Termites do not need to consume the visible cladding to create expensive damage. They can travel through cracks, concealed gaps, soil-contact areas, insulation, utility penetrations, foundations, framing connections, and other protected pathways to reach wood framing or sheathing behind the exterior.

ASCEND’s documented termite resistance is therefore a product advantage—not a complete termite-control system for the building.

What Does the Manufacturer Say?

ASCEND’s current architectural specification identifies termite resistance as a tested product characteristic. The specification states that ASCEND met the conditions for complete resistance to termite attack when evaluated under ASTM D3345.¹

ICC-ES ESR-4449 also identifies termite-resistant-material attributes associated with the evaluated ASCEND cladding under referenced National Green Building Standard provisions. The report cautions that final decisions regarding project compliance remain the responsibility of the report user and applicable authority.²

What Is ASTM D3345?

ASTM D3345 is a standardized laboratory method used to evaluate the resistance of wood and other cellulosic materials to subterranean termite attack under controlled conditions. ASCEND’s specification references this test as the basis for its published termite-resistance conclusion.³

A laboratory test creates consistent conditions for comparing material performance. It does not reproduce every possible building exposure, species, climate, moisture condition, construction defect, soil condition, or duration of field exposure.

Is ASCEND a Termite Repellent?

ASCEND should not be marketed as a termite repellent unless the manufacturer publishes a controlling document supporting that exact claim. The current technical language addresses resistance to termite attack under ASTM D3345 testing—not the ability to repel termites from the property.

A termite-resistant material may avoid becoming a food source while still allowing termites to travel across, around, or behind it. Resistance and repellency are not interchangeable claims.

Will Termites Eat ASCEND Composite Cladding?

The manufacturer’s published specification states that the tested ASCEND product met the conditions for complete resistance to termite attack. That supports the conclusion that the product resisted consumption or damage under the defined ASTM D3345 procedure.

Contractors should preserve the qualification. Do not replace “resisted termite attack under ASTM testing” with an absolute claim such as “termites can never damage ASCEND under any circumstance.”

Can Termites Travel Behind ASCEND?

Yes. Termite-resistant cladding does not make the wall inaccessible. ASCEND is installed as exterior cladding over an approved substrate and weather-resistant-barrier system. The assembly includes joints, receiving channels, flashing transitions, starter strips, utility penetrations, and terminations that must be detailed correctly.⁴

Termites may build concealed shelter tubes or move through protected pathways to reach susceptible wood. Their ability to travel behind a product is different from their ability to consume the product.

Does ASCEND Protect the Wood Framing?

No. ASCEND’s termite resistance applies to the cladding material—not automatically to the framing, sheathing, rim joists, sill plates, window bucks, furring strips, trim lumber, or other susceptible materials behind it.

Wood framing can still be attacked if termites gain access through the soil, foundation, penetrations, cracks, or concealed wall spaces. The exterior cladding should not be sold as a protective shield for all wood behind it.

What About ASCEND’s Graphite-Infused Polystyrene?

ASCEND’s GP² Technology combines a glass-reinforced polymer exterior with graphite-infused polystyrene insulation. The published termite-resistance conclusion applies to the tested ASCEND product system identified in the manufacturer’s specification—not merely to one visible surface layer.⁵

The insulated backing should not be treated as a pesticide or termite barrier. Even when a foam product is not a nutritional food source, insects may sometimes travel through or around insulating materials to reach wood.

Is ASCEND Better Than Wood Siding for Termite Resistance?

ASCEND offers a documented termite-resistance result that ordinary untreated wood siding may not provide. Because ASCEND is a glass-reinforced polymer and graphite-infused polystyrene composite rather than natural wood, it does not present the same material composition as a traditional wood cladding product.

That does not make every ASCEND wall assembly superior to every wood-clad wall. Wall performance also depends on flashing, drainage, substrate condition, pest management, maintenance, installation quality, and the materials behind the cladding.

Does Termite Resistance Mean ASCEND Is Pest-Proof?

