Pests & Mold Resistant

How To Save On Property Damage Caused by Dry Rot, Termites, Mold & Mildew

There’s likely dry rot and termites where there’s high moisture content. Building with cold-formed steel framing can avoid these costly issues.

Cold-formed steel (CFS) is one of the most durable, reliable, and sustainable building materials available. It is an excellent option for any low- or mid-rise construction project, regardless of location. In some areas in the United States and beyond, framing with cold-formed steel is more than just a good idea — it’s highly advisable.

Why?

In the U.S., especially in the south and southeast, where there’s higher moisture content, both termites and dry rot cost building owners and homeowners billions of dollars each year in property damage.

Steel is arguably the best defense against these potentially destructive issues since it is inorganic – neither susceptible to moisture or a desirable food source for termites.

Termites cause more harm to buildings and homes in North America than fire, floods, and storms combined. That’s why they’re sometimes called the “silent killer.” The Formosan subterranean termite (FST) is one of the most concerning species because of the potential for massive destruction. A mature Formosan subterranean termite colony has up to 10 million termites with passageways that span half an acre and can run 10 feet deep. The queen, with a typical lifespan of 30 years, lays upwards of 2,000 eggs daily.

Once limited to Hawaii, Formosan subterranean termites have significantly expanded their reach to southern Louisiana, parts of Texas, and the surrounding Gulf states of Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida, ravaging homes and structures for years. Other states in the southeast, such as Georgia, the Carolinas, and Tennessee, have reported problems. In Hawaii, about $100 million yearly is spent on termite prevention, control, and repair. In New Orleans, it’s an annual price tag that exceeds $300 million.

Never a meal for termites.

Because steel is an inorganic material, termites won’t eat it — and therefore, there’s no opportunity for costly termite damage or the need to arrange for expensive annual termite prevention. Since there is no off-gassing from chemical termite treatments, this also helps ensure a healthier building.

Cold-formed steel is one of the six options acceptable by the International Residential Code (IRC) for termite protection. While the IRC is intended for residential buildings, termites do not discriminate, so these guidelines can also be applied to many other buildings.

Never holds moisture.

Dry rot depends on moisture, so it’s not just limited to areas like New Orleans, where rain, swamps, and mugginess are the norm. Anywhere there’s a moisture content of as little as 20 percent, dry rot can happen. Dry rot is often a hidden problem, like termites, and is hard to stop unless you find and fix the water source immediately.

The impact of dry rot on a building can be disastrous, often leading to structural movement or even significant structural failure. Because dry rot frequently goes undetected until it becomes a major problem, assessing the damage can be a challenge. For other building materials, one of the treatment strategies is to apply a chemical preservative. The use of chemicals compromises the health of a building, so it’s not ideal.

Framing with cold-formed steel eliminates the severe and costly consequences of dry rot. Cold-formed steel does not retain water or absorb moisture, even in floods.

Even in extreme coastal environments, cold-formed steel framing can last for hundreds of years, well beyond the expected life span of a building, when used following AISI design standards and U.S. building codes. From the beginning, you can avoid these problems by choosing to build, or rebuild, with cold-formed steel, especially in the country’s more vulnerable regions.

Preventing mold & mildew

During a flood (or under normal conditions in some areas), preventing exposure to susceptible materials is critical to avoiding mold, mildew, and structural deterioration.

The best approach is not to use susceptible materials in flood-prone areas. Cold-formed steel is the best choice for any framing that may get wet. Cold-formed steel is inorganic and won’t provide a source for mold and mildew, unlike wood framing. The long-term life of cold-formed steel framing used under AISI design standards and U.S. building codes is hundreds of years, even in extreme coastal environments.

The use of cold-formed steel framing addresses two concerns. Steel does not retain dampness, so it will not absorb water. Steel framing aids in drying out the area faster since it doesn’t serve as a moisture reservoir. 

Organic materials are the perfect materials for mold growth when floods and leaks occur. Steel doesn’t support mold growth as it is non-organic.

Steel is inorganic, so it does not function as a food source for mold. Further, steel is dimensionally stable in a moist environment. It will not warp. Walls and floors remain plumb and level in a wet climate.

Are you interested in avoiding the costly damage of termites and dry rot in your next project? Contact us for help.