How to identify and treat termites

Termite damage can cost tens of thousands and is rarely covered by homeowners insurance. DIY treatment is supplemental at best — confirm the diagnosis and get 2–3 professional inspections (most are free) before deciding on a treatment strategy.

Difficulty: Hard Time: 30 min inspection, weeks for full treatment Cost: $0 inspection / $1,500–6,000 pro treatment
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Termites are not a DIY-first pestAverage treated termite damage in the US runs $3,000–8,000. Untreated colonies can do 10x that over years. Even if you handle the spot treatment yourself, a professional inspection with a moisture meter and probe finds damage you'll miss. This is one of the strongest pro-CTA categories on the site.

Tools

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    For inspecting foundation walls, crawl spaces, basement framing.
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    For tap-testing wood (hollow sound = damage) and probing soft spots.
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    Termites need moisture — finding wet wood often finds the colony.

Materials

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    Driven into soil around foundation. Monitor every few months. Useful for early detection AND limited spot control — not standalone treatment for an active infestation.
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    Borate-based wood preservative. Treats accessible bare wood (crawl space framing, attic). Long-lasting, low toxicity. Doesn't reach existing colonies in soil.
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    Professional-grade non-repellent liquid. Where legal for homeowner use, requires trench-and-treat application around the foundation. Read every label warning, follow state rules — this is the same active ingredient pros use.
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Steps

  1. 1

    Confirm termites vs ants

    Mud tubes the width of a pencil running up the foundation = termites (definitive). Discarded wings around windowsills in spring = termite swarmers. Hollow-sounding or soft wood near ground level = damage. Winged ants have a pinched waist; winged termites have a straight body and two equal pairs of wings.

  2. 2

    Photograph and document evidence

    Photos of mud tubes, damaged wood, swarmer wings. Note locations on a sketch of the house. You'll show this to every inspector.

  3. 3

    Get 2–3 professional inspections

    Termite inspections from major companies are usually free. Get multiple opinions — recommendations and quotes vary widely. Ask each inspector to show you the evidence they found and explain their treatment plan. Compare: bait-station vs liquid termiticide vs combination.

  4. 4

    Treat moisture issues immediately

    Fix leaking pipes, downspouts dumping near the foundation, crawl-space humidity, wood-to-soil contact. Termites need water; eliminating it doesn't kill them but slows them and prevents new colonies.

  5. 5

    Decide: pro treatment or supplemental DIY

    Active subterranean termite infestations need professional treatment to clear. Bora-Care on accessible bare wood is useful as supplemental prevention. Monitoring stakes are useful for early detection of future colonies. None of these alone replaces a pro for an active infestation.

  6. 6

    Long-term prevention

    Keep wood mulch 12 inches from the foundation. Store firewood off the ground, away from the house. Maintain 18 inches clearance under pier-and-beam homes. Inspect annually.

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