The short version
Most termite problems in Fort Lauderdale are eastern subterranean termites, and the usual fix is a liquid soil treatment or bait stations. Drywood termites need fumigation or wood treatment instead. Start with an inspection; $75–$250 is typical.
- Look for mud tubes, shed wings and hollow-sounding wood.
- Swarms usually show up from February through April.
- Drywood termites need wood treatment or fumigation instead.
- An inspection typically costs $75–$250.
- Insurance usually doesn’t cover termite damage.
Anyone in Fort Lauderdale who owns, rents out, or is buying a home and wants to know whether termites are a real concern.
What to look for
Spongy floors or bubbling paint usually mean long-running damage. So it's worth an inspection, even for one or two signs. Termites work quietly. A colony can feed inside a wall for years. Winters around Fort Lauderdale stay mild, with average lows near 59°F, so colonies keep feeding all year.
- 1Small kick-out holes in exposed wood.
- 2Mud in cracks of subfloor or joists.
- 3Mud tubes running up foundation walls or piers.
- 4Sagging or spongy floors near exterior walls.
- 5Crumbling baseboards behind furniture.
- 6Blistered or bubbling paint on wood surfaces.
Why it’s worth acting soon
- Colonies grow and spread every year they go untreated.
- Damage hides behind drywall, flooring and trim.
- Homeowners insurance usually doesn’t cover termite damage.
- An active infestation can complicate a home sale.
- Formosan colonies are large and can do serious damage quickly.
Treatment options and typical costs
Termite Inspection and WDI Report
$75–$250
The inspector checks the foundation, garage, attic and damp spots. Bring up anything you’ve noticed.
- Time
- 60–120 minutes
- Best for
- Every job, real estate closings, and yearly peace of mind
Localized Wood, Foam, and Borate Treatment
$250–$1,500
Borate is brushed or sprayed onto bare wood in crawl spaces. Termites that eat treated wood around a Fort Lauderdale home die, and the protection lasts as long as the wood stays dry.
- Time
- 1–3 hours
- Best for
- Small drywood spots, wall voids, and exposed framing
Bait Station System with Monitoring
$1,500–$3,500 install, plus $300–$500 per year
Each station holds cellulose bait laced with a chitin synthesis inhibitor. Workers around a Fort Lauderdale home share it, cannot molt, and the colony dies over weeks to months.
- Time
- 2–4 hours to install; checked quarterly
- Best for
- Colony elimination, wells and slabs, homes near water
Annual Renewal and Monitoring
$150–$400 per year
A renewal contract sends a technician back each year to re-inspect and touch up the treatment. Many liquid warranties stay valid only if renewal is kept current.
- Time
- 30–60 minutes per visit
- Best for
- Keeping a treated home protected after the initial job
Prices are typical published ranges. Ask what’s included before you compare quotes.
In a basement, the wooden sill plate on top of the block wall is the first piece of wood termites reach.Which termites live around Fort Lauderdale.
Look for tiny piles of pellets that look like coarse sand. The termite you're most likely to meet in Fort Lauderdale is the eastern subterranean termite. It nests in soil and builds mud tubes to reach wood. It needs steady moisture. Formosan termites are established in Florida too. They arrived through Gulf Coast ports. Their colonies are much bigger than native ones. They can do more damage, faster. Drywood termites are common around Fort Lauderdale as well, flying straight into attic framing, eaves and furniture without any soil contact.
Local termites conditions in Fort Lauderdale.
A provider who works Fort Lauderdale and Florida every day can point out the specific conditions that matter most here, and getting the scope, price, and follow-up terms in writing makes it easier to compare options. Fort Lauderdale sits in a tropical climate, and that sets the pace for termite activity here: spring swarm season (March-May), warmer earlier in the south. Across Fort Lauderdale, the area is mostly urban, so termites pressure can differ from one block to the next depending on how tight the entry points are and how much food, water, or shelter is close by. An inspection in Fort Lauderdale usually starts outside and works inward, checking the foundation, gaps around doors and windows, and any moisture or clutter near the structure first. Knowing Fort Lauderdale's seasonal timing lets you schedule treatment before the busy stretch rather than after it, which usually means faster service and a more accurate quote.
Mulch piled against the house and a dripping hose bib give termites moisture and cover. Pull mulch back and fix the drip.When termites swarm here.
