Termites don’t announce themselves with noise or drama. They work quietly, often for years, softening floor joists, hollowing studs, and turning expensive millwork into brittle shells. By the time a homeowner notices a telltale mud tube or a baseboard that yields under light pressure, the colony may have been feeding long enough to rack up five figures in damage. After two decades working with homeowners, builders, and property managers, I’ve learned that effective termite control services are less about panic and more about systems: good inspection habits, smart construction choices, and a relationship with a pest control company that treats the structure as a long-term investment.
What termites do, and why it works
Subterranean termites, the most common threat in much of North America, live in the soil and seek moisture. They travel through pencil-thin mud tubes to reach cellulose, then return underground. They prefer relative humidity above 80 percent and temperatures that roughly track what humans find comfortable. Their biology rewards patience. A mature colony can number hundreds of thousands, sometimes more than a million. They’ll exploit any gap near a foundation, squeeze through expansion cracks, and follow wood that touches ground. If that wood stays damp, they don’t have to surface at all.
Drywood termites live inside wood itself, more prevalent in coastal and warmer regions, and require a different approach. They don’t need ground contact and can hitchhike in furniture, pallets, or decorative elements. Formosan termites, an aggressive subterranean species found in the Southeast and some Gulf Coast areas, can overwhelm untreated structures in a fraction of the time, building carton nests in walls and attics that hold moisture like a sponge.
Understanding these differences matters because a one-size treatment plan is a myth. A good pest control service begins by identifying the species, then tailoring the strategy around that biology, climate, and the structure’s vulnerabilities.
What an inspection should really include
An inspection is both a diagnostic and a baseline. When a seasoned inspector walks a property, they aren’t just scanning for mud tubes. They’re building a map in their head: how water moves around the property, where wood meets soil, where the slab cracks, where vegetation touches siding, what the attic ventilation feels like at midday. If your pest control contractor spends ten minutes outside and ten minutes inside, they missed things.
A thorough inspection typically runs 60 to 90 minutes for a single-family home. It should include attic access, crawlspace entry if present, and any attached structures like decks and porches. Inspectors probe baseboards, inspect sill plates and band joists, and check around plumbing penetrations. In older homes, I always insist on a look at chimney chases and areas behind knee walls. These are moisture magnets and common entry routes.
For drywood risk zones, inspectors also look for frass, the pepper-like droppings that accumulate beneath kickout holes. For subterraneans, they trace mud tubes to their highest point and look for swollen trim, blistered paint, or wood that sounds hollow when tapped. Document the findings with photos and a floor plan marking hot spots. This record becomes invaluable later, whether for treatment planning or to verify warranty claims with your exterminator company.
Moisture, grading, and the invisible invitation
Most termite problems start as moisture problems. I can walk around a house after a rain and predict where termites will find it easiest to thrive. The short list: negative grading that sends water toward the foundation, downspouts that dump beside the wall, sprinkler heads wetting siding, mulch piled high against the house, and crawlspaces with poor ventilation.
Fixing these issues cuts termite pressure dramatically. Regrade soil so it slopes away 5 to 10 percent for at least six feet. Extend downspouts ten feet if possible. Adjust irrigation so the first two feet around the structure stay dry. Keep mulch at least two to three inches below siding or brick weep holes, and don’t stack firewood against the house. If you can hold relative humidity in a crawlspace below about 60 percent, subterranean termites have a harder time establishing tubes that last.
I’ve seen properties where these basic corrections dropped termite activity within a season, even before chemical treatments were applied. They don’t replace treatment, but they make every professional effort more durable and reduce the chance of reinfestation.
Treatment options that actually work
The best pest control service will talk through options with pros and cons, not push a single brand. Chemical names matter less than how they’re applied and monitored. Here are the primary approaches you’ll encounter, and when I recommend each.
