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Integrated Pest Management Building a Home Flooring

Hardwood floors in a house in the deep woods

2 years ago

My husband and I are designing a house for our deeply wooded lot. After walking the lot with our architect this week we are both covered in bug bites which got me thinking about “bug resistance” in our house. I will do pre-construction termite treatment and quarterly pest control, but is doing all hardwood floors a mistake in a bug—prone area? I would hate to spend a fortune on them only to be a breeding ground to whatever other nasty wood loving bugs I’ve read about that live out there. I’m reading carpet is worst and vinyl may be the best, but is it really something to be concerned about at all if we stay on top of our treatments?

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Comments (4)

bry911
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
In the scheme of things you should not worry about it.

I believe that urban areas actually have more bugs than rural areas. There may be more biters in rural areas or you may simply be walking through grass that is taller and providing better access for the bugs.

When you are talking about wood destroying insects, only a few species invade healthy living trees, so keeping your area cleared dead trees will do more than changing your flooring. This is also why suburban areas may have more wood destroying insects than rural areas do.
cpartist
2 years ago
I'm in a heavy bug area (SW FL) and put down engineered hardwood floors. I wouldn't worry about it. There are homes around here that are 100 years old with the original wood floors and no issues. Like you said, as long as you keep up the quarterly treatments you should be fine.
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Fori
2 years ago
Nothing to worry about. Of course the critters biting you will absolutely be disinterested in your wood floors, but once you find out what they are, you can landscape to reduce their presence. Chiggers, mosquitos, etc. all can be somewhat controlled.
ILoveRed
2 years ago
You cant really control the people seeking biting bugs out in the woods. just use bug spray religiously. they dont want your wood floors. they want you. and your kids and grandkids, lol lol. and dogs.

we love our screened porch. please consider one in your plan.

we have cedar siding and we do worry and watch out for the types of pest that like our siding. so far, no problems. we have no sick trees and do keep watch for sick trees.

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