Protecting Wooden Furniture From Termites and Wood Borers in India

Know the enemy

Three groups of insects cause most damage to furniture in India.

Subterranean termites live in colonies in the soil. They reach wood through cracks in floors and walls, often building mud tubes to stay moist and hidden, and eat wood from the inside out, leaving a thin outer shell. They are the most common and most destructive.

Drywood termites live entirely inside dry wood, without contact with the soil. They leave small piles of hard, pellet-like droppings.

Powder-post beetles (wood borers) lay eggs in the pores of timber. Their larvae tunnel through the wood, feeding mainly on the starch in sapwood, and emerge through small round exit holes, leaving fine flour-like powder (frass).

Choose wood that resists attack

Natural durability lives in heartwood, the darker centre of the log. Some species carry compounds in their heartwood that insects and fungi avoid.

Our comparison of teak, sheesham, mango and oak covers these woods in more detail.

Treat what is not naturally durable

The Indian Standard IS 401 is the code of practice for the preservation of timber. It sets out preservatives and treatment methods suited to different uses and risks. For furniture, less durable timbers are commonly treated before they are worked, for example with boron-based preservatives for indoor use.

For boards, ask for plywood whose veneers are treated against borers and termites; many manufacturers offer this and state it on the sheet. See plywood grades explained.

Remember: kiln drying kills insects already in the wood but leaves no lasting protection (see kiln-dried wood).

Protect the building, not just the furniture

Subterranean termites come from the ground, so the building is the first line of defence. IS 6313 covers anti-termite measures in buildings, including pre-construction soil treatment. In an existing home, a professional post-construction treatment around the foundation and floor joints may be needed if termites are active.

Design and placement that help

1. Keep furniture off the floor. Legs or a raised plinth leave a gap you can see and clean under; solid bases sitting directly on the floor hide activity.
2. Leave a gap from walls, especially external and bathroom walls that may be damp.
3. Fix leaks and damp. Termites need moisture; a seeping pipe behind a wardrobe is an invitation.
4. Avoid wooden contact with soil on balconies and terraces.
5. Finish every surface, including backs and undersides, so wood is sealed. See finishes for solid wood.
6. Don't store cardboard, old papers and firewood against walls or under beds.

Signs to check for

• Mud tubes on walls, skirting or furniture legs.
• Wood that sounds hollow when tapped, or gives way under pressure.
• Blistered or bubbling paint and laminate.
• Discarded wings near windows and lights, especially after the first rains.
• Small round holes with fine powder underneath.
• Tiny pellets on the floor below a piece.

A quick check of the backs and legs of wardrobes, beds and cabinets once or twice a year, and after the monsoon, catches most problems early.

What to do if you find them

1. Do not just spray the visible insects; the colony is elsewhere.
2. Move the piece slightly away from the wall and isolate it if you can.
3. Call a licensed pest control professional to treat the furniture and the source.
4. Have damaged structural parts repaired or replaced once the infestation is treated.

How we approach it

At SAAG we work with responsibly sourced, kiln-dried timber, and design pieces that stand properly off the floor. In interior projects we specify treated boards and keep joinery away from damp walls. Ask us about your home or furniture.