Drywood termites live inside the wood itself, so inspection looks at the timber rather than the soil around the foundation.
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Drywood termites nest inside the timber itself and do not need contact with the soil. A soil barrier does nothing against them, so a technician inspects the wood of the house directly, including exposed framing, porch columns, trim and the lower parts of doors, then treats the infested wood where it is.
Most homeowners think of termites as coming up from the ground, and for subterranean species that is accurate. Drywood termites work differently. They nest inside the timber with no soil contact, so foundation work does not reach them. That distinction decides the treatment, and it matters in a region with many older raised-frame houses on the peninsula, the sea islands and Folly Beach.
The mechanism is simple. A drywood colony lives in the wood it feeds on, so it can be found in exposed framing, porch columns, door frames, trim and furniture with no soil path to the ground. A soil barrier or soil treatment is the wrong tool, and the inspection is about looking closely at timber rather than walking the perimeter.
Published local swarm timing for the drywood species is not reliable enough to build a calendar on, so this page describes the mechanism rather than a season. A closer look at exposed wood is worth scheduling whenever signs appear. The crawl-space and moisture page covers the subterranean side of the same houses.
A subterranean colony needs soil contact and feeds through tunnels from the ground. A drywood colony lives inside the timber with no soil path, so inspection and treatment both happen in the wood.
Formosan and native subterranean termites both work from the soil up, and the soil is their route, moisture source and treatment point. Drywood termites skip that route. A colony can establish in a porch column or an attic joist, and the only surface evidence may be small holes in the wood.
A soil-based plan can look complete and still leave drywood activity untouched. A homeowner who suspects drywood activity should ask for the inspection to cover the exposed wood, not only the perimeter.
They enter through exposed timber and wood open to the air. Porch columns, door frames, trim, exposed rafters and furniture are typical places, so the inspection starts there rather than at the foundation.
Raised-frame houses on the peninsula, Sullivan's Island and Folly Beach have exposed sub-floor framing, deep porches and pier construction, each of which puts more timber in view. A porch column that meets the ground through a pier is one example. The technician reads the whole frame, not only the part near the soil.
Infestation can also arrive with the wood itself. Furniture, lumber stored in a garage or shed, and wooden items moved between houses can carry insects in. The technician asks about new wooden items, since the source can be inside the living space.
The technician works outside first, then inside, checking timber, joints and hidden wood. Access and moisture are noted, and findings are explained before a plan is set.
The exterior check covers porch columns, rafter tails, trim, window and door frames, and any wood in contact with the ground or a planter. Joints and beam undersides get the closest look. Tapping and probing help separate sound timber from damaged timber, and each location is recorded.
Inside, the focus is on exposed attic and crawl-space framing, door frames and built-in wood. Where a wall or ceiling would need opening, the technician says so and asks first. The visit ends with a clear account of what was found.
The treatment depends on how much wood is involved, where it is and whether it can be reached. Small, reachable areas can be treated locally, while widespread activity may need a whole-structure plan.
Local treatment fits activity confined to a small, accessible area, such as one porch column or a single door frame. The work targets the infested wood and the area around it, and the technician checks the rest of the structure before limiting the scope.
South Carolina's wood-destroying organism standards, in S.C. Code Regs. 27-1085, expect treatment to cover the entire structure unless the property or the owner's instructions make that unnecessarily difficult or costly. In that case a written waiver is signed before work begins. A technician explains which path applies.
Price depends on how much timber is involved, where it sits, how accessible it is and the building's age. No figure is given on this site, and the price is explained and approved before work starts.
A single porch column is a different job from infested framing spread across several rooms and an attic. Exposed framing reached without removing finishes is quicker to inspect than wood hidden behind walls. Older raised-frame houses often have more porches and joints to check.
Anything that needs opening is discussed first and adds to the scope. Outbuildings such as a detached garage or a shed with its own timber are part of the picture, and the technician confirms the price on site.
