Yes, but only in an outdoor and wet environment after years of exposure. Wood that is treated under pressure with chemicals to resist rot is also required to be termite resistant—but it is not permanently termite-proof. There are two ways that termites can attack pressure treated wood:

1. The pressure-treatment does not fully penetrate to the center of large wood posts. So, if the bottom of a post is trimmed off before it is buried in the ground the core is vulnerable to termites. Manufacturers recommend applying a second treatment of chemicals to a cut end before installing a post in the ground. 
2. The chemical treatment of wood that is unpainted and exposed to outdoor weather lasts about 8 to 10 years before it has mostly leached away by rain. Then the termites attack. If you look closely at the rating tag on pressure-treated wood, you will notice that some lumber is rated for “ground contract” and some is not. The ground-contact rated lumber has a higher level of chemical treatment and will resist termites for a longer period.

    Also, see our blog post I think I have termites. What does a termite look like?

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •  

To learn more about termites, see these other blog posts:

• Should I be worried about termites if my neighbor's house is being tented?

• Is the WDO (termite) inspector allowed to poke holes in my wood siding and trim? 

• Do carpenter ants cause structural damage to houses in Florida?

• How long before closing can you have a WDO (termite) inspection done?

• How long does Bora-Care® last? 

• Why is it a mistake to store lumber in the crawl space under a house?

• Does the presence of carpenter ants in a house indicate that there are probably also termites? 

• How do termites infest a house and remain hidden while doing major damage?

• Are homes in Florida required to have termite protection? 

• If termite damage appears to be old, does that mean that termites may no longer be present?

• How do I know if my WDO/termite report is "clear"? 

• When do termites swarm in Florida?

• Does a recent termite company inspection sticker mean there are no termites? 

• Can a mobile/manufactured home get termites?

• Do I have to tent the house if I have termites? 

• What is the difference between a subterranean termite and a drywood termite?

• What are the green plastic discs in the ground around the house? 

• What is a termite shield?

• How do termites get into a concrete block house? 

• Do termites eat concrete?

• What is a clean WDO?  

• What do termites eat?

• How do I treat wood rot  that's listed in my termite-WDO report? 

• Do I really need a termite-WDO inspection? 

• What's causing those holes in the fascia?

• Does wood chip mulch in the yard attract termites?

• I'm buying a concrete block house. Do I still need a termite inspection? 

• I saw a little termite damage on the baseboard. Should I be concerned?

   Visit our TERMITES, WOOD ROT AND PESTS page for other related blog posts on this subject, or go to the INDEX for a complete listing of all our articles.