Liquid soil treatments: These create a treated zone around the foundation. Technicians trench and, for slabs, drill at intervals to inject termiticide into the soil. Non-repellent https://squareblogs.net/clarusvoac/why-your-business-needs-a-preventive-pest-control-service-plan products are preferred because termites don’t detect them and can transfer the active ingredient through the colony. This option is fast, offers immediate structural protection, and can last many years depending on soil type, product, and application quality. I recommend this for houses with clear perimeter access, especially when you suspect widespread subterranean activity.
Bait systems: Stations are placed around the property and checked regularly. Once termites find a bait station, the growth regulator within is carried back to the colony. Baits can eliminate colonies, but the process requires patience and careful monitoring by a competent pest control company. They shine in sites where trenching and drilling are impractical, such as decorative hardscape or tight property lines, or where you want colony-level suppression across a broader area. Modern baits can act faster than the older generation, but you still plan on months rather than weeks for full impact.
Localized wood treatments: For visible or accessible activity, foams and borate treatments can penetrate galleries and protect exposed framing. I use these as adjuncts, not substitutes, for a whole-structure or perimeter program. They are especially helpful during renovations when walls are open.
Fumigation for drywood termites: In regions with drywood pressure, whole-structure fumigation remains the gold standard for established infestations that are dispersed and difficult to access. It is disruptive for a couple of days and requires prep, but when the infestation is extensive or hidden in multiple areas, spot treatments rarely match the thoroughness of a full tent. After fumigation, preventive measures are essential to keep new colonies from establishing.
Heat treatments: In some markets, contractors use heat to bring wood temperatures to lethal levels for drywood termites. It avoids chemical residues and can target specific areas. It’s technique-sensitive and can be limited by insulation, thermal bridges, and risk to heat-sensitive materials. When done by an experienced exterminator service and suited to the structure, it can be effective, especially for localized drywood issues.
No matter the method, the difference between success and frustration is execution. Trenching depth, drill spacing, the volume per linear foot, bait station placement, and follow-up intervals all separate a strong pest control contractor from a mediocre one.
How to choose a pest control company without guessing
Pricing varies, but so does value. The cheapest bid is often a clue that labor, product, or follow-up has been cut. You want a pest control company that treats your building like a system and explains trade-offs. When I advise clients, I look for four signals beyond licensing and insurance.
- A clear inspection narrative. They should walk you through what they saw, show photos, and explain why they recommend a particular approach. Specifics in the scope. Linear feet to be trenched and drilled, product name and concentration, bait station count and layout, and the schedule for follow-ups. Vague scopes lead to vague outcomes. A real warranty. Read the fine print. Does it cover re-treatment only, or does it include repair coverage up to a certain amount? Are there moisture prerequisites? What conditions void the warranty? Continuity of service. Ask who will perform the follow-ups and how findings are recorded. If they can’t show you a sample report or bait monitoring log, keep looking.
If you are comparing bids for termite control services, align the scopes before comparing cost. Apples-to-apples might change your decision immediately.
What it costs, and what skimping costs later
For a typical single-family home, a perimeter liquid treatment might range from a few dollars per linear foot to higher depending on product, access, and drilling needs. Bait programs are usually subscription-based, with an upfront installation fee and quarterly or biannual monitoring charges. Region, soil type, and infestation complexity swing these numbers. What matters is total cost of ownership. A well executed program with clear follow-ups often prevents five-figure structural repairs later. I’ve managed claims where a $1,200 savings on day one translated to $18,000 in sill replacements three years later because a corner of the slab was never drilled and became a highway for termites into the kitchen.
For multi-family and commercial buildings, scale and complexity drive cost. Parking lot slabs, planter interfaces, and elevator pits require thoughtful drilling patterns and sometimes nighttime work. A professional exterminator company accustomed to commercial constraints will factor this in and stage equipment accordingly.
