Structural Pest Control
Termite Control in Redwood City, CA
101 Exterminators does termite control in Redwood City as a California-licensed structural pest company, SPCB Lic. #9119. The Santa Cruz Mountains block most of the marine fog here, so summer afternoons sit in the high 70s and low 80s while the coast stays grey. That warmth stretches the drywood swarm season across the Mount Carmel and Centennial bungalows. We inspect first, then report by section.
Home maintenance
How do you keep termites out of a Redwood City home?
Protect the attic from drywood termites and the soil line from subterranean ones. Redwood City averages July highs of 81°F and about 18 days a year above 90°F, so attics and sunny trim stay hot and dry for months. Drywood termites like that wood, while irrigated yards keep the soil damp for the subterranean kind.
Screen attic and gable vents
Drywood swarmers fly in during summer and fall looking for dry wood. Check that attic and gable vents have intact fine screens, and replace torn ones before July, when Redwood City’s hottest stretch begins.
Keep paint on exposed wood
Bare or cracked wood on rafter tails, fascia and window trim gives drywood termites a place to start. Repaint sun-beaten sides of the house on a regular cycle, especially on Stambaugh-Heller’s 1880s homes.
Run irrigation away from the walls
July averages no rain at all, so lawns and beds depend on sprinklers. Point heads away from the foundation and siding, and fix drip lines that soak the bed against the house.
Clear wood from the soil line
Fence posts, deck stairs and planter boxes that touch soil give subterranean termites a hidden route. Raise them on concrete or trim them clear, and keep firewood off the ground and away from walls.
Sweep and recheck any pellet pile
Six-sided pellets under eaves or in the attic mean an active drywood colony. Sweep them up, note the date and look again in a week; fresh pellets are the evidence an inspector needs.
When to do it
Vents and paint before July; soil-line work in September, before subterranean termites swarm after the first fall rain.
Maintenance guidance: UC IPM, Drywood termites
Warning Signs
When to Ask About Termite Control in Redwood City
We check visible wood in accessible attics, crawl spaces, fences, and exterior areas, then explain the next step. For written findings needed in a sale, book a paid structural pest inspection. Its WDO report separates Section 1 from Section 2 conditions.
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
What to Expect from Termite Control in Redwood City
Tell us where you found wings, pellets, mud tubes or damaged wood. If you need a written report for a sale or refinance, ask for a formal WDO inspection when you book.
Visual Review or Formal Inspection
A licensed technician reviews visible signs in accessible areas and explains them. For a sale, a separately booked paid structural pest inspection documents findings for the written WDO report.
Findings & Recommendations
We explain what we find and recommend the next step. A formal written WDO report comes with a separately booked paid structural pest inspection.
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 & Documentation (If Needed)
If treatment is authorized, we carry out the agreed plan and explain any follow-up. When correcting Section 1 findings from a separately booked paid WDO inspection, we provide the applicable completion documentation.
Why 101 Exterminators
Why Choose 101 Exterminators for Termite Control in Redwood City
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 California Structural Pest Control Reports used in real-estate and financing workflows. If your lender, escrow company, or loan program has specific requirements, confirm them before scheduling.
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.
Written Follow-Up Terms
Any re-inspection, re-service, or warranty terms for the recommended treatment are provided in writing before work begins.
Common Questions
Termite Control FAQs for Redwood City
Why do termites swarm later in the year in Redwood City than on the coast?
Because Redwood City stays warmer and drier into fall. The Santa Cruz Mountains block most of the marine layer, so afternoon highs here hold near 80°F through September while the coastal cities sit under fog, and western drywood termites fly on warm evenings. Flights keep coming later here as a result. If you find discarded wings on a sill in October, save a few — the species changes the treatment.
Do houses in Redwood Shores get the same termites as the ones downtown?
No. Redwood Shores is built on filled bayland and lagoon frontage beside Bair Island, and the high water table there favors subterranean termites that build mud tubes up from the soil. The pre-1940 Victorians and Craftsman houses around Downtown and Mount Carmel deal mostly with drywood termites in the roof framing. Mud tubes and dry pellets are the two things to look for, and they point to different treatments.
Is a 1960s Redwood City ranch house too new to have termites?
No. The post-war tracts that fill the middle of Redwood City are around six decades old now, which is plenty of time for a drywood colony to establish in an exposed beam end or the low-slope roof edge those houses were built with. Slab-on-grade does not help either, since subterranean termites travel up through slab cracks and plumbing penetrations. What matters is whether wood is exposed to weather or touching soil, not the build year.
Local Pest Pressure
Common Pests We Treat in Redwood City
Every area has its own pest profile shaped by climate, housing, and geography. These are the pests we see and treat most often in Redwood City — tap any one to learn how to identify it and what treatment involves.
Termite Control · Redwood City
Schedule Service in Redwood City
Tell us what you have found and where. For a sale or refinance, request a separate paid WDO inspection.