Structural Pest Control
Termite Control in Palo Alto, CA
101 Exterminators does termite control in Palo Alto as a California-licensed structural pest company, SPCB Lic. #9119, working Santa Clara County since 2005. The Professorville historic district, bounded by Addison, Waverley, Kingsley and Ramona, is built almost entirely of Colonial Revival, Craftsman and Shingle-style houses that went up before 1930 on old-growth framing. Western drywood termites have had that wood for generations. We inspect the whole structure, write the findings up by section, then treat.
Warning Signs
Signs You Need Termites Service in Palo Alto
We perform thorough visual inspections of all accessible structural wood, attic spaces, crawl spaces, fencing, and exterior wood. Our reports clearly distinguish Section 1 conditions (active infestations requiring immediate treatment) from Section 2 conditions (conditions that are likely to lead to infestation). We issue California-required WDO reports for real estate transactions and carry the licensing required by the Structural Pest Control Board.
Hollow-sounding wood when tapped — galleries eaten from inside
Frass (fine sawdust-like pellets) near baseboards or windowsills — drywood termite excrement
Discarded wings near doors or windows in spring — swarmers leaving to start new colonies
Blistering or bubbling paint on wood surfaces — subterranean tunnel activity underneath
Mud tubes running up foundation walls or piers — subterranean termite foraging trails
Soft or sagging flooring near walls — severe structural damage to subfloor joists
Small holes in wood with discoloration around the edges
Real estate transaction requiring a WDO inspection and clearance report
How It Works
Our Termites Process in Palo Alto
Every job follows the same methodical approach — no shortcuts, no guesswork. Here is what to expect when you work with us in Palo Alto.
Comprehensive Inspection
Our licensed inspector examines all accessible wood, crawl spaces, attic framing, exterior siding, eaves, and fencing. We document every finding with photos and written notes.
WDO Report & Recommendations
You receive a state-compliant Structural Pest Control Report distinguishing active infestations, wood damage, and conducive conditions. No confusing fine print.
Targeted Treatment Plan
We recommend the most effective and least invasive treatment — whether that's localized spot treatment, fumigation for widespread drywood infestation, or subterranean bait systems.
Treatment & Clearance
We execute the treatment per plan, return for any follow-up needed, and issue a Completion Notice clearing the structure once all Section 1 items are resolved.
Why 101 Exterminators
Termites You Can Count On in Palo Alto
State-Licensed Inspectors
Our inspectors hold California Structural Pest Control licenses and are compliant with SPCB regulations for both inspections and treatments.
WDO Reports for Real Estate
We issue the Structural Pest Control Reports required for California home sales, refinancing, and VA/FHA loans — accepted by all lenders and escrow companies.
Both Termite Species Covered
Central California has both drywood and subterranean termites. We identify which species is present and apply the treatment protocol specific to each.
Free Re-Inspection Policy
If signs return within our warranty period, we come back at no charge. Our work is backed, not just guaranteed on paper.
Common Questions
Termite Control FAQs for Palo Alto
Do Eichler homes in Palo Alto get termites even though they sit on a slab?
Yes — the slab changes which species you get, not whether you get one. Subterranean termites (Reticulitermes) travel up through slab cracks, expansion joints and plumbing penetrations to reach the sill plate and wall framing. Drywood termites skip the soil entirely and enter through the exposed beam ends, fascia and low-slope roof edges that post-and-beam construction in Greenmeadow, Fairmeadow and Charleston Meadow leaves open to weather. Both turn up in Eichler inspections.
How do you treat termites in a Professorville house without damaging the original woodwork?
Method follows the location of the infestation, and localized work is often possible when the galleries are accessible. In pre-1930 Palo Alto houses that usually means drill-and-inject or borate treatment of specific framing members in the attic and eaves, which leaves finished interior surfaces alone. Fumigation becomes the honest answer when evidence is spread through framing we cannot reach. We tell you which of the two the inspection actually supports.
What does termite damage near San Francisquito Creek look like compared to the rest of Palo Alto?
Near the creeks it looks like mud, not frass. Subterranean termites build shelter tubes — pencil-width mud tubes running up stem walls, piers and slab edges — because they need contact with soil moisture, and the corridors along San Francisquito, Matadero, Adobe and Barron creeks hold that moisture long after the rain stops. Drywood termites in the drier hillside neighborhoods leave dry pellets instead, pushed out of small kick-out holes. The two findings call for different treatments.
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.
Termite Control · Palo Alto
Free Pest Evaluation in Palo Alto
CA licensed and insured. Written estimate before any work begins. Urgent situations in Palo Alto are prioritized.