Structural Pest Control
Termite Control in San Francisco, CA
101 Exterminators provides termite control in San Francisco, including attached houses and flats where the treatment area may cross a wall or property boundary. A pellet pile, damaged trim, or a mud tube calls for identification before choosing a method. We use the inspection findings and the areas that can be reached to discuss the scope of treatment with the people who control the affected space.
Home maintenance
How do you keep termites out of a San Francisco house or flat?
Keep wood dry, keep it off the soil and keep exterior wood sealed. San Francisco gets most of its 23 inches of yearly rain from November through April, and close to 45 percent of the city's homes were built before 1940. That leaves a lot of old wood in back stairs, bay windows and trim. UC IPM's maintenance advice is aimed at that wood.
Check posts under back stairs and decks
If your back stairs or deck stand on wood posts in a narrow rear yard, look where each post meets soil or brick. Probe the base with a screwdriver for soft wood. UC IPM recommends concrete footers for any wood that must stand close to the ground.
Keep soil below the stucco line
Sunset District houses built from 1925 to 1950 are stucco-clad, and many have a front planting bed against the wall. UC IPM warns that stucco reaching the ground can hide termite entry. Keep soil and planter boxes below the bottom edge of the stucco so you can see it.
Clear the light well drain
If your building has a light well, clear its drain before the December storms. Water that stands at the base soaks nearby siding and sills for days. UC IPM advises draining excess water and repairing exterior defects in structural wood as soon as you find them.
Repaint bay window trim and sills
Drywood termites swarm in daylight in summer and fall, and San Francisco's warmest month is September. Repaint weathered bay window trim, cornices and sills in late spring and caulk open joints, as UC IPM advises for exterior wood on older Victorian and Edwardian fronts.
When to do it
Clear drains and check the stucco line in October; repaint trim in late spring, ahead of the September warm spell.
Maintenance guidance: UC IPM Pest Notes: Termites
Warning Signs
When to Ask About Termite Control in San Francisco
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 San Francisco
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 San Francisco
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 San Francisco
Can a San Francisco flat receive localized drywood termite treatment?
It may, when the affected wood can be identified and reached. Localized treatment does not establish that concealed colonies elsewhere are absent. Ask the inspector which findings support the limited area and which shared or finished spaces could not be evaluated.
Does a termite finding next door mean my attached house is infested?
No. A neighboring finding is useful context, but it does not diagnose your house. Record what the neighbor can share, then arrange an inspection of the wood and accessible common areas relevant to your property.
What should owners coordinate before whole-structure treatment of an attached building?
Start by establishing the exact structure to be treated and who controls each affected space. Ask the treatment company for a written scope and property-specific preparation requirements, then arrange access and permissions with the other owners or manager before scheduling.
Inspection and termite references
State and university guidance on California inspection reports, termite signs, and treatment choices.
- California Business and Professions Code §8516: inspection report requirements · California Legislature
- How to obtain a previous termite inspection report · California Structural Pest Control Board
- Drywood termites: signs and treatment limits · University of California Integrated Pest Management
- Subterranean and other termites: identification and management · University of California Integrated Pest Management
Local Pest Pressure
Common Pests We Treat in San Francisco
Every area has its own pest profile shaped by climate, housing, and geography. These are the pests we see and treat most often in San Francisco — tap any one to learn how to identify it and what treatment involves.
Termite Control · San Francisco
Schedule Service in San Francisco
Tell us what you have found and where. For a sale or refinance, request a separate paid WDO inspection.