Across Fort Lauderdale, eastern subterranean termites usually swarm from February through April, typically on a warm, sunny day after rain. Formosan termites in Florida swarm later, from late April into June. Look for them on warm, humid evenings around porch lights. Drywood termites swarm on spring and summer evenings, often near lights. A swarm outside means a colony is nearby. A swarm inside usually means it's in the house. Save a few in a bag, or snap a clear photo. Swarm season is when termites show themselves.
Where to look around your house.
Check the garage edges and behind baseboards. Look where pipes come through the floor. Outside, watch for mud tubes behind shrubs. Keep soil and mulch below the slab edge. The same advice applies across the area, from Fort Lauderdale out to Hollywood and Pompano Beach. Many homes in Fort Lauderdale sit on concrete slabs, so termites come up through expansion joints, plumbing gaps and settlement cracks.
A year of termites in Fort Lauderdale.
- Spring: swarm season. Across Fort Lauderdale, expect it from February through April. Check windowsills and light fixtures for wings. - Summer: with highs around 90°F in Fort Lauderdale, termites follow moisture, so watch AC drain lines, sprinkler zones and hose bibs. - Fall: with about 63 inches of rain a year in Fort Lauderdale, make sure gutters and downspouts carry water well away from the foundation. - Winter: a good time to book an inspection in Fort Lauderdale, before swarm season starts.
What happens at an inspection.
A moisture meter and a probe help them find hidden activity. Afterward, ask them to show you what they found. Photos help. Most inspections take an hour or two. The inspector walks the outside of the house first. They check the foundation, the soil line and nearby wood. Inside, they check the garage, baseboards, plumbing gaps and the attic. On a slab, they focus on joints, cracks and pipe gaps.
Termites or ants?
- Waist: termites are thick through the middle. Ants are pinched. - Antennae: termite antennae are straight. Ant antennae bend like an elbow. - Debris: termites leave mud. Carpenter ants leave sawdust. - Tunnels: termite galleries are packed with mud. Ant tunnels are clean and smooth. - Wings: termite wings are all the same length. Ant wings aren’t.
Getting ready for treatment day.
Keep kids and pets inside while the Fort Lauderdale crew applies the product, and ask how long to stay off treated soil. In Florida, formosan swarms early April–late June shortly after sunset, peaking in May (UF/IFAS); FDACS gives evenings April–July. Asian subterranean swarms have been recorded in March. Drywood swarmers fly in daytime in summer and fall. In Florida, formosan swarms early April–late June shortly after sunset, peaking in May (UF/IFAS); FDACS gives evenings April–July. Asian subterranean swarms have been recorded in March. Drywood swarmers fly in daytime in summer and fall. Drill holes in slabs or patios get patched afterward. Prep is light for liquid treatments and bait stations. Clear a walking path along the exterior walls. Move boxes away from garage walls. Flag sprinkler heads and buried lines.
Mulch and termites.
Pull mulch back from the foundation and keep the layer thin. A dry gap along the house makes mud tubes easier to spot, and with roughly 63 inches of rain a year in Fort Lauderdale, keeping that strip dry takes real grading and gutter work. Wood chips touching the siding trap the moisture termites are after.
Questions to ask before you sign.
- What product or system will you use? - Is the whole foundation treated, or just one spot? - What does the warranty cover, and for how long? - What does the yearly renewal cost? - What do I need to do before and after treatment? - Which termites did you find, and where?
What affects the price
- Extent of existing damage needing repair.
- Amount of drilling through concrete and patios.
- Wells, drains, or water features limiting chemical use.
- Linear feet of foundation to be treated.
- Local labor rates and licensing requirements.
- Attached garages, decks, and additions.
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What's your biggest concern about termites?
When to call for help
Termites leave mud. Carpenter ants leave clean tunnels and sawdust. It's also the cheapest termite service. Lenders often ask for one. Get a wood-destroying insect (WDI) report either way. Buying or selling? Hollow-sounding wood is another clue. Call if you see mud tubes, pellets or an indoor swarm.
What you can do yourself
Treating an active colony is harder. The product has to reach the whole colony. It also needs even coverage around the entire foundation. Store-bought sprays usually kill only the termites you see. Some of the work is yours. Pull mulch back from the foundation. Fix leaks and clear gutters. Keep firewood away from the house.
Termites in Fort Lauderdale
An annual inspection is common sense here. With summer highs around 90°F, Fort Lauderdale's tropical climate decides when local termites are busiest. A typical home in Fort Lauderdale is worth around $520k, which puts a few hundred dollars for an inspection and prevention in perspective. Fort Lauderdale gets about 63 inches of rain a year, and average humidity sits near 74%, so the soil around foundations rarely dries out. Florida is one of the most termite-active states in the country.
