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
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. Spongy floors or bubbling paint usually mean long-running damage. So it's worth an inspection, even for one or two signs.
- 1Piles of identical shed wings on windowsills.
- 2Blistered or bubbling paint on wood surfaces.
- 3Discarded wings caught in spider webs.
- 4Layered, honeycombed wood packed with soil.
- 5Dry hexagonal pellets under window frames or eaves.
- 6Screwdriver sinks easily into sills or trim.
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.
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Termite activity through the year in Lakewood
Spring
swarm season in Lakewood, often on a warm day after rain. Check windowsills for wings.
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.
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)
Where a slab or porch blocks the trench, the Lakewood applicator drills holes and injects underneath. The goal is a continuous treated zone with no gaps.
- Time
- Half a day to a full day
- Best for
- Active subterranean termites; fast knockdown around the foundation
Bait Station System with Monitoring
$1,500–$3,500 install, plus $300–$500 per year
Instead of a chemical barrier, baiting in Lakewood removes the colony itself. Stations are checked on a schedule, commonly quarterly, and refilled.
- Time
- 2–4 hours to install; checked quarterly
- Best for
- Colony elimination, wells and slabs, homes near water
Fumigation for Drywood Termites
$1,200–$4,000 (often $1–$4 per square foot)
Tenting is mainly for drywood termites. Most homes here never need it.
- Time
- 2–3 days including tenting and aeration
- Best for
- Widespread drywood termites throughout a structure
Prices are typical published ranges. Ask what’s included before you compare quotes.
A slow leak under a sink keeps the wood damp, and damp wood is exactly what termites are looking for.How treatment works on a typical Lakewood home.
Termites carry the bait back to the colony. They're spaced every 10 to 20 feet. Bait stations are the other main option. Inside, they may drill where the floor meets the walls. With a basement, the crew treats soil along the outside. The stations are checked on a schedule, often every few months.
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.
Sealing the gap where pipes enter the house takes away one of the easiest routes in. It won't replace treatment, but it helps.When termites swarm here.
Across 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. 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.
Look around window wells and unfinished walls. Outside, check porches, steps and decks that touch soil. 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.
A year of termites in Lakewood.
- Spring: swarm season in Lakewood, often on a warm day after rain. Check windowsills for wings. - Winter: a good time to book an inspection in Lakewood, before swarm season starts. - Fall: with about 16 inches of rain a year in Lakewood, make sure gutters and downspouts carry water well away from the foundation. - Summer: with highs around 88°F in Lakewood, termites follow moisture, so watch AC drain lines, sprinkler zones and hose bibs.
What happens at an inspection.
Afterward, ask them to show you what they found. A moisture meter and a probe help them find hidden activity. They'll check the basement walls and sill plate. Inside, they check the garage, baseboards, plumbing gaps and the attic. They check the foundation, the soil line and nearby wood. The inspector walks the outside of the house first. Most inspections take an hour or two. Photos help.
Termites or ants?
- 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. - Antennae: termite antennae are straight. Ant antennae bend like an elbow. - Debris: termites leave mud. Carpenter ants leave sawdust.
Getting ready for treatment day.
Keep kids and pets inside while the Lakewood crew applies the product, and ask how long to stay off treated soil. Around Lakewood, swarms usually show up from July through September as the summer rains start. Flag sprinkler heads and buried lines. Move boxes away from garage walls. Clear a walking path along the exterior walls. Prep is light for liquid treatments and bait stations. Drill holes in slabs or patios get patched afterward.
Mulch and termites.
A dry gap along the house makes mud tubes easier to spot; in Lakewood's dry climate the risk is irrigation and leaky hose bibs rather than rain. Pull mulch back from the foundation and keep the layer thin. Wood chips touching the siding trap the moisture termites are after.
Questions to ask before you sign.
- What do I need to do before and after treatment? - Which termites did you find, and where? - 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 affects the price
- Species: subterranean, drywood, or Formosan.
- Cubic footage under the tent for fumigation.
- Whole-house fumigation versus spot treatment.
- Wells, drains, or water features limiting chemical use.
- Time of year and how booked up local companies are.
- 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
Some of the work is yours. Pull mulch back from the foundation. Fix leaks and clear gutters. Keep firewood away from the house. 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.
Termites in Lakewood
Across Lakewood, getting the scope, the prep steps, and any follow-up terms in writing makes it much easier to compare providers fairly, and a good provider will walk you through each of these without pressure. Across Lakewood, before you book, ask whether the inspection is included, what the treatment plan covers, how many visits to expect, and what the written quote includes. A local provider who knows Lakewood and Colorado can point out the specific conditions that matter most here before you commit to a plan. Across Lakewood, take a minute to note where you have seen activity and when it appears, so the inspection is faster and the quote more accurate. Across Lakewood, most of the housing is urban, so the usual entry points, moisture spots, and sheltered areas near the structure are what an inspection checks first. Lakewood has a semi-arid climate, and termites activity here tends to pick up spring swarm season (March-May), warmer earlier in the south. A typical home in Lakewood is worth around $530k, which puts a few hundred dollars for an inspection and prevention in perspective. With summer highs around 88°F, Lakewood's semi-arid climate decides when local termites are busiest. Not every house gets them, but plenty do. Termites are a steady, moderate risk in Colorado. 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.
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
- Set deck and porch posts on concrete, not soil.
- Keep gutters clean so water does not pool.
- Grade soil to slope away from the foundation.
- Extend downspouts so water drains away from walls.
- Repair rotting trim, fascia, and window frames.
- Remove tree stumps and buried wood near the house.
Compare quotes line by line: the areas treated, the product, the warranty and the renewal fee. The lowest total isn't always the best deal.Did you know?
Across Lakewood, termites are closer cousins to cockroaches than to ants, despite the old nickname white ants.
Across Lakewood, a termite queen can keep laying eggs for 25 years or more.
Questions people ask
Is termite treatment safe for kids and pets?
Ask for the label and follow any re-entry times. Bait stations are locked and buried. Soil treatments stay in the ground. Used according to the label, yes.
How do I choose a termite company?
Compare the proposals, not just the totals. Ask what the warranty covers. Ask which termites they found and what product they'll use. Make sure they're licensed in Colorado.
Can I treat termites myself?
Store-bought sprays usually kill only what you see. It also needs even coverage around the foundation. The product must reach the whole colony. An active colony is harder. Prevention, yes.
What is the difference between subterranean and drywood termites?
Around Lakewood, the subterranean kind causes most problems. Drywood termites live inside the wood and leave tiny pellets. Subterranean termites live in soil and build mud tubes.
Is termite prevention cheaper than repairing termite damage?
Across Lakewood, termites are best caught early through inspection, because the damage is hidden inside wood until it is far along. Across 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 (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