Termite Inspection & Treatment

Termites on the Front Range

Subterranean termites are native to Colorado and live in much of the state below about 7,500 feet, including the Denver area. Damage to homes here has been less common than in warmer, wetter parts of the country. Colorado State University Extension notes that infestations in residential areas have become more common than they used to be, helped by irrigated lawns that keep the soil moist against foundations and by wood buried in yards, such as old stumps, fence posts and landscape timbers. Many termites in yards feed on that buried wood and never reach a house. Some do, and the damage builds quietly over years, so it is worth checking.

Signs to look for

The most common sign is a swarm of winged termites coming out inside the house, usually in spring or fall. They shed their wings quickly, so a pile of small, equal-sized wings near a window or door is a clue. Termites also build mud tubes, pencil-thin tunnels of soil, up foundation walls, piers and pipes to reach wood while staying out of the dry air. Wood that sounds hollow or has soil packed into its tunnels is another sign. Winged ants are often mistaken for termites. Termites have straight antennae, a thick waist and front and back wings of the same size.

Our inspection

A termite inspection covers the foundation inside and out, the crawl space or basement, the garage, porches and decks, and anywhere wood touches soil. We look for tubes, damage, moisture and the conditions termites like. Then we tell you plainly what we found. If there is no sign of termites, we say so, and we will not sell you a treatment you do not need. If we find termites or old damage, we show you where, with photos.

Treatment options

The two common treatments are a liquid termiticide applied to the soil along and under the foundation, which creates a treated zone termites cannot cross without contact, and a bait system, where monitoring stations go into the soil around the house and termite bait is added when termites show up. Each has trade-offs in cost, disruption and how long it takes to work, and we explain both before you choose. The EPA advises hiring a licensed, trained professional for termite treatment, because a treatment done wrong can contaminate a home or a nearby well and still fail to stop the termites. In Colorado, termite work for hire requires a license from the Colorado Department of Agriculture in the wood-destroying organism category, and our termite technician holds one.

After treatment

We offer a renewable termite warranty with a yearly inspection. The terms are written on your agreement, including what is covered and what is not. Fixing the conditions that drew termites in, such as wood touching soil, leaking gutters or sprinklers soaking the foundation, matters as much as the treatment.