What does a termite inspector look for in an older San Francisco building?
The inspector looks for mud tubes, hollow or damaged wood, droppings from drywood termites, discarded wings and moisture. In older buildings the focus is on foundations, window and door frames, eaves, trim, and any wood near a leak. The inspector records what is visible and what is not.
Subterranean termites need contact with soil or moisture and often reveal themselves by mud tubes. Drywood termites live in dry, above-ground wood such as attics, fascia and trim, and may show only as small pellets or a blistered surface.
Victorian and Edwardian rooflines have plenty of trim and eave wood, so the roof edge gets as much attention as the foundation. A technician also notes where water has stained or softened wood, because decay and termites often travel together.
- Mud tubes on foundations, piers and pipes
- Hollow-sounding or soft wood at frames and trim
- Pellets or wings near windows and in attics
- Stained or damp wood near leaks
Who is allowed to do a termite inspection in California?
The Structural Pest Control Board licenses structural pest work in three branches: Branch 1 Fumigation, Branch 2 General Pest, and Branch 3 Termite. A termite inspection is Branch 3 work. You can ask the company for its license number before work starts.
Branch 2 covers ants, cockroaches, mice and rats, while Branch 3 covers termites, wood-boring beetles, dry rot and fungus. This is why a termite inspection is handled separately from a general pest visit.
The board's license types are Applicator, Field Representative and Operator. Customers are entitled to ask the company for its license number before work begins, and the call line can explain how to do that.
What happens to an inspection report after the visit?
Under Business and Professions Code 8516(b), a registered company must file the address of each property it inspected or worked on within 10 business days. Failing to file is grounds for discipline and a fine up to $2,500. The written report is also given to you.
This filing rule exists so that the state has a record of inspections and work done on a property. It is separate from the report you receive, and it does not depend on whether termites were found.
No filing fee is mentioned here because none was confirmed. Ask the company how it handles filing and when you will receive your copy of the report.
When do termites swarm in the Bay Area?
UC IPM says western subterranean termites swarm in calm, sunny periods right after the first autumn rains, a pattern especially pronounced in the Bay Area. A swarm shows a mature colony is nearby, but it does not by itself prove your building is infested. Save a few insects and call.
Winged termites are drawn to light and often appear at windows. Flying ants look similar, so a technician identifies them from a saved specimen or a photo. The treatment differs, so identification matters.
No month is given for drywood termite swarms in San Francisco, because none was sourced for this city. The safe advice is to inspect whenever you see wings, mud tubes or pellets, regardless of season. The guide on termite swarms after the first rain goes into more detail.
Does a clean report mean I am safe?
A clean report means no evidence was found in the areas that could be seen that day. It does not rule out hidden activity behind finished walls, under insulation or in sealed spaces. Treat it as a good sign for the day, nothing more.
Limitations are written into the report. Areas that were blocked, locked or unsafe to enter are noted, and you should read that section as carefully as the findings.
If a building is old, a repeat inspection after major work or a wet winter can be sensible. The guide on old San Francisco houses and termite inspections explains how age and construction affect the check.
