How much does it cost to treat a house for termites with a tentless method?

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

Termites are an unfortunate pest many homeowners experience, especially those with a lot of timber in their homes. Termites love to eat wood, munching on everything from timber floors to the inside of furniture and structural beams. Due to the prevalence of termites and the fact that thousands of these tiny insects can infiltrate homes without anyone noticing, professional pest control is crucial. These methods are some of the most popular because they can quickly target certain areas of the home to ensure effective termite extermination and prevention.

The national average cost of tentless termite treatment ranges from $300 to $1,200. Most homeowners pay about $520 for liquid treatment on a house perimeter around 100 linear feet. On the low end, it costs about $240 for micro treatment on 40 linear feet around a garage or small section of the home. On the high end, it costs around $3,200 for termite barrier treatment on a house perimeter of 200 linear feet.

Tentless Termite Treatment Cost

What Is a Tentless Termite Treatment?

Tentless termite treatment is different from fumigation or termite tenting and heat treatment that uses a large tent to lock chemicals or heat in. These tents take up a lot of space and require careful setup and takedown, so tentless treatments are becoming more popular as a quick, effective extermination method. Several different types of tentless termite treatment involve using targeted baits or chemicals to kill them in their tracks, usually within one specific area or surrounding your home. If you have an infestation in a certain room or you need a barrier treatment surrounding the outside of your home, then these offer you an affordable and efficient alternative to tenting.

Tentless Termite Treatment Cost by Method

Several treatment options are considered tentless because none require a tent barrier to lock in chemicals or heat. Micro or spot systems are ideal for controlling termites in small spaces, such as when they make themselves at home in one section of the residence. Micro heat, microwave, or liquid termiticide works quickly in a small setting. The same goes for liquid systems, which eliminate subterranean termites when termiticides or repellents are applied to your home’s perimeter.

Baiting and barrier control discreetly draw in hungry subterranean termites, encouraging them to take the bait before the pest problem gets out of hand. Not only is it important to completely exterminate the existing population, but it is also necessary to add a layer of protection against future infestations. That is where barrier treatments using sand or treated wood are valuable because they prevent them from crossing over into the perimeter of your home.

Should I Choose a Tentless Termite Treatment?

If you have a termite infestation concentrated in one area of your home, a tentless treatment could make a big difference. For the most part, these focus on smaller areas than fumigation or heat treatment, with a tent covering the entire house. Your exterminator can point you in the right direction so you can make a confident decision about this, particularly if you need to focus extermination efforts on the perimeter of your home or a certain section.

Do Tentless Termite Treatments Work for Any Type of Termite?

The good news about tentless termite treatment is it works on all species, unlike heat treatment that only kills drywood termites. It is important to keep in mind that some forms of tentless treatment are better than others, depending on the size and severity of the infestation and the species. For example, barrier treatment is used for subterranean termites that live underneath your home, while baiting is ideal for dampwood termites. Drywood termites are most effectively exterminated using liquid treatments. However, that does not mean that other methods are not effective. When in doubt, your exterminator will evaluate any existing activity to figure out the best method for your specific situation.

Preparation Before a Tentless Termite Treatment

Preparing for tentless termite treatment is generally easier because you do not need to remove anything, unlike with tenting, when the heat and/or chemicals can damage certain products within your home. For a tentless option, all you really need to do is speak to an exterminator about their plan and prepare to be out of the room in question as required. Unlike termite tenting, you do not necessarily need to prepare to be out for days on end. However, you should consider keeping your young kids and pets separate from the room to make sure they do not accidentally swallow or come into contact with anything dangerous. Also, removing clutter and tidying up the room is always a good idea to make it easier for the professional to treat specific spots.

Termite Inspection Before a Tentless Treatment

Before tentless termite treatment gets underway, your exterminator will complete an inspection, which is included in the overall project costs. During this inspection, the exterminator will look for obvious signs of termite activity, such as drooping, discolored drywall, peeling paint, and hollow wood sounds. This inspection is incredibly important because it tells your exterminator more details about the current activity and which type of method will yield the most successful results.

