1.   And if there is no damp, punky wood in the house, they may stay away.

2.   And remember, only the damp, punky wood has to be replaced.

3.   And, finally, get rid of any damp, punky wood in the house and replace it with dry, sound wood.

4.   As for insects, that is not an issue, unless you are invaded by carpenter ants, which is unlikely because they nest in damp, punky wood.

5.   A. The best way to keep carpenter ants away is to get rid of any damp, punky wood.

6.   A. I think you can eliminate termites, which would not be so selective, and carpenter ants, that work mostly in damp, punky wood.

7.   Carpenter ants tend to work in damp, punky wood, which may give the exterminator a clue to where that nest is.

8.   Damp, punky wood will not hold paint, and neither will wood that is beginning to dry out and turn powdery.

9.   In addition, all damp, punky wood should be replaced with sound wood.

10.   One problem with the decay in the trim is that if it is painted, the punky wood is unlikely to hold paint.