The cost of termite treatment will vary depending on several things, including the type of termite, the extent of the infestation, and the size of your home. You will need to have a pest control technician inspect your house in order to look for signs of termites. If termites or evidence of termites is found, the type of termite needs to be determined first.
For subterranean termites, the typical treatment options are either bait stations or a liquid treatment. The cost is determined by linear feet of the home’s foundation, rather than the square footage of the home. Linear feet is calculated by adding the length and the width of the foundation, then multiplying by 2.
For example, a home with a foundation that measures 20 feet wide and 20 feet long would calculate like this: 20+20×2=80 linear feet. The price of treatment can range from $8 to $15 per linear foot, meaning a home that is 80 linear feet would cost $640 to $1,200.
Liquid treatments require drilling and trenching around the foundation of the home, and back-flowing gallons of pesticide into the perimeter surrounding the home. It is guaranteed to last for a certain amount of years, usually ten. There could be additional charges applied if extra drilling is required for treatment.
The baiting method can be more discrete, won’t require tearing up the property and may be less harmful to the environment. After the baiting stations are placed, the pest control company will check at specified intervals (which can range from yearly to monthly) to be sure there has not been a surge in termite activity.
The price for the first year of servicing the stations ranges from about $650 to $1,400. After the first year, the fee is usually less, at about 10% of the cost for the initial year.
If the termites in your home are drywood termites, the home will likely require fumigation. Flying drywood termites don’t need to live in damp soil, they’ll invade the house framing itself, making treatment around the perimeter of your foundation ineffective.
Fumigation requires tenting the exterior of the house and fumigating the entire home for two to three days for the average size home. During this time, you must remain outside the house. The cost of termite treatment of this kind can vary widely, depending on the region, but costs in some areas can range from $2000 to $5000.
If you have flying termites, it’s likely you are also in an area that may have subterranean termites, so perimeter treatment may be recommended as well.
Get several written estimates before choosing, and do your due diligence to make sure that the company is reputable and reliable. Find out if the treatment plan will include “entry denial” which consists of blocking all the possible entrances for termites like roof vents, eaves, or holes around utility openings. You also want to know if vacuuming up dead termite carcasses is included, otherwise if you sell the house someday, a home inspector may think the termite carcasses are evidence of a current infestation, and you may be required to pay for a needless extermination.
By arming yourself with knowledge ahead of time, you can have your termite situation remedied as effectively as possible while still paying a reasonable price.
