Decks, Patios, Porches and Docks - termites in redwood!

Hello!

I thought redwood was termite proof. Apparently I was wrong! :(
I build my back deck out of redwood, and had some pieces left over. I stacked them on a stand about 12 inches off the ground and left them for a few months. I went back to the stack today to get a few pieces for some work I'm doing, and found hundreds of termites in it. Now I am concerned about my deck, and even more importantly, my home. If they get in the deck, they may get in the home too. Is there something I should treat my deck with to prevent infestation?

I would get an exterminator to identify the species and determine whether it's subterranean or drywood. If it's subterranean, they probably infested the wood stack from a path to the ground, and may not be in your deck if built properly. If they're drywood, they could have already been in the wood when you got it. Drywood termites don't need a path to ground, don't mind redwood, and can exist in multiple colonies in a single structure. All they need is a crack or nailhole to get started. They're a real scourge where I live, and I believe they've been found in Georgia as well.

You may be able to detect infestation by looking for fecal pellets and kick-out holes. If unsure, get the exterminator to check it out and suggest treatment options.

Thanks Razz!

I believe they are subterranean termites, as I found more under a piece of wood that was laying on the ground, and holes going into the ground. I killed the ones I could see, but I know that was insignificant compared to those I couldn't. The parts of the deck that touch the ground are pressure treated except for the steps, where a portion of redwood comes into contact with the ground. I believe I might remove that and replace with pressure treated to help avoid infestation.

I must have a lot of termites on my place. I just found some under a bag of top soil that had only been laying on the ground for a few days. Is there any way to treat an entire piece of property for them (instead of perimeter treatment)? I know this isn't the forum for this question, but figured I'd ask.

I'd try the pest control forums (both outdoor and indoor) for tips on treating an entire property. Termites will eat redwood (though they prefer other species), and they'll even go after pressure-treated wood (eventually). Subterranean termites live in the ground, so if you can cut off their paths (such as mud tunnels), your deck will last longer.