The short version
Most termite problems in Lakewood are arid-land subterranean termites, and the usual fix is a liquid soil treatment or bait stations. Start with an inspection; $75–$250 is typical.
- Look for mud tubes, shed wings and hollow-sounding wood.
- Swarms usually show up in spring and early summer.
- The usual fix is a soil barrier or bait stations.
- An inspection typically costs $75–$250.
- Insurance usually doesn’t cover termite damage.
Anyone in Lakewood 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. Winter lows around Lakewood average near 19°F, so termites retreat deeper into the soil, though colonies under heated basements can stay active all winter.
- 1Crumbling baseboards behind furniture.
- 2Mud in cracks of subfloor or joists.
- 3Buckling laminate or warped hardwood flooring.
- 4Layered, honeycombed wood packed with soil.
- 5Screwdriver sinks easily into sills or trim.
- 6Small kick-out holes in exposed wood.
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.
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
Liquid Soil Termiticide Barrier
$1,200–$3,500 (often $3–$16 per linear foot)
Crews in Lakewood dig a shallow trench against the foundation, rod termiticide into the soil, and backfill. Fipronil-type products are widely published to last five years or more.
- Time
- Half a day to a full day
- Best for
- Active subterranean termites; fast knockdown around the foundation
Localized Wood, Foam, and Borate Treatment
$250–$1,500
Foam termiticide is injected into wall voids liquid cannot reach. In Lakewood this pairs well with a soil barrier around tricky slab construction.
- Time
- 1–3 hours
- Best for
- Small drywood spots, wall voids, and exposed framing
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.
Drywood termites can fly straight into attic framing through vents, so attics belong on the inspection list in warm climates.Which termites live around Lakewood.
It nests in soil and builds mud tubes to reach wood. It needs steady moisture. The termite you're most likely to meet in Lakewood is the arid-land subterranean termite.
Local termites conditions in Lakewood.
Knowing Lakewood'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. A provider who works Lakewood and Colorado 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. Lakewood sits in a semi-arid climate, and that sets the pace for termite activity here: spring swarm season (March-May), warmer earlier in the south. In Lakewood, 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 Lakewood usually starts outside and works inward, checking the foundation, gaps around doors and windows, and any moisture or clutter near the structure first.
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.
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. In Lakewood, arid-land subterranean termites usually swarm in spring and early summer, often on a warm day after rain. A swarm outside means a colony is nearby.
Where to look around your house.
Wood should stay several inches above the ground. The same advice applies across the area, from Lakewood out to Denver and Arvada. Plenty of homes in Lakewood have basements, so check where the wood framing sits on top of the foundation wall. Look around window wells and unfinished walls. Outside, check porches, steps and decks that touch soil.
A year of termites in Lakewood.
- Summer: with highs around 88°F in Lakewood, termites follow moisture, so watch AC drain lines, sprinkler zones and hose bibs. - Fall: with about 16 inches of rain a year in Lakewood, make sure gutters and downspouts carry water well away from the foundation. - Winter: a good time to book an inspection in Lakewood, before swarm season starts. - Spring: swarm season in Lakewood, often on a warm day after rain. Check windowsills for wings.
What happens at an inspection.
They'll check the basement walls and sill plate. 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.
Termites or ants?
- 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. - Waist: termites are thick through the middle. Ants are pinched.
Getting ready for treatment day.
Clear a path along the outside walls. Move stored boxes away from garage walls. Mark sprinkler heads and any buried lines. Keep pets and kids inside while the crew works outside. Ask how long to stay off treated soil. Any drill holes in a slab or patio get patched. Soil treatments and bait stations need little prep.
Mulch and termites.
Wood chips right against siding hold moisture termites like. Keep mulch thin and pull it back from the foundation. A dry strip along the house lets you spot mud tubes.
Questions to ask before you sign.
- 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 product or system will you use?
What affects the price
- Amount of drilling through concrete and patios.
- Liquid barrier versus bait station system.
- Whole-house fumigation versus spot treatment.
- Cubic footage under the tent for fumigation.
- Extent of existing damage needing repair.
- Warranty type: retreatment only or damage repair.
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What's your biggest concern about termites?
When to call for help
Lenders often ask for one. It's also the cheapest termite service. Carpenter ants leave clean tunnels and sawdust. Termites leave mud. Call if you see mud tubes, pellets or an indoor swarm. Hollow-sounding wood is another clue. Buying or selling? Get a wood-destroying insect (WDI) report either way.
What you can do yourself
Store-bought sprays usually kill only the termites you see. It also needs even coverage around the entire foundation. The product has to reach the whole colony. Treating an active colony is harder. Keep firewood away from the house. Fix leaks and clear gutters. Pull mulch back from the foundation. Some of the work is yours.
Termites in Lakewood
Not every house gets them, but plenty do. With summer highs around 88°F, Lakewood's semi-arid climate decides when local termites are busiest. A typical home in Lakewood is worth around $530k, which puts a few hundred dollars for an inspection and prevention in perspective. Lakewood only sees about 16 inches of rain a year, so local termites gather wherever water collects, like sprinkler zones, hose bibs and AC drain lines. Termites are a steady, moderate risk in Colorado.
Local research
Termites in Lakewood, CO: what the public record shows
Before you compare quotes, it helps to know which termites actually live in Colorado, when they are busiest around Lakewood, and what the state figures look like. Everything below links to the agency or university page it came from.
When termites are busiest around Lakewood
July–September (desert subterranean, late afternoon/evening with summer rains); summer–fall (drywood). UC IPM: 'Heterotermes aureus flies in the late afternoon or early evening in July, August, and September', which coincides with the Southwest monsoon months. Arizona Extension lists Heterotermes aureus as an 'important structural pest' and notes drywood species Incisitermes minor and Marginitermes hubbardi in the desert Southwest. Drywood swarmers appear 'during daytime hours during summer and fall'.
Based on Lakewood’s semi-arid climate profile.
Sources: University of Georgia Extension; University of Missouri Extension. 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.
- Install a vapor barrier over crawl space soil.
- Screen attic and foundation vents with fine mesh.
- Ventilate crawl spaces and control humidity.
- Trim shrubs so foundation walls stay visible and dry.
- Use borate-treated or pressure-treated lumber for repairs.
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.
In Lakewood, termites are closer cousins to cockroaches than to ants, despite the old nickname white ants.
Questions people ask
How long do termite bait stations take to work?
Termites have to find the stations first. Then the bait spreads through the colony. Usually several weeks to a few months.
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.
What is the difference between subterranean and drywood termites?
Drywood termites live inside the wood and leave tiny pellets. Around Lakewood, the subterranean kind causes most problems. Subterranean termites live in soil and build mud tubes.
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.
Do I have to leave my house during termite treatment?
Fumigation is different. Everyone leaves for two to three days, pets and houseplants included. Not for a soil treatment or bait stations.
Is termite fumigation common?
In Lakewood, termites are best caught early through inspection, because the damage is hidden inside wood until it is far along. In Lakewood, 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 Colorado?
Around Lakewood, the usual culprit is the arid-land subterranean termite.
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Sources (10)
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