Do not cut, sand or fill drywood damage before a technician has seen it, since that can destroy the evidence of how far activity reaches. Do not treat exposed timber with store products that are not labeled for that use, and do not assume a soil treatment reaches a drywood colony. Avoid opening wall or ceiling finishes to look, since that can damage wiring and plumbing. Call (855) 974-4733 for a timber inspection.
The caller describes what was seen, such as holes, crumbling wood or winged insects indoors. The technician asks where the signs are, since activity in timber puts the work above the soil line from the start.
Porch columns, rafter tails, trim, door and window frames and wood near the ground are checked, with joints and beam undersides getting the closest look. Tapping and probing separate sound timber from damaged timber, and each suspect piece is recorded.
The attic, crawl space and built-in wood are checked where access allows. Walls and ceilings are not opened without asking, and any area that would need opening is explained first.
The scope is set from what was found, deciding whether treatment stays local or must cover the whole structure under the state standard. The method and what to expect are explained before any agreement is made.
The technician rechecks treated areas and records the work. Sheds, detached garages and fences on the lot are noted, and any that show activity are scheduled for a later visit.
Activity in porch columns, rafter tails, door frames or attic joists is treated in the infested timber and the wood immediately around it. The rest of the structure is checked so the scope matches what was found. Where damage is structural, the repair is a separate decision for the homeowner and a contractor.
Signs in several rooms or at several exterior locations widen the scope. The technician maps the locations and explains whether local work is enough or a whole-structure plan is required. The homeowner decides with that explanation in hand.
Sheds, detached garages and wooden fences can hold drywood activity of their own. Where possible they are inspected on the same visit, since each one is a separate place where a colony can nest.
If it's an emergency, call now. For non-urgent drywood termite inspection and treatment, send the form and we'll call you back.
The peninsula, Sullivan's Island and Folly Beach hold the old raised-frame stock where drywood work is most likely to come up. Exterior repairs in the historic district may involve the local Board of Architectural Review, so check before touching exposed timber.
Across Goose Creek, Hanahan and Summerville, much of the older housing is mid-century brick or frame on crawl spaces. Drywood activity can still show up in exposed porch columns, attic framing and garage wood, so the inspection covers the whole house.
Living under live-oak canopy near tidal creeks on James Island and West Ashley keeps outdoor wood damp for long stretches. Porches, sheds and docks weathering in that air are timber a technician checks first. The Lowcountry crawl-space guide covers the wider picture.
What South Carolina's CL-100 termite letter covers, what it leaves out, and how a North Charleston inspection is scoped to it.
Formosan subterranean termites are established along the Charleston coast, and the crawl spaces here give them a steady supply of damp wood.
Why damp vented crawl spaces in North Charleston feed wood decay and termites, and how the sub-floor inspection is scoped.
Inspection and treatment for Formosan and native subterranean termites in North Charleston homes, from vented crawl spaces to slab edges.
Not sure if you're covered? Check your ZIP code.
Formosan subterranean termites were introduced into Charleston in the mid-1950s and are now established along the coast.
Native subterranean termites swarm in early spring, usually in the afternoon.
This site does not name the local drywood species. The mechanism matters more: the insect nests in timber and does not need soil, so an inspection focused on the foundation can miss it. A visit covering the exposed wood of a specific house answers the question for that property.
Subterranean termites need soil contact or moisture from it and feed through tunnels. Drywood termites nest in the timber itself. That is why a soil barrier or foundation treatment does not address drywood activity, and each type needs its own inspection and method.
Small holes in exposed wood, hollow-sounding timber and wood that feels soft or crumbly are common signs. Winged insects found indoors are another possible sign, but they are not reliable alone, so a technician confirms the cause during an inspection.
A homeowner can notice holes, soft spots or unusual sounds, and a careful look can prompt a call. It cannot rule out activity hidden inside the timber, and cutting into the wood to look can destroy evidence and weaken the structure.
Not always. Activity in a small, reachable area can be treated locally. When it is spread through the house, the state standard expects whole-structure treatment unless a written waiver is signed. A technician explains which applies.
This site does not publish prices. Scope, access, the amount of wood and whether finishes must be opened all change the work. The price is explained and approved on site before any work starts.