An inspection is where every job begins, and what happens in that first visit shapes everything that follows. The inspector works through the accessible parts of the structure methodically: the foundation perimeter, slab edges, crawlspace and subfloor where access allows, visible framing, and the attic. The goal is not a quick look. It is a complete picture of whether termites are active, what type is present, and how far the infestation has reached before a treatment path is discussed.
Santa Clara's mix of residential neighborhoods, multi-unit buildings, and commercial properties means the inspection scope varies considerably from one address to the next. A property manager dealing with a multi-unit building has different questions than a homeowner preparing to sell. We handle both, along with buyers, sellers, and anyone who has spotted something and wants to know what it means. The inspection is the answer to that question, and the treatment follows from what it finds.
Subterranean termites travel from the soil to the wood above it, and a liquid termiticide barrier is the standard treatment for that path. The soil around and under the foundation is trenched and treated with a non-repellent termiticide, creating a zone that the colony moves through without detecting. The product works its way back through the colony over time.
The foundation perimeter, slab edges, and crawlspace perimeter are all part of the treatment area. For a slab-on-grade structure, that means working along the edges where the slab meets the soil. For a raised foundation, the crawlspace perimeter and pier blocks are included. The structure's construction determines what is reachable and how the treatment is laid in.
The barrier only works where the soil can be reached. Finished concrete, landscaping features, or structures built tight against the foundation wall can limit access in places. The inspection identifies those constraints before any work is quoted, so the treatment plan reflects what the property actually allows rather than what a standard approach assumes.
What a job costs depends on what the inspection finds and what the property requires. The termite type, the size of the structure, how the building is constructed, and how far the infestation has spread all move the number. A contained drywood infestation in accessible framing is a different scope from a widespread subterranean problem working through a large foundation perimeter. Neither can be quoted accurately before the inspection.
The rate is confirmed on the call before anything is scheduled. Ask what it covers and you get a straight answer. There is no pressure to commit before you know the cost, and the price reflects what the inspection actually turns up rather than a default figure applied before the facts are in.
Inspections are booked around your schedule. For a homeowner who has spotted something and wants answers, the call is the first step. For a property manager coordinating around tenant schedules or a real estate transaction with a closing date coming up, we work around the timeline that fits the situation.
When a home is being bought, sold, or refinanced, a buyer, agent, or lender may ask for a WDO inspection. WDO stands for wood-destroying organism, and the inspection covers active termites, other wood-destroying insects, and evidence of past activity. Booking one before a closing date is straightforward. Call, describe the timeline, and we confirm what the schedule allows.
For occupied homes and rental units, the visit is arranged so it works around whoever is there. Preparation steps for any treatment that requires them are explained before the visit, so there are no gaps in what to expect. The scope and the price are settled on the call before anything is booked. What each job covers is written out on our termite control service list.
Properties in the South Bay face pressure from both drywood and subterranean termites, and the right treatment depends entirely on which type the inspection confirms. The two types behave differently, live in different parts of a structure, and require different approaches. Applying the wrong one wastes time and leaves the infestation in place.
Drywood termites establish inside the wood itself. They need no soil contact, which means they can work through attic framing, wall cavities, and window trim without any of the soil-level signs that point to subterranean activity. The warm, dry regional climate suits them, and the inspection looks specifically for their signs: kick-out holes and pellet-like frass below the infested area.
Subterranean termites come from the soil. Their clearest indicator is the mud tube, built to protect the colony as it travels above the soil line. Foundation walls, slab edges, pier blocks, and floor joists near the ground are all areas the inspection examines for them. The treatment that follows, whether a liquid barrier, bait stations, or a combination, is chosen after the inspection maps where the activity is and how the colony is entering the structure.
Moisture problems and wood-to-soil contact do not cause termites, but they create the conditions termites favor. The inspection notes those findings alongside any active termite activity, because addressing them is part of keeping the structure protected over time. A property where the underlying conditions have not changed is a property that stays vulnerable.
