Termite control in Fayetteville and Washington County
Eastern subterranean termites are the region’s most damaging wood pest — and the damage stays hidden until someone looks. Here is what to watch for, how treatment works, and what it costs.
How subterranean termites work
Eastern subterranean termites live in the soil and work at, near or below ground level, moving into wood through mud tubes they build along foundations. A mature colony can number in the hundreds of thousands, and infested timber often looks sound from outside while hollowed within — which is why tapping wood with a screwdriver and finding it soft is such a common first clue.
The classic warning signs are spring swarms of winged insects indoors from February to April, shed wings on windowsills, and mud tubes on foundation walls or piers. If you see any of those, the next step is an inspection that confirms the pest and maps the activity — treatment before identification is money spent blind.
Treatment and typical costs
Treatment follows the structure. A liquid soil barrier works around and under the foundation and gives immediate protection; baiting systems station monitored bait in the yard and suit complex foundations, wells or heavy landscaping. Pricing runs $850–$3,000 for liquid treatment per building and $1,200–$2,500 for a baiting system’s first year, with foundation length, crawlspace access and drilling driving the number. Your written quote after an inspection sets the final price.
Termites
Get a Free QuoteQuestions
- Does a new house need a termite inspection?
- Yes — termites live in the soil, not in the age of the building. New subdivisions with irrigation, mulch beds and landscape timbers give them the same ground contact older homes do. A baseline inspection tells you where your property stands.
- Liquid treatment or baiting — which do I need?
- It depends on the foundation, wells, landscaping and where the activity is. Liquid barriers give immediate protection around the structure; baiting systems suit complex foundations and run on monitoring. An inspection tells you which fits — and the proposal should say why.
- How much does termite treatment cost?
- Typical ranges are $850–$3,000 for a liquid soil barrier per building, $1,200–$2,500 for a baiting system’s first year, and $0–$150 for a standalone inspection. Foundation length, crawlspace access and the size of the job move those numbers — the written quote sets the real price.