A restored Victorian home on a tree-lined Central California street — Palo Alto, California service area

Structure Fumigation

Fumigation in Palo Alto, CA

Name: 101 Exterminators Inc.
Address: 635 Sanborn Pl Ste 12, Salinas, CA, 93901, US
Telephone: (831) 500-1613

101 Exterminators performs full-structure fumigation in Palo Alto using Vikane (sulfuryl fluoride), licensed in California under SPCB Lic. #9119. Tenting is the answer when drywood termite evidence is spread through framing we cannot reach — common in the pre-1930 houses of Professorville and Old Palo Alto, where galleries run through inaccessible attic and wall members. When the infestation is localized, we say so and treat it locally instead.

(831) 500-161310% off your first service with a recurring plan

Local Context

Drywood Galleries Outrun the Access in Palo Alto's Two-Story Pre-1930 Houses

Fumigation answers a reach problem, not a severity contest. Western drywood termites (Incisitermes minor) live entirely inside the wood, and a colony leaves no trail on the surface until it kicks frass out of a small hole. In a single-story Eichler with exposed post-and-beam framing, an inspector can see most of the structure and a local treatment usually holds. In a two-story Shingle-style or Colonial Revival house inside the Professorville historic district, the framing sits behind lath and plaster, boxed eaves and a full second floor, and evidence in three separated locations means the parts nobody can see are in play.

Palo Alto's pre-1930 stock is where that math lands. Colonial Revival and Craftsman houses in Professorville went up on old-growth framing before 1930, and they have had close to a century of mild weather — winter highs near 60°F and no hard freeze — for colonies to establish and spread without a dormant season. Remodel work over the decades often buried older framing inside newer walls, so the wood an inspector can see is not the wood that decides the answer.

Vikane penetrates every void, joint and framing member at once, which is exactly what a scattered drywood infestation requires. It leaves no residual, so it does nothing about the next colony that flies in — that is what the follow-up inspection and any exterior wood repair are for. Historic exterior finishes, mature landscaping over the drip line, and the tight setbacks on Palo Alto's older lots all affect how the tarp is set, and we plan those before the date.

How We Work in Palo Alto

Before a Palo Alto fumigation we measure the structure for gas calculation, document every entry point, and walk the preparation list with you at least three days out — food, medication and plants bagged, plus pet and plant staging. On the older lots we plan the tarp around mature oaks, hedges and the tight setbacks common in Professorville and Crescent Park, and we notify neighbors and post the required signage. A licensed clearance company tests the structure before anyone returns.

Palo Alto Climate

Palo Alto has warm summers and seasonal rain. Nearby creeks do not establish soil-foraging termites at a home.

Housing Stock

Older houses in Professorville and Crescent Park stand alongside later Palo Alto construction. The construction and later alterations determine which wood is visible.

Why Local Expertise Matters

In Palo Alto, preserving finishes matters when evaluating how concealed wood might be inspected or treated. Ask for the inspected areas, any limits, and the written basis for a treatment recommendation. A separate Section I/Section II report is available on request; the report itself does not decide a transaction’s repair terms.

Warning Signs

When to Ask About Fumigation in Palo Alto

We manage the entire fumigation process: pre-fumigation inspection and documentation, structure tenting with certified fumigation tarps, introduction of Vikane fumigant to specified concentration, aeration protocol, post-fumigation clearance testing, and coordination with a certified fumigation clearance company before you return. We also provide bagging requirements and preparation guidance for food, medications, and plants.

Multiple locations of frass (termite pellets) throughout the structure — not just one area

Evidence of drywood termites in structural framing, not just surface wood

Previous localized treatments that have not resolved the infestation

Inspector-identified infestation in inaccessible areas (wall cavities, sealed areas)

WDO report showing extensive Section 1 conditions throughout the structure

Visible winged termites (swarmers) emerging from multiple locations

How It Works

What to Expect from Fumigation in Palo Alto

If you already have a pest inspection report, have it ready when you call. The findings and access to the structure help determine whether fumigation is appropriate.

Pre-Fumigation Inspection

We document all entry points, confirm the infestation scope, measure the structure for gas calculation, and review the preparation checklist with you at least 3 days before the fumigation date.

Structure Tenting

Our crew tents the entire structure with specialized fumigation tarps, sealed at the foundation to prevent gas escape. Neighbors are notified as required, and warning signs are posted.

Gas Introduction & Monitoring

Vikane is introduced to calculated concentration and held for the required exposure time. Readings are monitored throughout the process to confirm effective dosage.

Aeration & Clearance

The structure is thoroughly aerated until Vikane levels are below the safe entry threshold. A certified third-party inspector confirms clearance levels before we authorize re-entry.

Why 101 Exterminators

Why Choose 101 Exterminators for Fumigation in Palo Alto

Complete Structure Coverage

Gas fumigant penetrates every void, cavity, and piece of wood in the structure — including areas impossible to reach with liquid or foam treatments.

Vikane — Industry Gold Standard

Vikane (sulfuryl fluoride) is the most widely used and thoroughly studied structural fumigant. It leaves no residual after aeration — the structure is safe to re-enter after clearance.

Third-Party Clearance Testing

Re-entry is only authorized after independent clearance testing confirms gas levels are below threshold. No guesswork on when your home is safe.

Real Estate Compliant

Fumigation clears all Section 1 termite conditions for real estate transactions. We issue the required Completion Notice accepted by lenders and escrow companies.

Common Questions

Fumigation FAQs for Palo Alto

What has to happen to my garden before a fumigation in Palo Alto?

Plants inside the tarp line generally have to be trimmed back or protected, and anything in a pot should be moved off the property. The tarp seals at the foundation, so shrubs tight to the wall get compressed and mature branches over the roof may need clearance — a real consideration on the older lots in Professorville and Crescent Park where oaks and hedges sit close to the house. We walk the drip line with you before the date so the pruning is planned rather than improvised.

Do Palo Alto Eichlers ever need to be tented?

Sometimes, but less often than the older two-story stock. Eichler post-and-beam construction in Greenmeadow, Fairmeadow and Charleston Meadow leaves much of the framing visible — beams, ceiling decking, exposed beam ends — so when drywood termites are found, the galleries are usually accessible and drill-and-inject or borate treatment can reach them. Tenting becomes the honest recommendation when evidence turns up in separated areas or inside members that were closed in by a later remodel or addition.

How long will my family be out of the house for a Palo Alto fumigation?

For the full exposure and aeration schedule the structure requires, which is set by its size, the outside temperature and the target organism rather than by a standard number. You cannot re-enter until a licensed clearance company measures the residual gas and releases the building, and that step is not shortened for anyone. We put the schedule in writing when we set the date, so arrange lodging, pets and any medication you need against that document rather than an estimate over the phone.

Local Pest Pressure

Common Pests We Treat in Palo Alto

Every area has its own pest profile shaped by climate, housing, and geography. These are the pests we see and treat most often in Palo Alto — tap any one to learn how to identify it and what treatment involves.