Termite Control & Extermination
Termites cause an estimated $5 billion in property damage across the United States every year — more than fires, floods and storms combined. Most homeowner insurance policies explicitly exclude termite damage, which is what makes early detection and proper treatment the difference between a $1,500 service call and a $30,000 structural repair.
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Signs you have a termites problem
- Mud tubes (pencil-thin tunnels) on foundation walls, crawl space joists or exterior siding
- Discarded wings near windowsills, light fixtures or door frames after a spring swarm
- Hollow-sounding wood when tapped along baseboards, door frames or floor joists
- Bubbling, blistered or sagging paint that looks like minor water damage
- Doors and windows that suddenly stick or won't close properly
- Small piles of what looks like coffee grounds or sawdust (drywood termite frass)
Why termites are a serious problem
- Structural compromise — termites chew load-bearing joists, sills and studs from the inside out, often invisibly for years
- Resale problems — termite findings during a buyer's inspection routinely kill or re-trade real estate deals
- Insurance gaps — standard homeowner policies do not cover termite damage repair
- Re-infestation risk — partial treatments leave secondary colonies untouched, and the damage continues
Why DIY termites treatment usually fails
Hardware-store termite sprays only kill what they touch. Subterranean termite colonies live in the soil and can have one to two million workers — the foragers you see are less than 1% of the colony. Properly treating termites requires either a continuous chemical soil barrier (typically using termiticides like Termidor, Premise or Taurus), a bait station perimeter (like Sentricon), or in the case of drywood termites, structural fumigation. None of these can be done with off-the-shelf product.
The reality: Most homeowners who try DIY end up calling a pro anyway, after spending $50–$200 on hardware-store products and several weeks of failed attempts. The math almost always favors calling a licensed contractor up front.
What a professional termites treatment looks like
Licensed termite control contractors run a full inspection (interior, exterior, crawl space, attic), identify the species, map the active galleries, then apply a treatment that targets the colony, not just visible foragers. Most include a re-treatment warranty — meaning if the colony rebounds, they come back at no charge.
What it costs
Pricing varies by infestation severity, property size, and location, but most homeowners can expect quotes in the range described in the FAQ below. The contractor will give you an exact, no-obligation quote during the initial call.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How fast do termites cause real damage?
A mature subterranean colony can consume the equivalent of a 2x4 in 6-8 months. Formosan termite colonies — common across the Gulf Coast — can do significantly more damage in the same time because their colonies are 10-20x larger.
Is one termite inspection enough?
No. Most pest control pros recommend annual inspections in termite-active states, especially before a real estate transaction. Many states (FL, TX, LA, GA, SC) effectively require a WDIR/termite letter for closing.
How much does termite treatment cost?
Pricing varies by home size, construction type and species — most full-perimeter treatments run $1,200–$3,000. Spot treatments for localized drywood infestations are typically less. Fumigation for whole-house drywood activity is the most expensive option. A licensed contractor will quote after inspection.
Can I treat termites myself?
Realistically, no. Over-the-counter sprays don't penetrate the soil to colony depth, don't reach drywood galleries inside framing, and don't carry the active ingredients that get shared back to the queen. DIY almost always wastes money before the homeowner ends up calling a pro anyway.
How long does treatment last?
Liquid soil treatments typically protect for 5-7 years. Bait station systems require quarterly or annual monitoring and last as long as you maintain the contract. Fumigation eliminates the active infestation but does not prevent re-infestation.