Anti Termite Furniture Checklist — For Carpenters and Homeowners

Even the best board fails if it is installed carelessly. Use this checklist with your carpenter. It costs almost nothing and removes most of the ways termites get into furniture.

Before work starts

• Inspect walls for mud tubes, damp patches and peeling paint
• Repair plumbing leaks and let walls dry
• Get anti termite treatment done on walls if the house has a history
• Finalise the board for each area — see materials guide
• Store sheets flat on battens, off the floor, away from damp walls

During fabrication

• Use carbide-tipped blades for high density boards
• Drill pilot holes for every screw
• Edge band all four edges of every panel, including hidden ones
• Seal cut-outs for sinks, pipes and switch boxes
• Use the same board grade for back panels — no hardboard substitutes
• Laminate or use pre-laminated board on inner faces

During installation

• Fit legs under every floor-standing unit
• Do not bury the base of a unit in floor screed or tile
• Leave no site wood scrap, sawdust or packing behind or under units
• Seal gaps between wall and unit with silicone in wet areas
• Do not fix untreated wooden battens to the wall as supports

After handover

• Wipe spills quickly; do not let water stand at the skirting
• Check under the sink every few months
• Look behind and below furniture before each monsoon
• Fix any new damp patch on a shared wall immediately

The most common mistakes

1. Using good board for shutters and cheap sheet for the back
2. Leaving the bottom edge of side panels unbanded
3. Packing wooden wedges under units and leaving them there
4. Installing furniture on a wall that is still damp

Frequently Asked Questions