Pro edition
Termite Guide
The one pest on this site where waiting is measured in thousands of dollars, and the one where the treatment choice has real trade-offs rather than a single right answer.
How they get in
- Soil-to-wood contact
- Any point where framing, siding or a deck post touches soil. The single most common entry we find.
- Foundation cracks
- They need a gap of about 1/32". Settlement cracks qualify.
- Mud tubes over the block
- When there is no crack, they build a covered road up the wall. Pencil-width, brittle, on the shaded side.
- Plumbing and utility penetrations
- Unsealed penetrations through a slab are a straight route in with no tube required.
What a real inspection covers
- Full crawlspace or basement perimeter, with a light held at grade
- Sounding of accessible sills, joists and band boards
- Moisture reading anywhere the wood sounds soft
- Exterior grade check — soil depth against siding, mulch depth, deck posts
- Swarm evidence: discarded wings at sills and window tracks
- A written report with photographs, whether or not anything is found
Barrier, bait, or both
| Method | How it works | Strengths | Trade-offs | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liquid barrier (soil-applied termiticide) | A continuous treated zone in the soil around and under the structure. | Fast. Kills on contact with the treated zone. Long residual, typically 5–10 years. | Trenching and drilling through slabs and patios. Much larger volume of product. A gap in the barrier is a gap in the protection. | Active infestation you want stopped now. |
| Bait stations | In-ground stations on a perimeter, checked quarterly; foragers carry the bait back and the colony declines. | Minimal product, no drilling, targets the colony rather than the perimeter. Doubles as monitoring. | Slower — months, not days. Only works if the stations are actually serviced on schedule. | Prevention, monitoring, and homes where drilling is impractical. |
| Both | Liquid where activity is confirmed, stations around the rest. | Stops the current problem and monitors for the next one. | Costs more up front than either alone. | Confirmed activity in a house you intend to keep. |
Disclosure, and what bites at closing
- North Carolina requires known material defects to be disclosed on the Residential Property Disclosure Statement — past termite damage and treatment included
- A wood-destroying insect report (the WDIR / “termite letter”) is routinely required by lenders, and is a snapshot rather than a warranty
- Prior treatment is not a defect; concealing it is
- Keep the treatment records and the transferable warranty — both add value at closing
- A clear inspection today says nothing about last year, which is why buyers ask for the history as well as the letter
General information, not legal advice. Rules change and closings differ — ask your attorney or agent.