How much does it cost to get rid of termites in Georgia?

Reviewed by Irene Pomares remodeling expert. Written by Fixr.com.

Georgia homeowners must always be on the lookout for termites because the state is home to two destructive types of these insects. Drywood termites, subterranean termites, and the ferocious Formosan subterranean termite variant invade Georgia properties and homes and cause significant damage when they are not treated. Like other regions of the United States, many homes in Georgia are made of wood, so homeowners in the state must watch for termites and get them treated as quickly as possible.

The cost of termite treatment in Georgia is between $305 and $1,200 for a 2,500 sq.ft. house. The average cost of termite treatment in Georgia is approximately $525 and includes a liquid treatment placed around the yard and home’s exterior. Homeowners who need to take care of a small problem might pay around $240, including a barrier treatment and an inspection on a small property. Homeowners who find that they have an extreme infestation will pay around $6,500, including a full house heat treatment and a series of barrier treatments for a 2,500 sq.ft. house.

Cost of Termite Treatment in Georgia

Tent vs No Tent Termite Treatment Cost in Georgia

A termite exterminator in Georgia has two options when fighting termites. Those options are tenting or tentless treatments. To fight subterranean termites and Formosan termites in Georgia, exterminators will use tentless options like liquid treatments around the perimeter of the residence and bait traps. Georgia homeowners should expect to pay around $3.05 to $16.15 per linear foot for their tentless treatments. That is just a small amount higher than the national average of $3 to $16 since costs are mildly higher in Georgia versus the nation.

Subterranean termites are more common than drywood termites in Georgia, so most treatments for Georgia homeowners will be tentless. Alternatively, when an inspection reveals that a home has drywood termites, which usually congregate above ground, the extermination involves tenting the house. Tenting is a process where the entire home is covered by a giant tent and sealed. Chemicals or heat are then pumped inside the tent to kill the termites. The cost for tenting in Georgia ranges from $1 to $3.05. Costs are just a hair higher than the national average of $1 to $3 per sq.ft. Tenting is more expensive than tentless treatment, but it effectively for eradicates a large colony of termites.

Cost of Termite Treatment in Georgia per Square Foot

When a homeowner in Georgia finds drywood termites, the default treatment is tenting, measured at $1 to $3.05 per sq.ft. A 1,000 sq.ft. home may cost as little as $1,000 to treat, while a 3,000 sq.ft. home costs as much as $9,150 to tent. Homes in Georgia are larger at more than 1,900 sq.ft. New homes are routinely built in the 2,500 sq.ft. range. It is easy to figure out the approximate cost for termite treatment per square foot in Georgia. Simply multiply $1 or $3.05 by the total size of the house to find the range.

Cost for Termite Treatment in Georgia per Linear Foot

The cost for termite treatments in Georgia for jobs measured by the linear foot range from $3.05 to $16.15 per linear foot. That means a 100 linear foot job costs between $305 and $1,615. A 400 linear foot job should cost between $1,220 and $6,460. A linear foot is a measurement of length and width and is required for treatments like perimeter treatments applied around the entire property at its edges.

The cost of living in Georgia is just a little higher than the national average, so a Georgia homeowner pays just a little more than the national cost for treatments. These prices help compare the cost of a single visit for termite treatment versus signing up for a termite contract for continuous treatments. Tentless treatments are more common in Georgia because they are effective at treating subterranean termites and Formosan termites, the primary types found in Georgia.

Average Cost of Termite Treatment in Georgia Frequency

Some homeowners find a termite treatment contract helpful for maintaining a termite-free home, especially when receiving tentless treatments. A monthly contract costs between $690 and $945 and helps with a severe infestation where multiple tentless treatments like bait traps and liquid treatments are delivered to your property. A quarterly contract with costs between $250 and $590 may help to maintain a termite-free environment with the helpful inspections that exterminators perform with each visit. With a cost between $180 and $420, a yearly visit offers helpful peace of mind after a major treatment like tenting.

Tentless termite treatments are common in Georgia because of the prevalence of subterranean and Formosan termites. Multiple visits are sometimes necessary or recommended to work through and eradicate an infestation. A contract may make sense. However, homeowners may also choose a single visit for the year without a formal contract at the cost of $205 to $500.

Georgia Termite Treatment Cost by Severity of Infestation

Evidence suggests that most homes in Georgia will experience a termite infestation at one time or another, which means all homeowners should remain on guard with inspections and treatments. For a small infestation that the homeowner catches early, the cost should sit between $255 and $1,215. A small infestation might be a single small subterranean colony in the yard or a drywood termite colony in the attic. Infestations that are allowed to become severe and impact the very structural integrity of the home may cost between $1,215 and $6,580 to treat.

It is important to consider that termite infestations never go away on their own and always grow. A small termite infestation will not stay small forever. Eventually, the colony will grow and spread. At a certain point, termites become so destructive that it’s not just the termites that need eradication. It’s also the home or property that needs repair. Seeking termite extermination help early saves money.

