Decks, Patios, Porches and Docks - Can unprotected wood lead to termites?

Per my previous thread my deck is in bad shape and I may be a little paranoid but I thought I saw several temites. I've never seen termites in real life but the pictures I've seen on the web looked like what I saw outside. Can having your deck unprotected (not waterproofed) encourage termites?

Yes. Termites don't like PT wood but if it gets in bad enough condition they will attack it. It is also possible that they are feeding on some none treated lumber nearby.

Termites will not feed out in the open light. You will see the winged foragers out in the light, but they are basically out seeking a food/water source. If you have untreated wood inside a footing, then you will have a big problem. That's a smorgasbord to a termite... wet, dark chemical free wood... tasty.

They will also tunnel up through an enclosed wall to get to a food source. I had them travel up a wall for 10 feet (inside the sheetrock) to get to a joist that was getting water damage. They went right past dry untreated wood to get to wet untreated wood.

Unfortuanately I've had a lot of experience (as a homeowner) with termites.

NTAC in Georgia

This may have been what I saw, they were 3 groups and they seemed a lot more interested with the supporting beam running under the deck/patio boards. Is this a sign that they are coming to attack the structure?

If you have termites anywhere near your home you need to spray and kill them. Bare minimum - go to Lowes and buy terrmite poison and use garden sprayer to spray around the foundation of your house [inside and out if you have a crawl space] and anywhere else you think they might be. Best - call an exterminator and have him inspect and spray.

I have an annual contract on my home. The termites have no respect for the contract though...

The foragers I was speaking of will have wings. They will pretty much go anywhere in search of a food source. If I understand their process correctly, they will start the attack on a potential food source. They drop their wings and mark the target wood with some kind of scent that the workers can use as a beacon. The foragers don't necessarily know whether or not the workers can build the tunnel or path to the wood though. The workers will not traverse in open sunlight to get to a wood source.

My info is based on what I've experienced with my own home and from talking with my Orkin dude. Also keep in mind I am in Georgia and there are regional variations of termites.

If you own the home and live in a region prone to termites you need an annual contract with a company that specializes in termite treatments. I tried to cut corners a few years back and I did the traps and treatments myself. That did not work for me. If you are seeing termites swarming around your property I would worry about what is happening in the areas that you can't see instead of the deck.

Treating a home for termites is not a DIY project. The professional exterminators have the equipment and chemicals that are not available to the public. And, their work comes with a warranty.