New construction: the easiest time to get it right
Builders have the best leverage before the first course of block is set. Pre-construction soil treatments lay down a protective zone below slabs and along footers. When combined with stainless steel mesh at penetrations or physical barriers under sill plates, the result is a structure that resists termite pressure without constant retreatment. Borate treatment of exposed framing during the dried-in phase is another cost-effective layer. I’ve seen borate applications add a few hundred dollars to a small house and block activity for years when paired with good moisture control.
Don’t forget design. Keep landscaping from hugging the house. Minimize wood-to-ground contact and specify ground-contact rated lumber for deck posts set in concrete. Detail flashing and drainage at grade transitions carefully. Termites love a wet, concealed joint.
Renovations: the surprise nobody budgets
Kitchen and bath remodels reveal termite stories behind tile and drywall. If you find activity during demo, pause. Bring in your pest control contractor to assess. This is the rare moment where localized wood treatments, strategic foams, and borates can be applied precisely with walls open, then paired with a perimeter treatment to protect the rest of the structure. I’ve had projects where a modest change to the treatment plan during renovation saved weeks of schedule turmoil later.
Budget a contingency. When sills or studs are compromised, structural repairs can range from simple sistering to full section replacement. Coordinate between your general contractor and the pest control service so that treatment and repair sequence doesn’t trap untreated wood behind new finishes.
Warranties, monitoring, and the long game
Termites are relentless, but so is routine. After an initial treatment, monitoring in the first year is critical, then at least annually, preferably semiannually in high-pressure areas. If you’ve invested in baiting, the schedule will be more frequent at first, then taper as activity declines. Ask your pest control service to trend graph your property. If you see seasonal spikes in activity at the same stations or locations, adjust landscaping and moisture management alongside any bait or liquid adjustments.
Repair warranties have conditions. Most require you to maintain the program and promptly report signs of activity. Keep those reports and service tickets. When something goes wrong, documentation turns a debate into a straightforward claim.
Bed bugs are not termites, but the playbook overlaps
Many pest control companies bundle services, and homeowners sometimes ask if their provider can handle bed bug extermination as well. The pests are different in biology and treatment, but the qualities you want in a provider are similar: clear inspection protocols, candor about prep requirements, and a plan that includes follow-ups. Bed bugs require meticulous prep and often multiple visits. Termites demand long-term coverage. A company that communicates well in one discipline tends to do so in the other. If a provider handles both, make sure technicians are specifically trained for each. Crew specialization often drives better results.
Real-world examples and lessons learned
A brick ranch house, slab-on-grade, sat just below street level. Every rain pushed water against the rear wall. The owner saw a mud tube in the pantry, then another near the garage entry. A previous exterminator service had done a partial treatment at the front two years earlier. We regraded the backyard, extended downspouts, and installed a full-perimeter non-repellent treatment, drilling through the garage slab where shelves had blocked access before. Two months later, monitoring showed no new activity. The partial treatment had created a safe zone on one side but left a freeway at the rear. The comprehensive approach shut it down.
In a coastal zone with drywood pressure, a craftsman bungalow had scattered frass piles in three rooms. Spot treatments had chased symptoms for a year. During a planned roof replacement, we coordinated to tent the house, then applied borate to newly exposed rafter tails and soffit cavities once the tent came off. Two years later, still clean. The lesson: timing treatment with other work can reduce cost and increase coverage.
A multi-tenant office building with a large planter against the facade had recurring subterranean hits on bait stations. The landscaping contractor watered nightly, soaking the planter and weep screed. We adjusted irrigation, swapped mulch for stone near the building, and added targeted soil treatment around the planter interface. Activity dropped by the next quarter. Bait alone didn’t solve it; water management did.
Safety, environmental considerations, and modern products
Clients ask whether termiticides are safe for pets and plants. The short answer is that when applied correctly by a licensed pest control contractor, modern non-repellents bind to soil and present low risk to mammals at the concentrations used. Application techniques aim to isolate the active where termites travel, not where pets play. Bait systems use very small quantities of actives that target insect physiology.
