Hosting guests is one of the most exciting aspects of building or renovating a home. Unfortunately for some 600,000 homes each year, the company they receive will not be so exciting.

While there are steps that homeowners can take to mitigate the threat of termite damage, such as removing piles of wood near the home and installing landscape drainage systems to prevent moisture buildup, conducting professional termite inspections, many traditional wood-constructed homes will never be able to escape the threat of termites.

Therefore, if your area has been plagued by termites in the past, it is critical that you build with the correct materials to keep these pests from ever becoming an issue. To help in this regard, keep reading to learn more about 5 termite-resistant building materials that can give you peace of mind against an infiltration.

• Fiber Cement Siding

Not only is fiber cement siding one of the most popular building materials on the market due to its ability to mimic wood and masonry in appearance without requiring frequent painting or sealing, but it rivals metal as the most damage-resistant siding option.

Fabricated from a mixture of Portland cement, sand, water, and cellulose fibers, fiber cement is a compound inhospitable for termite growth and reproduction.

If you are concerned that the cellulose fibers or other trace organic byproducts in your fiber cement siding will attract termites, take heart–the cement infused throughout the siding makes it impossible for termites to burrow, and they will not be able to move throughout the siding to access other areas of the building envelope, even if they wanted to.

• Inorganic Framing Solutions

A termite infestation rarely begins in areas of the home you can see. It will usually start in damp, subterranean areas near the foundation, in rotting wood piles on the patio, or in dark recesses of the attic. Add the home’s framing to the list as well.

Trapped inside layers of insulation and siding, the dark, poorly ventilated habitat of the home’s framing makes the perfect breeding ground for termites. The threat is compounded if any moisture has caused rot in a structure framed with oriented strand board (OSB).

To limit the threat of termites nesting inside the walls of your home, it is best to choose an inorganic framing solution that does not use wood as its base component. A couple of superior options would be insulated metal panels or insulated concrete forms (ICF).

• Polished Concrete Floors

Like framing, termites in subfloor are another threat to the home’s bones that can quickly become a haven for termites due to its proximity to groundwater.

And while it is impossible to remove all organic matter from the ground to deprive termites of food, you can choose a flooring material that prevents termites from making their way inside.

Holes in expensive hardwood floors are a surefire way to wreck a home’s resale value, so a more termite-resistant solution, such as polished concrete, makes a lot of sense if you have had trouble with termites in the past.

Polished concrete has long been a durable solution for schools, hotels, and other facilities that receive heavy foot traffic. However, it is increasingly becoming a favorite option in residential structures thanks to its variability of design, ease of maintenance, and resistance to pests.

• Aluminum Window Frames

Ever have a window get stuck when you are trying to let some breeze in on a balmy summer day?

There’s a good chance it’s because termites have wreaked havoc on your frame.

Window frames are an ideal location for attracting termites because mud and moisture naturally accumulate in the corners and around the sill following every major weather event.

As such, if you are still using wood window frames, check around the frame and see if you notice any small holes, hollowness, or mud tubes/mounds. This is a clear indication that the integrity of the frames has been compromised, and they need to be replaced.

When making an upgrade, be sure to stay away from wood frames. Not only do termites love them, but they easily warp and must be regularly cleaned and treated to avoid weather damage. The best option would be metal or aluminum historic storm windows.

• Steel Siding

As mentioned earlier, choosing the right siding material is a critical aspect of protecting your building envelope from termite damage.

So if fiber cement is not your cup of tea, steel siding is another material that offers elite termite resistance. Like fiber cement, its inorganic constitution gives termites nothing to feed on.

And if you are concerned that steel will give your home a warehouse-like appearance, please note that contemporary steel solutions are fabricated into a wide range of designs that make it nearly indistinguishable from more “homey” siding products. In fact, due to how closely it resembles natural wood, some products are even known as steel “log” siding. Avoid Termites With These 5 Innovative Materials. Although homeowners can prevent termites with assiduous due diligence, most wood-construction homes will never be able to eliminate the threat of these pests. To give you the best protection against termites, fiber cement siding, inorganic framing solutions, polished concrete floors, aluminum window frames, and steel siding are 5 of the best materials homeowners can choose that are fully resistant to termite infiltration.