When the inspection identifies damaged or infested framing, the treatment is matched to what the timber shows and where it sits in the structure. Accessible framing can often be treated directly. Borate wood treatment applied to exposed lumber is a practical option where the wood can be reached. The approach depends on what the inspection finds and what access the structure allows.
For a contained drywood infestation where the affected area is clearly defined and accessible, a spot treatment addresses the problem without requiring a whole-structure approach. The inspection determines whether the infestation is limited enough for this to be the right fit or whether it has spread far enough that fumigation is the more appropriate path.
A property that has stood empty for a period often has termite activity that has gone undetected. No one has been inside to notice the signs, and the conditions that favor termites, including moisture changes and wood that has not been maintained, may have worsened. An inspection on a property being brought back into use starts from scratch and maps the current state of the structure.
In-ground bait stations placed around the property perimeter work on colony elimination over time and remain in place as an ongoing early-warning system. That system needs to be checked on a regular schedule. Monitoring visits confirm the stations are active and flag any new foraging activity before it reaches the structure. Pairing a bait system with an annual inspection plan is how the property stays ahead of new pressure.
Sometimes an inspection is not the starting point. A contractor opens a wall and finds damaged framing. A property manager notices frass near a baseboard. A previous inspection flagged something and a follow-up is needed to confirm whether the treatment worked. An inspection scoped to what has already been found is a different visit from a full initial walkthrough, and the scope is settled on the call.
A protected foundation. A clear report. A plan you can follow.
We cover Santa Clara and the surrounding communities throughout Santa Clara County, including Sunnyvale, Cupertino, and Campbell, as well as the neighborhoods of Burbank and Fruitdale.
If your property is in or around Santa Clara, call (669) 359-4289 to confirm coverage at your address and get a quote.
The annual visit re-inspects the structure, checks any bait stations in place, and notes new conducive conditions that have developed since the last visit. For a multi-unit building or a commercial property, the inspection scope covers the full perimeter and the accessible interior areas relevant to termite activity. The plan is not a warranty. It is a scheduled check that keeps the property from going another year without a trained inspection, and it produces a documented record of inspection history that property managers and landlords often find useful.
Yes. We can inspect a property regardless of who performed prior treatment. The inspection evaluates current conditions and any evidence of active or past termite activity, independent of the prior treatment history.
Yes, and it is one of the first things the inspection establishes. A slab-on-grade property and a raised-foundation property with a crawlspace require different approaches for a liquid barrier treatment, because the accessible soil and the entry points differ. The construction of the structure shapes the treatment plan, which is why the inspection comes before the quote rather than after it.
A detached garage, shed, or other outbuilding is not automatically included in the main structure's inspection scope. Mention any outbuildings when you call so the quote reflects the full set of structures you want examined.
Yes. The inspector goes through the findings at the end of the visit, covering what was observed, where activity or conducive conditions were found, and what the recommended next steps are. Nothing is left unexplained.
A new mud tube after treatment is a sign that subterranean termite activity has resumed or was not fully addressed.
Call (669) 359-4289 to describe what you found and schedule a follow-up inspection.
Do not remove the tube before the inspection, as its location and condition help identify the source.
Fumigation requires removing or sealing food, medicines, plants, and pets, along with other preparation steps that are specific to the treatment. The full preparation list is explained on the call and again before the visit so nothing is missed.
The regional climate favors drywood termites, which establish inside the wood without soil contact and can spread through attic framing and wall cavities for months before anything visible appears at the surface. In a city with a dense mix of housing types and commercial buildings, pressure from neighboring properties is also a real factor. An inspection is the only way to confirm whether activity is present and how far it has reached.
You are calling someone who knows the local termite pressure. Whether the property is in Santa Clara or in one of the surrounding communities, the call reaches someone who can scope the job, explain the options, and confirm the rate before anything is scheduled. Sunnyvale, Cupertino, Campbell, and the rest of the county are all covered.
Call (669) 359-4289 to get a quote. We are available every day from 5:00 AM to 11:00 PM.
We treat structures in these nearby communities as well: Sunnyvale, Cupertino, Milpitas, Mountain View.
(669) 359-4289