Subterranean termites work quietly. We find them before the repair bill does.
Eastern subterranean termites are active across Suffolk County and rarely announce themselves. By the time damage is visible, colonies have often been feeding for years. We inspect thoroughly, document what we find in writing, and recommend treatment based on your home's construction — not a script.
What we look for
Six conditions that put a Long Island home on the termite watch list.
- Swarmers indoorsWinged reproductives emerging near windows, sills, or the foundation in spring. The single most common way homeowners discover an established colony.
- Discarded wingsSmall piles of matched, equal-length wings on sills, in webs, or near light sources after a swarm.
- Mud tubesPencil-width shelter tubes running up foundation walls, piers, or crawl space framing. Termites build them to keep moisture in and predators out.
- Hollow or blistered woodTrim, sills, and framing that sound papery when tapped or give under light pressure. Damage follows the grain and packs galleries with soil.
- Wood-to-soil contactDeck posts, steps, siding, and landscape timbers touching grade give termites a direct, hidden route inside.
- Chronic moistureFailed grading, clogged gutters, crawl space humidity, and leaking hose bibs create the conditions colonies need. Fixing these is treatment, not housekeeping.
How a termite inspection runs
- Exterior and grade surveyFoundation walls, slab expansion joints, porches, decks, siding contact points, and any wood touching soil. We probe suspect wood rather than guess at it.
- Interior and structural areasAccessible basements, crawl spaces, utility penetrations, sill plates, and finished areas where activity commonly shows first.
- Conducive conditionsGrading, drainage, ventilation, and moisture sources documented separately, because these drive the risk regardless of whether activity is present today.
- Written findingsYou get a report describing what was found, what it means, and what we recommend — including the option to do nothing yet, when that's the honest answer.
- Treatment or monitoringWhere treatment is warranted we use products registered in New York for the application. Where it isn't, monitoring gives you a way to catch activity early.
A note on termite products in New York
New York restricts termiticides more tightly than most states, and not every product advertised nationally is legal for soil application here. We select from what New York State actually registers for the job and apply it to the label. If a competitor quotes you a product, it's fair to ask whether it's registered in New York for soil treatment — the answer isn't always yes.
Real estate and WDI inspections
We perform wood-destroying insect inspections and complete the NPMA-33 form for real estate transactions across the North Shore. If you're buying, selling, or refinancing and need an inspection on a deadline, call or text — we schedule these quickly because closings don't wait.
Why early detection matters
Termite damage is cumulative and almost never covered by homeowners insurance. A colony found in year two is a treatment. The same colony found in year eight can be a treatment plus a carpenter. Annual inspections are the cheapest insurance available on a wood-framed house.
Where we provide this service
Northport, East Northport, Huntington, Halesite, Centerport, Greenlawn, Cold Spring Harbor, Fort Salonga, and the surrounding North Shore communities. See all service areas.
What this looks like in the field
Photos from actual jobs on the North Shore.
Steve recently helped us with a termite concern and the experience was excellent from start to finish. He performed a very detailed inspection of the property and explained everything he was looking for along the way. What really stood out was how much he educated us about moisture conditions, wood-to-soil contact, drainage, and other factors that can attract termites over time. Instead of trying to scare us into unnecessary work, he gave us honest recommendations and helped us understand both immediate and long-term prevention. It honestly felt more like having a knowledgeable consultant at the house than just a pest control company.
Not sure what you're dealing with?
Send a photo by text and we'll tell you what it is. Identification is free, and it's the step that determines everything else.