Getting a termite inspection on the calendar should not be complicated. One call tells us what we need to know about the property, and we take it from there. The Sandman Termite inspects homes and commercial buildings throughout Sunnyvale, confirms what is actually present, and recommends a treatment that fits the termite type and the structure. No guesswork, no upselling a method that does not match the situation.
Sunnyvale is a large city with a wide range of property types, from single-family homes and condominiums to multi-unit residential buildings and commercial premises. Each one presents its own inspection challenges and its own treatment considerations. Whatever the property looks like, the process starts the same way: a thorough inspection, a clear explanation of the findings, and a price before anything is scheduled.
Same-day inspections are often available, and scheduling takes a single phone call. When you call, we ask a few straightforward questions about the property, confirm the address, and set a time that fits your situation. Whether the property is occupied by a tenant, being prepared for sale, or actively used as a commercial space, we work around what is already happening there.
Real estate transactions move on tight timelines, and a WDO report that does not arrive on time can stall a closing. When an inspection is needed against a deadline, let us know on the call and we will prioritize accordingly. The report documents what was found and what was not, giving lenders, agents, and buyers the paperwork they need to move forward. We work with all parties in the transaction, not just the one who placed the call.
Termite work in Sunnyvale does not follow a single template. A condominium with shared walls, a commercial building with a slab foundation, and a single-family home with a crawlspace each present a different set of conditions. The inspection is where we figure out which situation we are actually in, and the treatment follows from that.
If an inspection turns up active termite activity, the next step is understanding what type of termite is involved and how far it has spread. Drywood termites live inside the wood itself and can be present throughout a structure without any soil contact. Subterranean termites come from the ground and leave a different trail. The treatment for one is not the treatment for the other, and the inspection findings are what determine which approach is right. The inspection findings and treatment cost are explained together so there are no open questions before work begins.
Treatment handles the active infestation. Keeping the property protected after that is a separate and ongoing part of the job. An annual inspection re-checks the full structure so that any new activity is caught before it has time to spread. For properties with in-ground bait and monitoring stations already installed, those are checked and serviced as part of the ongoing plan. We take pride in the protection we leave behind.
A commercial building or a multi-unit residential property has more at stake when termite activity is found: more occupants to coordinate around, more documentation needed, and often a tighter window for treatment. We work with property managers and building owners to schedule inspections and treatment with as little disruption as possible. Records of each visit are kept so there is a clear history of the property's condition over time.
The specifics for a job like this are on the page covering termite work.
If a property has already been treated and is on an ongoing monitoring plan, the annual re-inspection is not a formality. It is the visit that catches new activity before it becomes a structural problem. The inspector covers the same ground as the original inspection, including areas that were previously affected, and documents the current condition of the structure. If anything has changed, you hear about it on the same visit.
When the inspection confirms that structural wood has been compromised, the treatment plan addresses both the active infestation and the affected framing. Subterranean termites feeding on floor joists or wall plates call for a soil treatment that intercepts the colony at its entry points. Drywood termites working through attic framing or wall studs may call for fumigation if the infestation has spread broadly, or a targeted approach if it is still contained. The scope of the damage and the accessibility of the affected wood both factor into which method fits.
Older construction in Sunnyvale tends to use heavier timber framing, and that wood can hold an infestation for a long time before visible damage appears. Older homes also present access challenges: crawlspaces that are tighter, framing that is closer to the soil, and materials that respond differently to treatment. The inspection takes those factors into account, and the treatment recommendation reflects the actual construction rather than a standard approach applied regardless of what is there.
Not every infestation calls for a whole-structure response. When activity is confirmed in a specific, accessible area and has not spread through the broader structure, a targeted spot treatment or borate wood treatment may be the right fit. Borate treatments are applied directly to exposed wood and work against termites in that section of the structure. The technician explains what the application involves and what preparation, if any, is needed beforehand. Subterranean or drywood, we treat the one you actually have.