What Is Included in the No Tent Termite Treatment Cost?

Termites are attracted to wood and can quickly destroy timber boards, frequently without homeowners even noticing. The no-tent termite treatment cost typically includes the before and after inspection, the actual application of termiticides or bait, and the cost of painting or replacing wooden sections to make sure the treated area looks like it did before. Of course, the pricing structure depends on each exterminator, although most only charge extra for painting and wood replacement if the damage is extensive, otherwise it should all be included as part of the overall treatment.

Pros and Cons of a Tentless Termite Treatment

Tentless termite treatment has a few key pros and cons to keep in mind. One of the key advantages is the overall convenience and affordability. Instead of putting up a tent that takes a few hours for heat treatment or several days for fumigation, your home can be treated for termites very quickly, with minimal disruption to your household as a whole.

Tentless termite treatments are very versatile. Within this tentless category, several methods may fit different types of needs. Most are chemical, but others that are not may be more suitable for homeowners concerned about chemicals on home surfaces and fabrics. Also, tentless methods are safer for home objects and furniture than other methods like heat treatments.

Tentless termite treatment tends to be less expensive because it only targets a small area rather than the entire home. However, this can also be a disadvantage because targeted termiticide application through tentless methods only kills termites in one particular area, and none hiding elsewhere. Plus, although these offer some protection against returning infestations, multiple treatments may be required for the best results.

Inspection After a Termite Tentless Treatment

Experienced termite exterminators always inspect the property after treatment to evaluate the success and decide if more extermination measures are required. This goes for all types of tentless termite treatment. Once it is complete, exterminators should closely look at the treated section and surrounding areas to see if there are any more signs of termite activity. If the exterminator signs off on the post-inspection, they are stating there is no evidence of further termite activity. If they find more termites, they will likely recommend a follow-up treatment instead.

Spot Treatment vs Tenting for Termites

There are slight differences between spot treatment and termite tenting, particularly regarding efficiency and effectiveness. While each job is slightly different depending on the infestation, generally, spot treatment is for a much smaller infestation than tenting. Spot treatment includes liquid termiticide in a concentrated area, while tenting uses heat or potent chemicals to kill termites throughout the whole house. If you have termites concentrated in one small area, spot treatment is usually recommended at $6 to $8 per sq.ft. Based on the overall area, spot treatment may not be as expensive as tenting, costing $1 to $3 per sq. ft. but is for the entire home.

Additional Considerations and Costs

• Other plagues. Liquid termiticide used in tentless termite treatment may effectively kill other common household pests such as beetles, cockroaches, flies, spiders, and ants. If these insects are within the treated area, they will likely die. However, you can check with your termite exterminator for more information on the chemicals and baits they use.
• Reappearance. While tentless termite treatment is effective and keeps termites away for years depending on the termiticide strength and application method, there is always the chance termites will come back. Most exterminators charge extra for a repeat procedure because it is unpredictable, but you can always ask to make sure.
• Prevention. There is no 100% effective way to prevent termites from coming back, but barrier treatment gives you the highest chance of success. By creating a barrier surrounding the home, any termites that try to cross over will not make it, effectively eliminating the possibility of another termite infestation.
• Orange oil termite treatment vs tenting. Orange oil has become a popular termite control method in recent decades. The fragrant chemical is used for spot treating drywood termites. While orange oil is good for small infestations, overall termite tenting with heat or fumigation is the more effective way to eliminate all drywood termites in a structure, especially those hiding under the surface.
• Wood furniture. Termites can cause significant damage to your wood furniture, such as bed frames, dressers, and tables. If you were thinking about replacing some pieces of wooden furniture, it is best to do so once you realize there are termites. Your exterminator can offer professional recommendations on which pieces of furniture are most affected and may need to be replaced.