Subterranean Termite Treatment Costs – Get Cheaper Termite Control Now

Subterranean, Termites

Subterranean termite treatments have undergone remarkable advancement throughout the years. New innovations in termiticides and termite barriers have made it possible for pest control professionals to both curb populations of termites that are living in local soils and effectively address termites that are already foraging inside of the home.

Given the vast differences that can exist between building structures, accessibility, soil qualities, and other factors, however, the average subterranean termite treatment cost can vary greatly from one property to the next.

Moreover, any successful treatment will often involve more elements than most homeowners initially suspect.

Video explaining how subterranean termite treatments are often priced

Addressing A Three-Fold Problem

There are three primary scenarios that all homeowners with subterranean termite infestation face.

These include colonies of termites that are foraging inside of the home, termites that are busy migrating into the home through the soil surrounding said home, and several aspects that can make the building and the soil surrounding it very attractive to termites. 

Thus, when calculating the costs of treating subterranean termites, homeowners have to consider this as a multi-pronged effort.

Only using chemicals to address termite-affected building materials will not completely prevent termites living in the soil from relocating to other areas of a building or structure, foraging there instead.

A failure to address moisture issues, areas of direct wood-to-ground contact around the home, and eliminate landscaping features that attract and support termites (such as wood mulch or old, rotten tree stumps), will diminish the long-term efficacy of the overall treatment plan.

How much does subterranean termite treatment cost?

The price of subterranean termite treatment depends on the type of treatment. There are several main types of treatments for underground termites, including termite barriers (or termite trenching), termite baiting (a surveillance and monitoring solution used for subterranean termites), and subterranean termite repellents are the main three control methods for subterranean termites. We discuss each of these in more depth next.

Using Barriers To Treat Subterranean Termites

Termite barriers are most effective and least costly when these are implemented during the initial construction of new buildings.

Even seasoned pest control professionals can have a hard time completely covering areas beneath an existing building structure when applying termite barriers. 

What is the cost of termite barrier treatment?

An average termite barrier treatment costs $10 to $15 per linear foot. To calculate a rough estimate for your home, measure the perimeter and multiply by $10 for a lower estimate and $15 for a higher estimate.

Thus, these treatments may result in a few areas of vulnerability. They should therefore be used in conjunction with other methods for addressing termites in the soil.

One difficulty of termite trenching and barrier treatment is that many homes have concrete slaps that must be drilled through to apply sufficient termiticide. Drilling through slaps increases labor costs.

A drill-through-slab application of termite barrier products can range in cost from $1,200 to $2,000, depending on the square footage of the treatment area.

Treating Subterranean Termites With Baiting Systems

Baiting systems can be both costly and time-consuming, but they can also be very effective.

With termite bait, the major challenge is ensuring that bait discovery occurs in a timely fashion so that the damages caused by foraging are minimized. Termites share secretions and saliva through a social and food-sharing process known as trophallaxis.

Thus, once bait systems are discovered, the included poisons can be passed throughout the entire colony within a very nominal amount of time.

Termite bait extermination for a 1,250 square foot home can cost between $1,500 and $1,750 while bait extermination for a 2,500 square foot home often starts at $3,000.

These costs, however, are nominal considering that an aggressive termite colony can cause tens of thousands of dollars in damages in mere months if left unchecked.

Video explaining a few methods of repelling subterranean termites

The Application Of Repellent And Non-Repellent Chemicals

Subterranean termites cannot detect non-repellent chemicals. Moreover, much like baiting systems, these are designed to be passed throughout the colony by trophallaxis.

Repellent chemicals, however, are toxic to termites but not harmful to humans or other mammals. Thus, both treatment methods certainly have their own appeal.

Chemical fumigation efforts are typically priced by the linear foot and are often comparable to the costs of using baiting systems.

The use of fumigation methods is frequently essential for targeting termites living within the actual building structure (fumigation is normally used on drywood termites), whereas in-soil chemicals, barriers, and baiting systems typically target termites living in the soil around the building.

Due to this fact, the total cost of subterranean termite treatment will reflect a multi-pronged approach. Pest control professionals and homeowners with previous termite experience know that this is the best way to ensure the long-term efficacy of the treatment plan.

Ongoing Property Maintenance

One of the greatest factors affecting the cost of subterranean termite treatments is the fact that these bugs can continue thriving in their natural environment, despite aggressive localized treatment efforts.

Killing one colony of termites in or around the home is not sufficient for staving off future infestations. This is especially true when baiting systems are used or when termite barriers lack integrity.

In order to remain effective over the long term, a subterranean termite treatment requires the implementation of a comprehensive and diligent maintenance plan. This maintenance can include but is not limited to:

  • Efforts to identify and resolve all structural and plumbing leaks in a timely fashion
  • The removal or containment of wood features at the property exterior such as wood, landscaping mulch, and stored firewood
  • The avoidance of direct wood-to-ground contact at outside structures like porches and patios
  • Covering or eliminating standing bodies of waters

Pest control professionals help their clients implement affordable plans that provide long-lasting results. They know how to best structure multi-pronged treatment according to the needs and layout of individual properties.

Moreover, they are capable of identifying all of the structural and landscaping features that must be addressed as part of the immediate and ongoing maintenance plan.

2 thoughts on “Subterranean Termite Treatment Costs – Get Cheaper Termite Control Now”

  1. Thank you so much for talking about the termite tubes that subterranean termites make. I saw those near my foundation this fall but I just brushed them away. I was confused about how they got there. I just called a pest company to come perform an inspection. I’m really hoping it’s not too big of a problem!

    Reply
    • Yeah, no problem Selena. I’m just trying to share some information because I didn’t know about any signs of termite activity and I ended up paying a lot of money to repair the termite damage in my home. Hope you caught it before it became a large infestation. The good news I can give you is that termites do not typically work incredibly fast. Unless they have already established a very large colony, they spread relatively slow. Just relax, see what the pest company says, then maybe get a few more quotes so you can compare the prices and decide on the best termite company to go with. Also ask around your community for any feedback on the companies that come to inspect your home. Hope that helps and that you don’t have very many in your home.

      Reply

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