People often use wooden furniture to create beautiful and cozy interiors that give a home a luxurious look. However, when installing wooden furniture, there is a constant fear associated with the wood being infested by termites. The appearance of termites in wooden furniture causes serious problems. Although termites may look small on the outside, they destroy the wood from the inside. It is often impossible to tell how much damage termites have done to a table, chair, cabinet, or door just by looking at them.
The question arises: is there any wood that termites cannot easily damage? The answer is yes. There is a tree that is protected against termites. This tree is called Melia azedarach, also known as Bakayan, Mahanimy, or Mahanim. It naturally contains compounds that help repel various insects, so this wood is considered suitable for making furniture.
Wooden furniture can be strong and durable, but termites can shorten its lifespan. They eat the furniture from the inside, completely destroying it. Termites create tunnels inside the wood, gradually making it hollow. At first, you might only notice a light powder or small holes, but over time, the entire furniture can become brittle. The problem of termite infestation is very common in cabinets, beds, sofas, tables, chairs, and wooden doors. To get rid of termites, people often buy expensive oils, but the effect of these is minimal.
The feature of Mahanim is the presence of natural insect-repellent compounds (substances that repel insects) in its wood. Chemical substances contained in different parts of this tree can repel many pests. These natural properties allow the wood to be more protected against insects compared to other types of wood.
Nevertheless, this does not mean that termites can never damage this wood. Factors such as humidity, contact with soil, and the condition of the wood itself can affect its termite resistance.
Wood that has a natural ability to repel insects is considered good for furniture. Such wood reduces the risk of damage from termites and other pests. At the same time, it is important to consider the strength of the wood and the correctness of its treatment during furniture making.
If you plan to order new wooden furniture for your home, you need to study not only the design and cost but also the strength of the wood and its ability to protect against insects. It is better to choose wood that has natural protection against pests. This eliminates additional costs, and your furniture will remain safe for many years.
However, no wood can be considered absolutely 'termite-proof.' It is also important to protect the furniture from moisture using proper polishing and treatment, as well as conducting termite prevention in the home.