to Tell the Difference

Feature Wood Rot Termite Damage

Texture Feels soft, spongy, or wet. Wood often looks normal on the outside but is

"Dry rot" makes wood brittle and crumbly hollow inside. It feels papery or thin.

Appearance Wood may look discolored (darker) or You will find tunnels or galleries that look like

crack into "cubes" (resembling dried mud). a maze inside the wood.

Odor A distinct musty, damp, or moldy smell。 Usually odorless.

3. Unique Warning Signs

• Signs of Termites: Look for mud tubes on foundation walls, discarded insect wings, or tiny piles of droppings that look like sawdust or sand (frass). If you tap the wood and it sounds hollow, you likely have an infestation.

• Signs of Wood Rot: Look for areas with excess moisture, such as near leaky pipes, window sills, or poorly ventilated crawl spaces.11 You might also see visible mold or mushroom-like growths.

4. What Should You Do?

• For Wood Rot: The priority is to stop the moisture source. Fix the leak, dry the area, and replace the rotted timber with treated wood.

• For Termites: Call a professional pest control service immediately. Termites work fast and can cause massive structural damage; DIY methods rarely reach the heart of the colony