Local research
Termites in Fort Lauderdale, FL: what the public record shows
Before you compare quotes, it helps to know which termites actually live in Florida, when they are busiest around Fort Lauderdale, and what the state figures look like. Everything below links to the agency or university page it came from.
Termite species established in Florida
Florida has more structural termite species than any other state, so identification drives the treatment choice.
UF/IFAS ExtensionInvasive termite species in Florida
The invasive Formosan and Asian subterranean termites and the West Indian drywood termite are the ones most likely to be in a home.
UF/IFAS ExtensionFormosan termite peak swarm month in Florida
Evening swarms around lights in May are the most common way Florida homeowners discover Formosan colonies.
UF/IFAS ExtensionTermite species recorded in Florida
- Eastern subterranean termite (Reticulitermes flavipes) — UGA calls it 'the most widely distributed subterranean termite, and it is the most common termite found in the eastern United States'; it swarms February through April in Georgi…
- Formosan subterranean termite (Coptotermes formosanus) — FDACS lists it in Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Texas, Arizona, California and Hawaii. Colonies contain…
- Asian subterranean termite (Coptotermes gestroi) — UF/IFAS: 'is currently restricted to southern Florida'; one of six invasive termite species among 20 established in Florida. FDACS lists it as primarily South Florida only.
- West Indian drywood termite (Cryptotermes brevis) — UF/IFAS lists it among the major structural pest species accounting for roughly 65% of Florida termite reports. Clemson records the 'powderpost' drywood termite in seven South C…
When termites are busiest around Fort Lauderdale
Formosan swarms early April–late June shortly after sunset, peaking in May (UF/IFAS); FDACS gives evenings April–July. Asian subterranean swarms have been recorded in March. Drywood swarmers fly in daytime in summer and fall.
UF/IFAS: Formosan is 'distributed throughout the state, primarily in urban areas with high population density'; Asian subterranean 'is currently restricted to southern Florida'. FDACS recommends annual inspections by licensed pest control professionals and notes termites 'can use cracks the thickness of a credit card to invade'.
Rules that apply in Florida
Sources: Termite Species Distribution in Florida and UF Termite Identification Services (IN1360); UF/IFAS Extension; Biology of Subterranean Termites in the Eastern United States (B1209); University of Missouri Extension; Formosan Termite Program. Figures are quoted as the source prints them. How we check our sources
Simple ways to keep termites away
- Never leave form boards or scrap lumber in the soil.
- Remove tree stumps and buried wood near the house.
- Paint or seal exposed exterior wood.
- Store firewood well away from the house, off the ground.
- Keep gutters clean so water does not pool.
- Trim shrubs so foundation walls stay visible and dry.
A liquid soil treatment goes into a trench along the foundation so termites cross it on their way to the house.Did you know?
Some African termite mounds stand more than 25 feet tall.
Across Fort Lauderdale, when danger shows up, soldier termites bang their heads against the tunnel walls to warn the colony.
Questions people ask
Do I need a termite inspection when buying a house?
Either way, it's cheap peace of mind. Ask your agent when it's due. Usually, yes. Many lenders ask for a wood-destroying insect (WDI) report.
What does a WDI report include?
It also notes conditions that invite them, like wood touching soil. It only covers areas the inspector could reach. It lists any termites or damage found.
Can termites damage a house on a concrete slab?
They come up through expansion joints, plumbing gaps and small cracks. Most homes around Fort Lauderdale sit on slabs, so inspectors check those spots first. Yes.
Can I treat termites myself?
The product must reach the whole colony. It also needs even coverage around the foundation. Store-bought sprays usually kill only what you see. Prevention, yes. An active colony is harder.
How long does termite treatment take?
Bait stations take a few hours to install. Fumigation takes two to three days. A liquid barrier takes half a day to a day.
How much does a pre-construction termite treatment cost?
Across Fort Lauderdale, termites are best caught early through inspection, because the damage is hidden inside wood until it is far along. Across Fort Lauderdale, a professional inspection looks for mud tubes, damaged wood, and swarming activity, and treatment targets the soil and the colony rather than just the visible wood.
Are termites common in Florida?
Around Fort Lauderdale, the usual culprit is the eastern subterranean termite.
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Sources (11)
The facts in this article come from the public sources listed above. Every home is different, so ask the company you talk to about pricing and what’s included. Published by Termite Exterminator · Updated September 11, 2026 · How we write these guides