Spray Foam and Termites: What You Need To Know

One of the most common concerns about spray foam is termites. Here are the facts that commercial building owners need to understand.

Does Spray Foam Attract Termites?

No — spray polyurethane foam does not attract termites and is not a food source for them. Termites eat cellulose-based materials (wood, paper, some plant matter). Foam is a synthetic polymer with no nutritional value to termites.

Can Termites Damage Foam?

Yes, under certain circumstances. Subterranean termites can tunnel through spray foam when it's used in wall cavities or foundation applications — not because they eat the foam, but because they're burrowing through it to reach wood. They create tunnels but don't consume the foam.

Roofing Applications: Lower Risk

For roofing applications specifically, termite concern is much lower than for foundation or wall cavity applications. Roofing foam is applied to the exterior surface, is exposed to UV (via topcoat), and is far from the soil where subterranean termite colonies originate. Roofing foam that's protected by a proper topcoat is not a significant termite target.

Practical Risk Assessment

For commercial buildings in termite-prone regions: the primary termite risk is always to structural wood components, not to foam roofing. Standard termite prevention and treatment programs address wood-based structural risks — foam roofing doesn't significantly change the termite risk profile of a commercial building.