The short answer
Termites in Central Texas are almost always subterranean termites, which nest in soil and enter the structure through mud tubes along the foundation. Effective treatment means either a continuous liquid termiticide barrier in the soil around the property, or a bait station system that carries a growth regulator back to the colony. Surface sprays do not work on termites and can make the problem harder to find.
What you’re likely seeing
Termites work from the inside out, so the visible signs are usually indirect:
- Mud tubes — pencil-width tunnels of soil and saliva running up the foundation, in the garage, or behind shrubs. This is the clearest sign.
- Swarmers or discarded wings — piles of identical translucent wings on windowsills after a warm spring rain. Termite wings are all the same length; flying ants have longer front wings.
- Hollow-sounding wood — tap baseboards and door frames with a screwdriver handle.
- Bubbling or rippled paint, and doors or windows that suddenly bind.
If you find any of these, leave them undisturbed and call us. Breaking open mud tubes or spraying a colony scatters termites deeper into the structure and destroys the evidence a technician needs.
Why Central Texas is high-risk
Our expansive clay soils crack in summer drought, giving subterranean colonies easy routes to foundations. Slab-on-grade construction — the norm across Hutto, Round Rock and Pflugerville — puts structural wood close to soil contact at plumbing penetrations and expansion joints.
Swarm season runs roughly February through May, typically on warm afternoons after rain. Colonies feed year-round though; winter simply removes the visible swarmers that would otherwise prompt you to look.
How we treat termites
Treatment starts with a full inspection — interior, exterior, garage, and any accessible crawlspace — to confirm the species, locate entry points, and map conducive conditions like leaking spigots or soil piled against siding.
From there, one of two approaches:
- Liquid barrier — a continuous treated zone in the soil around the foundation. Termites passing through it carry the product back to the colony. Best for confirmed active infestations and for pre-emptive protection.
- Bait station system — in-ground stations at intervals around the property containing a growth regulator. Slower to act but eliminates the colony rather than repelling it, and it monitors continuously. Best where drilling or trenching is impractical.
We’ll tell you which fits your property and why, and we don’t upsell a bait system where a barrier does the job.
Reducing your risk
Termites need moisture and a path to wood. You can make the property a harder target:
- Fix leaking spigots, AC condensate lines and gutters promptly.
- Keep mulch, soil and firewood off direct contact with siding and foundation.
- Maintain a visible inspection gap between soil level and any structural wood.
- Grade soil so water drains away from the foundation.
What a visit looks like
Every job starts with a free quote — we walk the property, confirm what you’re actually dealing with, and show you what we found before quoting anything. You’ll get a written price with no hidden fees.
If pests return between scheduled visits, we come back at no extra charge. That’s part of the service, not an upsell.
What affects the price
We quote after seeing the property rather than publishing a flat rate, because the honest answer depends on things we can’t know in advance:
- Property size — square footage and the linear footage of your foundation.
- Severity — an early problem costs considerably less than an established one.
- Service frequency — monthly, bi-monthly or quarterly.
- Access and construction — crawlspace, slab, multi-storey, dense landscaping.
- Interior, exterior or both.
The quote is free and there’s no obligation, so the fastest way to a real number is to request one.
Frequently asked questions
It depends on the linear footage of your foundation, the construction type, whether the infestation is active or preventative, and whether you choose a liquid barrier or a bait system. We give a free written quote so the number reflects your actual property rather than an average.
Almost never. Standard policies treat termite damage as preventable maintenance rather than a sudden event, so repair costs typically fall to the homeowner. That is the main argument for inspecting early.
A liquid barrier treatment on a typical single-family home is usually completed in one visit of several hours. Bait systems are installed in a single visit then monitored on an ongoing schedule.
Retail products do not reach the colony and frequently make professional treatment harder by scattering the infestation. Termite work also requires correct placement of product around the structure, which is why Texas licenses it.
Yes. Call us and we will schedule an inspection and provide the documentation you need for the transaction.
Dealing with termites?
Free quotes across Hutto, Round Rock, Georgetown, Pflugerville, Cedar Park, Leander, Taylor, Manor, Austin, Kyle, Buda and Liberty Hill. Same-day service is often available, and we’ll tell you honestly if you don’t need us.