Termite treatment pricing depends on what the inspection finds, not on a standard rate applied to every property. The size of the structure, how it is built, how accessible the affected wood is, and which treatment method suits the situation are all factors that move the number. A large commercial building with a complex foundation is priced differently from a single-family home with a straightforward crawlspace, and a widespread drywood infestation requiring fumigation is priced differently from a contained spot treatment.
You get a clear price on the call after the inspection, before any work is authorized. The inspection findings and treatment cost are covered together. If you want to know what the quote will cover, ask and you will get a straight answer. Simple scheduling. Competitive treatment pricing. Zero runaround.
Subterranean termites travel through the soil to reach a structure, and a liquid termiticide barrier treatment addresses that at the source. The soil around and under the foundation is trenched and treated with a non-repellent termiticide, creating a zone that intercepts foraging termites before they reach the wood. The colony does not detect the treated zone and avoid it. It encounters it and is eliminated through contact.
For a barrier treatment to be done properly, the foundation perimeter needs to be reachable. Hardscape, planters, and structures built against the foundation can affect access, and the technician will work through what is reachable during the inspection. Products are applied according to the label, and the technician will explain any preparation needed before the visit, including re-entry timing. Booking your inspection takes one phone call. Let us take care of the colony.
We provide termite inspections and treatment throughout Sunnyvale and the surrounding area. Nearby communities we regularly work in include:
If your property is in or near any of these areas, call to confirm service availability. Coverage for addresses farther out in Santa Clara County can be confirmed on the same call.
This is a local termite company, answerable to the homes it protects. Whether you are a homeowner, a property manager, or a real estate agent working a transaction in Sunnyvale, we handle every stage of the process from the first inspection to the annual follow-up.
Mulch holds moisture and can give subterranean termites a favorable environment close to the foundation. Deep mulch that contacts the siding or foundation framing is a condition the inspector will flag. Keeping mulch pulled back from the foundation line is a practical step that reduces one of the common risk factors.
That material is likely frass, which is the pellet-like droppings that drywood termites push out of small kick-out holes in infested wood. Finding it below a windowsill, baseboard, or piece of furniture is a signal worth taking seriously. Call for an inspection rather than waiting to see if more appears.
Yes. Soil that slopes toward the foundation, irrigation that keeps the soil near the house consistently wet, and plantings that hold moisture against the siding all create conditions that favor subterranean termite activity. The inspector looks at the conditions around the foundation as part of the visit, not just the structure itself.
Yes, and coordinating around occupants is a standard part of commercial and multi-unit work. The inspection itself does not require tenants to leave. Treatment logistics depend on the method: a soil barrier treatment around the foundation perimeter generally does not require unit access, while fumigation of the full structure does require the building to be vacated for the treatment period. The technician will explain what is required for each method before anything is scheduled, so tenants and property managers can plan accordingly.
A WDO inspection covers the full structure, not just the areas a homeowner has flagged. The inspector works through the foundation perimeter, crawlspace or subfloor framing, attic, interior wood, and exterior surfaces. Reported activity is a starting point, not the boundary of the inspection. What is found in the areas that were not flagged is often as important as what is found where the homeowner already suspected a problem.
Yes. Construction type plays a direct role in how a treatment is scoped and priced. A slab foundation requires different barrier treatment logistics than a raised foundation with a crawlspace, and a larger or more complex structure affects the scope of fumigation. The inspection accounts for construction type before any price is given.
Yes. When part of a structure is blocked, sealed, or otherwise inaccessible, the report documents that so you know exactly what was and was not examined. If those areas become accessible later, we can return to inspect them. A complete picture matters before any treatment decision is made.
Yes. We can inspect a property that has had prior treatment and document its current condition regardless of who performed the original work. If in-ground bait stations are already in place, we will assess their condition and placement during the inspection. What happens next depends on what the inspection finds. If the prior treatment is holding and the stations are serviceable, we can continue monitoring from that point. If new activity is present or the prior treatment needs to be supplemented, we will explain what that involves before any additional work is authorized.
Yes. Vacancy does not change termite activity, and in some cases an unoccupied property goes longer without anyone noticing warning signs. An annual inspection and monitoring plan works regardless of whether the property is occupied full time. Call (669) 359-4289 to set up a plan for a seasonal or part-time property.