No. A termite-resistance test should not be expanded into a universal pest-resistance claim. Other insects, rodents, birds, and animals behave differently and may affect exterior assemblies through nesting, chewing, entry through openings, or damage to adjacent materials.

Contractors should avoid phrases such as “pest-proof,” “animal-proof,” or “insect-proof” unless a controlling manufacturer document supports the exact claim.

Why Grade Clearance Still Matters

ASCEND installation requirements call for separation between the cladding or accessories and grade or concrete surfaces. Proper clearance supports drainage, permits movement, reduces contact with soil and debris, and helps preserve visual access near the foundation.⁶

Do not bury the lower cladding edge behind mulch, soil, landscaping stone, stored materials, or raised flower beds. Concealing the foundation transition can create protected termite pathways and make inspection more difficult.

Should ASCEND Be Installed Below Grade?

ASCEND is an exterior wall cladding—not a below-grade foundation product. Contractors should maintain the clearances required by the installation guide, applicable building codes, code reports, project specifications, and local termite-inspection requirements.

Extending the cladding into soil or concealing the lower termination can interfere with drainage, movement, inspection, and foundation maintenance.

Can Poor Moisture Management Increase Termite Risk?

Moisture problems can create conditions favorable to wood decay and pest activity. ASCEND must be installed over a code-compliant weather-resistant-barrier and flashing system. The cladding is a supplemental rainscreen—not the primary water-control layer.⁴

Leaking windows, missing kickout flashing, failed deck-ledger details, blocked drainage, plumbing leaks, poor grading, and damaged gutters can introduce moisture behind the exterior. Termite-resistant cladding does not excuse defective water management.

Does ASCEND Eliminate the Need for Termite Inspections?

No. Professional termite inspections evaluate the complete building—not merely the visible cladding. Inspectors may examine foundations, crawl spaces, basements, sill plates, framing, moisture conditions, shelter tubes, wood-to-soil contact, and other risk areas.

A termite-resistant exterior product can be part of a durable material strategy, but it does not replace periodic property inspection or treatment recommendations from a qualified pest professional.

Does the ASCEND Warranty Cover Termite Damage?

A published termite-resistance test should not be interpreted as automatic warranty coverage for every pest-related condition. Warranty coverage is controlled exclusively by the written ASCEND warranty applicable to the product and installation date.

Contractors and homeowners should review the current warranty for covered manufacturing defects, exclusions, claim procedures, required documentation, remedies, and installation conditions. Do not promise coverage based solely on the termite-resistance statement.⁷

What Should Contractors Document?

Project documentation should establish the wall condition before installation and show that the lower terminations, drainage details, flashing, and clearances were completed correctly.

Common Termite-Resistance Misstatements

A Technically Accurate Contractor Explanation

Questions Contractors Should Answer

1. Which ASCEND document supports the termite-resistance claim?
2. Does the claim apply to the product or the entire wall assembly?
3. Are any wood components concealed behind the cladding?
4. Was previous termite damage found during demolition?
5. Have damaged framing and sheathing been professionally evaluated?
6. Are required foundation and grade clearances maintained?
7. Can the foundation transition remain visible for inspection?
8. Are moisture-management and drainage details complete?
9. Does the jurisdiction require specific termite protection?
10. Has the homeowner been advised to continue professional inspections?

The Bottom Line

ASCEND Composite Cladding is termite resistant according to current manufacturer technical literature. The published specification states that ASCEND met the conditions for complete resistance to termite attack when tested under ASTM D3345.

That conclusion applies to the tested ASCEND material. It does not mean the entire building is termite-proof, that termites cannot travel behind the cladding, or that vulnerable wood framing and sheathing no longer need protection.

Maintain the required lower-wall clearances, preserve foundation visibility, correct moisture problems, repair existing damage, follow local termite-protection requirements, and continue appropriate inspections.

The disciplined sales standard is simple: say that ASCEND demonstrated complete resistance under ASTM D3345 testing. Do not turn a legitimate product test into the unsupported promise that termites can never damage the home.