The Price of Termite Proofing Your Floors

In everyday language, the word "floor" has a simple meaning, but in the world of residential construction, floors can be fairly complex. A concrete slab can be the main floor in the lowest level of a house. Alternatively, a house with a crawlspace will have wood or steel floor joists and a wood subfloor. Upper level floors typically have joist and subfloor systems.

The cost of termite treatment for a floor depends on the type of floor and the accessibility of the floor for treatment. Wood floors that are infested with termites can be treated with direct wood treatments, fumigation, heat treatment or electronic control methods. Concrete foundation floors can be treated with termiticide materials applied to the soil beneath the floor.

Accessibility to a floor is determined by the floor covering. For example, it is fairly easy to drill holes in the floor of an unfinished basement, if necessary. However, a homeowner may not want to pull up carpet or tile to access the slab in a finished basement. Similarly, it is easier to access the underside of a first-story floor from an unfinished basement or through a drop-in ceiling than it is to access a second-story floor from a finished drywall ceiling.

Repair Termite Damage to a Floor
Homeowners insurance does not cover the cost to repair existing termite damage to a floor – or the additional damage necessary to access the treatment area in the floor. An experienced termite control expert will use the least invasive methods possible to access infestations and provide treatment.

There are a few instances when pest control companies are responsible for repairing the floor:

  • If the pest control professional needs to drill holes in the concrete to access the infestation, he or she must fill these holes after treatment is completed.

  • If you have a termite bond, the company may guarantee the treatment and provide retreatment and repairs after the initial treatment at no additional cost. (Check your bond for exclusions.)

Termite-proof Flooring
In areas that experience high rates of termite damage, homeowners may look for building materials that are termite-proof or termite-resistant.

  • Pressure-treated wood is termite-resistant and should be used for the structural components of floors. This type of wood is especially important in areas that are particularly susceptible to termite damage, such as crawlspaces.

  • There are a number of termite-resistant floor coverings, including tile, bamboo and cork. Some hardwoods are moderately or very resistant to termites, including cedars and redwoods.

The average homeowner will spend $3,000 to repair termite damage.

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