The call we get most often from Santa Cruz is from a homeowner who has spotted something and is not sure what it means. A pile of small pellets near a baseboard. Wings by a window after a warm evening. A section of wood that sounds wrong when tapped. Those signs are worth taking seriously, and a thorough inspection is the right response to any of them. We inspect the structure, confirm whether termites are active, identify the type, and map how far they have reached before any treatment is quoted. That is how every job starts, whether the concern is a single suspicious patch of framing or a property that has not been looked at in years.
The work covers the full range of what a residential property in a city this size needs. Homeowners dealing with an active infestation, landlords getting a rental ready between tenants, and sellers or buyers who need a WDO inspection before a transaction closes all call for different approaches. We handle all of it, and the process is the same in each case: inspect first, quote second, treat when the facts support it.
Drywood termites establish colonies inside the wood itself, with no soil contact needed. They are common throughout California and the broader region, and properties here are no exception. A drywood infestation can work through attic framing, wall cavities, window trim, and subfloor members for a long time before any surface sign appears. When it does appear, it is usually frass, the small pellet-like droppings pushed out through kick-out holes in the wood surface.
When a drywood infestation has spread through multiple areas of the structure, whole-structure fumigation is the treatment that reaches every part of the building at once. The structure is tented and treated so that wall voids, attic framing, and other areas that localized methods cannot reliably penetrate are all covered. Preparation steps are explained on the call and again before the visit.
Subterranean termites come up through the soil. They build mud tubes to travel from the ground to the wood above, and those tubes along a foundation wall or slab edge are often the first sign a homeowner notices. Once inside the structure, they can move through floor systems and wall framing quickly.
The standard treatment for subterranean activity is a liquid termiticide barrier. The soil around and under the foundation is trenched and treated with a non-repellent termiticide, creating a zone that termites pass through without detecting it. In-ground bait and monitoring stations are another option, placed at intervals around the property perimeter and left in place as an ongoing early-warning system. The two approaches are often paired for broader coverage.
Some properties have both drywood and subterranean activity, or have termite damage alongside moisture problems and wood-to-soil contact that made the structure more vulnerable in the first place. Mulch and firewood against the house are worth a second look. An inspection that covers all of it gives a clear picture before any treatment decision is made. The treatment plan follows the inspection, not the other way around.
A termite inspection is systematic. The inspector covers the full foundation perimeter, checks the crawlspace and subfloor where accessible, examines slab edges, looks at visible framing, and inspects the attic where entry allows. The goal is a complete account of what is present, what type of termite is active, and how far the infestation has spread.
The inspection also notes conducive conditions: moisture issues, wood-to-soil contact points, ventilation problems, and anything else that explains why termites established where they did. Other wood-destroying insects, such as carpenter ants or wood-boring beetles, are noted if they are present, because they sometimes appear alongside termites or independently in the same structure.
Nothing is quoted until the inspection is complete. The report reflects the full picture, and the treatment recommendation follows from that picture. A careful inspection on every job means nothing is assumed and nothing is missed. What each job covers is written out on our page listing each termite control service.
Treatment cost depends on several factors, and there is no single figure that applies to every property. The size of the structure, the way it is built, and how accessible the affected timber is all affect what a job involves. A crawlspace property with subterranean activity at the foundation calls for a different scope than a slab-on-grade home with drywood termites in the attic framing. A widespread infestation that requires whole-structure fumigation is a larger undertaking than a localized spot treatment on an accessible section of wood.
The extent of the infestation matters too. An inspection that finds early-stage activity in one area of the structure is a different conversation from one that maps damage across multiple zones. The quote is based on what the inspection actually confirms.
The rate is confirmed on the call before anything is scheduled. Describe what you have seen, where you saw it, and roughly when. We scope the job on the call, explain what the inspection involves, and give you the price before a visit is booked. Ask what it covers and you get a straight answer.
Call (669) 359-4289 to get the rate before anything is committed.
Termite inspections are booked around your schedule. If you are in the middle of a real estate transaction and need a WDO inspection before a closing date, that is a timeline we work with. A WDO inspection, which stands for wood-destroying organism inspection, is what buyers, sellers, real estate agents, and lenders ask about at the point of sale or refinancing. It covers active termites, other wood-destroying organisms, and evidence of past activity. Call and ask about a WDO inspection when you are ready to move forward.
For occupied homes, the visit is coordinated around the household. For rental properties, we work around the tenant's schedule. For properties that are vacant or being prepared for sale, timing is usually more flexible. Whatever the situation, the process starts with a phone call. We are open every day from 5:00 AM to 11:00 PM.
Call (669) 359-4289 to confirm what the schedule allows.
Not every infestation calls for fumigation or a full perimeter barrier. When the inspection confirms that drywood activity is limited in scope and the affected wood is accessible, a localized spot treatment or borate wood treatment is often the right fit. Borate products are applied directly to the wood and remain active in the treated area. Spot treatment addresses the specific, identified area of activity without requiring a whole-structure approach.
The limit of these methods is access. If the affected timber is inside a wall cavity, spread through the attic framing, or present in multiple areas of the structure, a localized approach cannot reliably reach it. The inspection is what determines which situation you are in. A spot treatment recommended before the full picture is in is a guess, not a plan.
We serve Santa Cruz and the communities nearby throughout Santa Cruz County, including Pasatiempo, Paradise Park, Twin Lakes, Live Oak, and Pleasure Point.
If your property is in or around Santa Cruz, a call to (669) 359-4289 is the fastest way to confirm coverage and get a quote.
The work is the same across the area: inspect the structure, confirm the termite type and the extent of activity, match the treatment to what the inspection finds, and follow up with an annual inspection and monitoring plan to keep the property checked on a regular schedule.
Service availability depends on the location rather than the size of the community. Call with the address to confirm whether the property is within the area we cover.
Yes, and it is one of the first things the inspection takes into account. Older wood-frame homes with crawlspaces present different access points and vulnerabilities than newer slab-on-grade construction. The way the structure is built affects where termites are likely to enter, how far they can spread, and which treatment method can reliably reach the affected timber. The inspection maps the structure before any recommendation is made.
Properties in the same area can often be scheduled together. Call to discuss the addresses and the work involved, and we will confirm whether a combined visit is practical and how it would be priced.
An annual inspection is how new activity gets caught before it becomes a larger problem, even on a property that has been treated. Soil conditions shift, new pressure can develop from neighboring properties, and bait stations need to be checked between visits. A prior treatment addresses what was present at the time. The annual visit is what keeps the structure from going another year without a trained set of eyes on it.
Call (669) 359-4289 to ask about scheduling.
Preparation requirements vary by treatment type. The technician explains what needs to be done before the visit, including any steps related to plants and pets. Follow the preparation instructions as explained, and ask any questions on the call before the visit is scheduled.
Termite damage does not pause while a homeowner decides whether to call. A colony working through floor framing or wall studs is doing more damage this month than it did last month, and the treatment that fits an early-stage infestation is a smaller undertaking than the one that fits a widespread one. The inspection is what stops the guessing and gives a clear answer about where things stand.
A protected foundation. A clear report. A plan you can follow.
Call (669) 359-4289 to get a quote and book your inspection.
We are available every day from 5:00 AM to 11:00 PM. The call is the point that changes things.
Termite treatment covers these nearby towns as well: Los Gatos, Saratoga, Cupertino.
(669) 359-4289