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Termites

Termite Control

Termites eat wood, and can consequently cause great structural damage to your home if left unchecked. A typical homeowner’s insurance policy does not cover destruction caused by termites, even though they cause over 1 billion dollars in damage to homes throughout the United States each year. Our inspection and treatment program can help you understand the threat of termites, and take the necessary steps to protect your home.

Termite Inspection

You can’t assume your home is termite-free just because you’ve never seen them – they only swarm once or twice a year, and you might miss it! We thoroughly inspect your home or business, looking for the telltale signs of termite infestation.

Termite Inspection Dog

We also use Inspector Marlowe – the Metro Area’s ONLY “World Detector Dog Organization” Certified Termite Detection K-9 Team! The best human inspectors cannot see behind walls where termite activity may be hidden. Inspector Marlowe is trained to smell pheromones given off by termites, and can detect them behind walls and under floors. His nose is so attuned to termites that we are able to offer a written 100% Termite Free Guarantee if he doesn’t find anything.



When Inspectors Marlowe and Roxy are not working, they receive the best pampering care at
Dogtopia of Tysons Corner 703-821-0700
8528-F Tyco Rd., Tysons Corner, VA 22182

Some of the things we look for are:

  • Mud tubes built for traveling above ground
  • Damaged or hollow-sounding wood
  • Pinholes in drywall or wallpaper
  • Small piles of sawdust
  • Piles of small wings
  • Other specific termite indicators

In addition, we offer Real Estate transfer termite inspections.

Termite Treatments

To control these unwanted pests we provide an effective treatment plan, which may include use of:

Termite Facts

Subterranean termites are extremely destructive. First they build tunnels to wooden structures, and then they burrow into those structures to obtain food. Any wood or cellulose-containing material constitutes termite food, and given time to do so, they’ll eat until nothing is left but a shell. Termites avoid light and air, so they build their colonies where you’re not likely to stumble upon them.

Is it a termite or an ant?

On the off chance you do see them, remember that it’s easy to confuse termites with ants. Fortunately, there are features that distinguish them.

Ants

  • narrow waists
  • bent antennae
  • two sets of wings (one wing is longer than the other)

 

Termites

  • thick waists
  • straight antennae
  • two sets of wings (same size)