Do termites enjoy ICF construction?

As the weather warms towards the end of spring we realize Termite’s are alive and breeding well in Tennessee. I do not know why Termite’s enjoy the taste of wood in homes. I would tend to believe there is enough wood in the ground to satisfy the hungriest of the bunch!

When building a house utilizing ICFs (Insulated Concrete Forms), one would think their home is safe from the intrusion of Termites. This is just a myth and is far from the truth. If you talk with a pest control sales rep they will concur. If you talk with an ICF sales rep they will tell you not to worry about it. Both just want the sales and do not really care to know the truth. An ICF without termite pesticide placed in the form is a condominium paradise. The constant temperature of the concrete and the fantastic tunneling ability of the polystyrene create a perfect habitat and breeding ground for Termites.

Several years ago we built ICF homes without Termite protection. We have found it did not stop the termites. We have pictures where the Polystyrene looks like the old ant farms when the Polystyrene has been peeled back. The termites set up different areas for their living quarters, cafeteria, breeding ground and even a cemetery. The more elite termites tend to tunnel to the highest level. We also have taken pictures where the termites have tunneled up through the polystyrene and started to eat the wood in the window seals.

We will only build ICFs now days with Termite protection in the polystyrene. Perform Guard is the only code-approved method for using foam plastic insulation below grade in the heavily infested areas. It is mixed in when the polystyrene is in the liquid state. It is then steamed, the polystyrene beads pop out and Perform Guard is permanently embedded in the ICF. As of this date we have never had a termite issue in any ICF we have built utilizing Perform Guard!