What the job is
Termite work starts with finding whether termites are active, which type they are, and how far they have spread. Termites eat wood from the inside, so damage may not show on the surface at first. A home can look sound while framing, trim, or subfloor wood is hollowed. That is why inspection matters more than a quick look at one wall.
This page covers residential homes only. It does not cover emergency work. If you see sudden structural failure, sagging floors, or a safety risk, seek local help right away and do not rely on a routine inspection booking.
Signs you may need an inspection
Common signs include mud tubes on foundation walls, hollow sounding wood when tapped, blistered paint, small piles of pellets near wood, and discarded wings near windows or doors after a swarm. Swarmers are winged termites that leave a colony to start a new one. Seeing swarmers indoors often points to a colony inside the home, not just outside.
Do not confuse termite signs with other wood damage. Water damage, carpenter ants, and wood decay can look similar. A trained inspector checks the pattern, the wood, and the location. Note where you saw signs, and do not disturb tubes or pellets before the visit if you can avoid it. Photos help, but they do not replace an in person check.
What an inspection involves
A good inspection covers accessible areas. That includes the exterior foundation, crawl space or slab edge, attic framing, garage wood, door and window trim, and areas near plumbing leaks. The inspector taps wood, probes soft spots, and notes moisture. The inspector also notes areas that could not be reached, such as wood behind walls or under fixed floors.
Ask what the written report will include. A useful report names the species if found, the locations of activity or damage, the extent as far as it can be seen, and the limits of the inspection. It should also note conditions that invite termites, such as wood touching soil, poor drainage, or leaks. Keep the report. Future buyers, providers, and repair workers will need it.
Species and why treatment differs
Subterranean termites need soil moisture. They build mud tubes to travel from soil to wood while staying moist. Treatment often focuses on soil, entry points, and bait that workers carry back to the colony. Drywood termites live in dry wood. They do not need soil contact. Treatment often focuses on the wood itself, through spot treatment for a small, accessible colony, or whole structure treatment when activity is widespread.
Species identification shapes everything. A soil treatment will not solve a drywood problem inside attic wood. A spot wood treatment will not solve a subterranean colony under a slab. Ask the provider how it identified the species, and what evidence supports that call.
Treatment options in plain words
Soil treatment places a barrier or treated zone around the foundation. Bait systems use stations that termites feed on and carry back. Spot treatment treats a confirmed, accessible colony in wood. Whole structure treatment treats the full home for widespread drywood activity, and requires special preparation, including vacating the home for a set time. Each option has limits, preparation steps, and follow up needs.
Ask about preparation. Ask how long you must stay out, if that applies. Ask what happens to food, plants, and pets during treatment. Ask how follow up checks work, and how long monitoring lasts. Ask what repairs, if any, are included. Termite treatment and wood repair are often separate jobs, with separate prices.
Cost factors
Cost depends on species, extent, home size, access, and treatment type. A small, accessible drywood spot costs less than whole structure work. A large home with a slab, a crawl space, and many entry points costs more to treat than a small home with clear access. Repair work, if wood must be replaced, adds cost beyond treatment.
We do not list a fixed price here. No single range fits every home. Ask for a total price in writing. Ask if inspection is included or priced apart. Ask if follow up visits are included. Ask if wood repair is included, or quoted apart. Compare the full scope, not just the first number.
How to choose a provider
Ask for license details for termite work in your state, and check them with the issuing office. Ask how many termite inspections the provider does, and what report you will receive. Ask for photos or notes from the inspection, when the provider can share them. Ask for a second opinion if the plan calls for whole structure work, or if the extent is unclear. A second inspection can confirm species and extent before a large job.
Be wary of pressure to decide on the spot for a large job. Termite damage rarely requires a same hour decision, unless safety is at risk. Take time to read the report, ask questions, and compare plans.
How our referral works
PestQuoteHub connects you to an independent local provider. We do not inspect homes or treat termites. The provider sets its own price and plan. The provider may pay us for the referral. You pay the provider you choose, under its own terms.
Related services: General pest control, Rodent control. City pages: Los Angeles, CA, Chicago, IL, Houston, TX, Phoenix, AZ, Brooklyn, NY.
Frequently asked questions
What does a termite inspection check?
An inspection checks accessible wood, foundations, attics, crawl spaces, and areas near soil or moisture. The inspector looks for mud tubes, damaged wood, discarded wings, and pellets where drywood termites are present. Inaccessible areas may be noted as limits, not as clear results.
How do subterranean and drywood termites differ?
Subterranean termites live in soil and travel through mud tubes to reach wood. Drywood termites live inside dry wood and do not need soil contact. Treatment differs because one type needs soil and entry work, while the other needs wood treatment or whole structure work in severe cases.
What treatment options exist for termites?
Options may include soil treatment, bait systems, spot wood treatment, and whole structure treatment for widespread drywood activity. The right option depends on species, extent, home type, and local rules. Ask the provider to explain why it chose one option over another for your home.
Do I need a termite report for a home sale?
Some sales require a wood destroying organism report, depending on the buyer, the lender, and local practice. Ask the provider what report it can issue, what areas it covers, and what limits apply. Keep the report with your sale records, and ask what follow up it recommends.
How much does termite work cost?
Cost depends on species, extent, home size, access, and treatment type. A small spot treatment costs less than whole structure work. Ask for a total price that names inspection, treatment, repairs if any, and follow up. Do not accept a price that hides follow up fees.
Common questions
| Question | Short answer |
|---|---|
| What does a termite inspection check? | An inspection checks accessible wood, foundations, attics, crawl spaces, and areas near soil or moisture. The inspector looks for mud tubes, damaged wood, discarded wings, and pellets where drywood termites are present. Inaccessible areas may be noted as limits, not as clear results. |
| How do subterranean and drywood termites differ? | Subterranean termites live in soil and travel through mud tubes to reach wood. Drywood termites live inside dry wood and do not need soil contact. Treatment differs because one type needs soil and entry work, while the other needs wood treatment or whole structure work in severe cases. |
| What treatment options exist for termites? | Options may include soil treatment, bait systems, spot wood treatment, and whole structure treatment for widespread drywood activity. The right option depends on species, extent, home type, and local rules. Ask the provider to explain why it chose one option over another for your home. |
| Do I need a termite report for a home sale? | Some sales require a wood destroying organism report, depending on the buyer, the lender, and local practice. Ask the provider what report it can issue, what areas it covers, and what limits apply. Keep the report with your sale records, and ask what follow up it recommends. |
| How much does termite work cost? | Cost depends on species, extent, home size, access, and treatment type. A small spot treatment costs less than whole structure work. Ask for a total price that names inspection, treatment, repairs if any, and follow up. Do not accept a price that hides follow up fees. |