That said, caution is not optional. Protect wells and cisterns, maintain setbacks from waterways, and avoid treating saturated soils. Responsible pest control companies follow label directions strictly because they are both law and best practice. If your property includes edible gardens near treatment zones, discuss temporary relocation or protective barriers during application.
For the chemically cautious, physical barriers like stainless steel mesh at penetrations, sand barriers with specific particle sizes, and diligent borate treatments on exposed wood offer non-repellent layers. They are most effective when installed during construction, less so retrofitted, but they are legitimate tools in the kit.
Timing and seasonality
Termites are active year-round in many climates, but swarm season tells you where colonies are maturing. In temperate zones, subterraneans often swarm in spring after rain, while drywood swarms can happen later in summer or fall depending on species. Swarmers in your home or piles of wings on windowsills are a red flag, not an emergency. Call your pest control service, capture a few specimens in a bag for identification, and avoid sweeping away every trace before the inspection. Those clues help aim the treatment.
Treatments are effective in any season when soil is workable. Extremely cold or saturated conditions can delay some steps, especially drilling and trenching, but planning around weather prevents callbacks. Baits operate in the background steadily, with station checks adjusted for seasonal activity.
Preventive habits for owners and managers
No treatment can outrun bad habits. A handful of simple practices make a big difference for homeowners and building managers. Keep the perimeter dry and clear. Maintain a six-inch visual gap between soil and siding where possible. Store firewood away from the structure. Replace leaking sill cocks and repair gutter leaks promptly. If you manage a portfolio, add termite check points to quarterly building walks. Small notes, like “mulch piled to sill at unit 3B,” can prevent big bills later.
For commercial properties, coordinate between facilities and landscaping teams. I’ve seen fresh bark installed to an attractive height that covered weep holes and bridged slab to siding overnight. A two-minute conversation would have saved a four-figure corrective visit.
When to get a second opinion
If a contractor recommends a whole-house fumigation for what looks like a single drywood pocket with accessible kickout holes, or insists on bait-only for a property with obvious subterranean tubes along the entire rear wall, pause. Get another inspection. Good companies welcome a second set of eyes because it reinforces trust when recommendations align. In my experience, the best pest control contractors explain alternatives clearly and help you prioritize, even if it means less immediate revenue for them.
Insurance and disclosures
Homeowners’ insurance rarely covers termite damage because it is considered preventable maintenance, not a sudden event. Some states require termite reports during real estate transactions, known as WDO or NPMA-33 inspections. These reports are snapshots, not guarantees, but they force a formal look at areas buyers might otherwise ignore. If you are selling, a letter from a reputable exterminator company stating treatment history and current monitoring status can reduce friction in negotiations.
The role of documentation
The quiet nature of termites makes records your best defense. Save inspection reports, photographs, product labels, and treatment diagrams. Ask your pest control company to map station locations and annotate where liquid was applied and at what linear footage. If you change providers, hand them the packet. It prevents redundant work and gaps in protection. For property managers, standardize this across the portfolio. The first time you avert a costly surprise because a new tech had last year’s diagrams, you’ll be convinced.
Bringing it all together
Protecting a building from termites is less about one big move and more about a series of smart, coordinated actions. Start with a careful inspection. Fix the water issues that lure colonies to your walls. Choose a treatment strategy that matches your construction and your risk, then demand precision in execution. Maintain monitoring with the same regularity you give HVAC filters or roof checks. Partner with a pest control service that treats data and communication as part of the job, not extras.
Termites excel at exploiting neglect. The flip side is encouraging: structures that get consistent attention from a competent pest control contractor tend to stay sound, and small problems stay small. Whether you own a single bungalow or manage a campus, the same principle applies. Build a plan, keep records, and stay ahead of the quiet work happening in the soil. Your investment deserves nothing less.
Howie the Bugman Pest Control
Address: 3281 SW 3rd St, Deerfield Beach, FL 33442
Phone: (954) 427-1784