Average Cost of Termite Treatment Georgia Type of Termite

Termite treatments depend on the type of termite feasting on a house. Most termites found in Georgia are subterranean and cost between $255 and $1,525 to treat. Some termites in Georgia are particularly aggressive, known as Formosan termites. These termites do not require special treatment but must have fast and immediate treatment. For drywood termite infestations, which are generally above ground, the cost to exterminate ranges between $1,015 and $6,560. The costs of fighting these different termites are just a little higher in Georgia than the national average due to the cost of living.

Subterranean and Formosan termites are found in the ground, creating colonies under homes that threaten the foundation and cause major damage when not treated. Meanwhile, drywood termites will form a colony inside the home, chewing on things like wooden beams and support structures. With enough time, drywood termites can destroy a home. When fighting termites, time is always of the essence to prevent damage.

Termite Inspection in Georgia Cost

All homeowners in Georgia need to be on the lookout for termites. A termite inspection is a simple and effective method of detecting termites early and before they destroy a home. Termite inspections usually run between $75 and $150, depending on the exterminator. An annual inspection is considered the most effective. The inspection takes just a few hours, with the length depending on the size of the property and house. Some exterminators refund the cost of an inspection or give a free inspection when a homeowner signs up for a contract or sets up a visit for treatment.

The inspector searches closets, crawlspaces, cabinets, and anywhere the termites can hide and feast on wood. For drywood termites, this means inspecting places like the attic and the deep cabinets of the kitchen. For subterranean and Formosan termites, inspections may occur in the basement and around the property. The inspector may look at areas of the yard with suspicious piles of wood or along fence lines.

Signs of Termites in Georgia

Knowing the signs of termite infestations is important because an infestation can occur between yearly inspections. Small infestations are often hard to detect. However, homeowners may see wings and dead termites, particularly during active swarming seasons. Termite droppings may indicate that a small infestation has moved into a medium infestation, and termites have gotten a foothold in the home or yard. Large infestations often cause visible damage to the home in the form of tiny holes drilled into the wood. A severe infestation may make the home uninhabitable with sagging ceilings and swollen wood.

How to Prevent Termites in Georgia

Termite prevention starts the moment construction begins on a home. Builders in Georgia have options for treated wood, pre-treatments, and ground treatments that they can use before and during construction. These pre-treatments help prevent termites from attacking a home in the first several years after construction. Homes pretreated for termites often feature a warranty against termites for the first few years after construction is completed.

For homeowners who live in homes constructed several years ago, termite prevention is aided significantly with regular inspections. Further, keeping a clean home helps discouraging termite activity and makes it easier to see when termites invade the home. Clearing out old or decayed wood in the yard reduces the likelihood of subterranean termites approaching the house. Eliminating wood piles near the home, like stacks of firewood for the fireplace, removes a tempting food source for termites.

Cost of a Termite Letter in Georgia

A termite letter in Georgia is called an “Official Georgia Wood Infestation Inspection Report,” provided by a licensed pest control professional. Georgia homeowners should expect to pay between $100 and $200 for their termite letter. However, these figures vary in rural areas versus metro areas like Atlanta, where costs are generally higher. Some mortgage companies require these letters before they issue a mortgage.

The important thing to remember about these letters is that they only indicate that the home is currently free of termites, not that it will be free of termites in the future. The letter also does not indicate that the home has any pre-treatments for termites or is protected from termites. The letter gives the mortgage lender, seller, and buyer some peace of mind. An owner may need to treat the home for termites before the sale proceeds. Note that a routine inspection will not result in a termite letter. A letter is an official document, and an inspection is just a routine report.

Enhancement and Improvement Costs

Termite Bond Cost Georgia

A termite bond is a guarantee from a termite treatment company that the home will receive treatment in the future if termites are found after initial treatments. Homeowners in Georgia should expect to pay between $500 and $2,000 for their termite bond. Some states require a termite bond to sell a house, but Georgia homeowners aren’t required to obtain a termite bond. Homeowners should get a transferable termite bond if they plan to sell their house, so the next homeowner can use the bond if necessary. Some bonds are transferable; others are not.

Additional Considerations and Costs

• DIY. Most DIY treatments for termites are not particularly effective. Getting an inspection and checking out the physical signs of termites are the best steps a homeowner can take.
• Season. Termites are always active, feasting on homes, but they’re only really visible in the warm months when they swarm, and homeowners see flying termites in Georgia. Homeowners may see termite wings when termites are in their most active state.
• Insurance. Insurance policies for homes do not cover termites. Pest control is the responsibility of the homeowner. A termite bond is the closest a homeowner can get to insurance. This is a termite bond, which ensures future infestations are treated.
• Warranty. Some new home warranties come with protection against termites. A warranty against termites requires that the builder uses pre-treatments to the foundation or wood during construction.
• Termite companies in Georgia. Termite companies like Terminix and Orkin, which operate nationwide, treat homes in Georgia. Independent termite companies exist throughout the state. Comparison shopping helps find the best price.
• Treatment frequency. The job is not done until the termites are gone. Treatments should occur as often and for as long as it takes to eradicate the colony. After eradication, yearly inspections help catch new infestations early.
• Cost of repairing termite damage in Georgia. The cost to repair termite damage depends on the severity of the infestation. Small infestations do not usually damage any part of the house significantly. Severe infestations may get so bad that entire walls, ceilings, and foundations must be replaced at a heavy cost to the homeowner.