Termite Control in Raleigh, NC

• Probe exposed wood for hollow spots
• Look for termite swarms or shed wings of equal size near entry points
• Watch for termite droppings, which appear as small, ridged, wood-colored pellets
• Check crawl spaces and foundation walls for mud tubes, a common sign of subterranean termite activity

Because insurance doesn’t cover termite damage, professional termite control is one of the most important steps a homeowner can take to help protect their property. Once an infestation is confirmed, treatment generally falls into two categories:

1. Termite Baits
2. Termite Liquid Insecticides (Termiticides)

Liquid Termiticides

Barrier treatments work in two directions: they block termites from entering the structure and prevent termites already inside from reaching the soil moisture they need to survive. Liquid termiticides can produce faster initial results and can be applied close to an active infestation. When an infestation is already established, treatment often requires drilling through concrete or slab to pump the volume of solution needed to establish a full barrier, which means professional equipment is essential.

When crawl space access is available, perimeter drenching is used instead of drilling. Non-repellent termiticides are the more effective option: termites can’t see, smell, taste, or avoid them, so they can’t detect gaps in the treated soil and route around it the way they can with older repellent formulas. In the Raleigh area, clay-heavy soils retain liquid termiticide longer than sandy soils, which can extend the protection window depending on your property.

Chemical barrier treatments don’t last indefinitely. Effectiveness typically ranges from 5 to 10 years depending on soil conditions and the product used, which is why bait systems are often used alongside or instead of liquid-only approaches.

Termite Bait Stations & the Sentricon® System

Rather than injecting chemicals into the soil, bait stations are placed in the ground around the exterior of the structure. Termites find the bait, feed on it, and carry it back to the colony, reducing the colony from within. Targeting the termite queen is central to colony elimination: as long as the queen survives, the colony survives. Bait technology is continuously improving, and stations can also serve as a monitoring tool in areas where termites aren’t yet active.

Termite baits are particularly effective in structures that can’t be treated with soil termiticides, in situations where there are concerns about chemical application, and in homes where prior liquid treatments haven’t fully resolved the problem. A full liquid treatment involves specialized equipment, including masonry drills, pumps, large-capacity tanks, and soil treatment rods, and may require hundreds of gallons of termiticide injected alongside the foundation, beneath concrete slabs, and within foundation walls. Our preferred treatment method is the Sentricon® System, which combines targeted baiting with 24/7 colony monitoring.