Tell us the address, what you have noticed, and whether the property is occupied. By the end of the call, you will have an inspection time on the calendar, a clear sense of what the visit covers, and confirmation of the inspection cost before anything is scheduled. Call The Sandman Termite at (669) 359-4289. We are available every day from 5:30 AM to 9:30 PM. Let's get your home inspected.
Check our complete coverage area. We serve these towns nearby as well: Mountain View, Santa Clara, Los Altos, Cupertino.
Not every termite situation calls for the same response, and we do not treat them that way. We start with a thorough inspection to confirm which termite type is active, how far it has spread, and what the structure looks like before we recommend anything. The table below lays out each method we use, what it is designed to do, and the kind of situation it fits best. When you call, we match the treatment to what we actually find.
| Treatment Option | How It Works | Best For | What to Expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Inspection and Monitoring | full structure re-checked each yearbait stations serviced and reviewed where presentfindings documented at every visit | Any property that has been treated and any homeowner who wants ongoing early detection rather than waiting for visible damage to appear | Recurring annual visit. Inspector checks for new mud tubes, frass, swarmers, and damaged wood, and reviews previously treated areas for any change in conditions. Builds a documented record of the property over time. This is the follow-up that keeps protection current after the initial treatment. |
| Wood and Spot Treatment | localized application to accessible infested woodborate treatments penetrate and protect treated sectionstargeted rather than whole-structure | Contained drywood termite activity in accessible areas where the infestation has not spread widely through the structure | Single or limited application depending on the scope. Technician confirms which approach fits the situation after the inspection. Not a substitute for fumigation when activity is widespread, but a proportionate response when the infestation is limited. |
| Liquid Termiticide Barrier | trench and treat soil around the foundationnon-repellent termiticide creates a treated zonetermites contact the product moving through soil | Subterranean termites entering from the soil toward the foundation | Single primary application with the foundation perimeter and slab edges addressed as the job requires. Products are applied according to label directions. Annual inspection and monitoring recommended to confirm the barrier is holding and catch any new activity early. |
| Pre-Construction Soil Treatment | soil treated before the slab is pouredcreates a termiticide zone at the foundation levelapplied at the right stage of the construction schedule | New construction in areas with subterranean termite pressure, where treating the soil before the foundation goes down is more efficient than treating after the build is complete | Single application timed to the construction schedule. We work with contractors and project managers to confirm the right treatment window. No follow-up treatment needed at the pre-construction stage, though annual inspection after occupancy is recommended. |
| Whole-Structure Fumigation | structure sealed with tarpstreatment reaches wood throughout the entire buildingcovers areas inaccessible to localized methods | Widespread drywood termite infestations that have spread through walls, attic framing, and structural members beyond what spot treatments can reach | Multi-step process requiring preparation before the visit. Technician walks you through everything needed beforehand, including re-entry timing per the product label. Addresses the full structure at once rather than section by section. |
| Termite Inspection (including WDO) | full walk of foundation, crawlspace, attic, and exterior woodchecks for mud tubes, frass, swarmers, and damaged wooddocuments findings before any treatment is recommended | Any homeowner with suspected activity, buyers and sellers in a real estate transaction, and lenders requiring a WDO clearance letter before a sale or refinance can close | Single visit with documented findings reviewed with you before treatment is discussed or priced. WDO report also covers other wood-destroying organisms inspectors are required to note, including carpenter ants, wood-boring beetles, and wood-decay fungus. Same-day inspections are often available. |
| Bait and Monitoring System | in-ground stations installed around the property perimeterforaging termites find and feed on the baitactive ingredient works through the colony over time | Subterranean termites, often paired with a liquid barrier for broader coverage on larger or more complex properties | Multi-step ongoing process. Stations are checked on a schedule and serviced as needed. Provides early-warning monitoring so new activity shows up in the stations before it reaches the structure. Works gradually rather than all at once. |
Call us to schedule a termite inspection or get a treatment quote. We are available every day from 5:30 AM to 9:30 PM at (669) 359-4289.
(669) 359-4289