“They went under the house with a flashlight and showed me the pier before they said a word about treatment. The report came the next morning, with a sketch of the house.”
Elnora F.Bywater
New Orleans, Louisiana
Termite care for old New Orleans houses
Three generations of the Sylvain family inspect, treat and write down what they find. Every contract, the bond included, is explained in plain words before you sign.
- Licensed applicators
- A written report after every inspection
- Contract terms explained before you sign
The swarm-season guide
When the wings come out, and what to do next
Termites swarm on a schedule the weather sets. This is the usual one around New Orleans; your house may see it earlier or later.
Native subterranean swarms
Warm days after rain. Small flights from the soil, often through a crack in a slab or a gap in a pier.
Feb to Apr
Formosan swarms
Warm, humid evenings, starting near sunset. The insects go to porch lights and streetlights, and often into the house.
May to Jul
Pre-swarm inspections
A walk-around before the flights, so anything active is found before the wings give it away.
Jan to Apr
Moisture checks
Leaks from storm-damaged roofs, flashing and gutters feed termites. We look after repairs and heavy rain.
Jun to Nov
These months are typical, not promises. Weather moves the season.
Old houses
Cypress sills, brick piers and galleries get a slower walk-through
Raised cottages, shotguns and double-gallery townhouses were built long before termite contracts. We work around original wood, plaster and masonry, and tell you what each method disturbs before we start.
We check piers, sills, gallery posts and porch steps first
We ask if the house is in a historic district before we plan any exterior work
We tell you where we would drill, trench or set stations, and why
You get a sketch of the house with the findings marked on it
The bond
Three kinds of paper that get called a termite bond
Ask which one you are being offered. The names change from firm to firm, and every contract states its own terms, limits and exclusions.
| What you want to know | Retreatment bond | Repair bond | Inspection only |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Retreatment bondA yearly contract: inspection, and treatment again if termites return. | Repair bondA yearly contract: treatment again if termites return, and repair of new damage up to a stated limit. | Inspection onlyA yearly inspection and a written report. |
| If termites return | Retreatment bondThe firm treats the affected area again, as the contract says. | Repair bondThe firm treats again, as the contract says. | Inspection onlyYou get a report and a written plan for the work. |
| If they damage the wood | Retreatment bondRepairs are your cost. | Repair bondNew damage is covered up to the limit in the contract, with exclusions. | Inspection onlyRepairs are your cost. |
| What can void it | Retreatment bondA missed renewal, or changes to the soil or the house the firm was not told about. | Repair bondThe same, and any damage that was there before the contract began. | Inspection onlyNothing. It is a service, not a promise. |
A visit
What happens on inspection day
We walk the outside first
Piers, sills, steps, gallery posts, slab edges and downspouts, then the trees and the soil along the foundation.
Then the attic, the crawl space and the wall faces
Wherever there is access. We use a moisture meter and tap the wood, and we open nothing we haven't asked you about.
We mark it on a sketch
Findings go on a drawing of your house, with photos of anything active or damaged.
You get the report before the quote
The report says what we found and what we could not check. A plan and its price come after, in writing, and nothing starts until you agree.
What customers wrote
“I found wings on the sill in May and texted a photo. Someone wrote back and explained the difference between swarmers and flying ants.”
Federico N.Gretna
“Our renewal came with a one-page summary of what the bond covers and what it does not. It was the first time a termite contract was explained to me in plain words.”
Lila S.Mid-City
Sample reviews.
Where we work
Orleans, Jefferson and St. Bernard parishes
Old houses on both sides of the river, and the towns around them.
Orleans Parish
- Tremé
- Marigny
- Bywater
- Mid-City
- Uptown
- Gentilly
- Algiers
Jefferson Parish
- Metairie
- Kenner
- Harahan
- Gretna
- Marrero
- Westwego
St. Bernard Parish
- Chalmette
- Arabi
- Meraux
We don't take jobs north of Lake Pontchartrain or past Luling.
Before you call
Questions we hear first
How much does termite work cost?
It depends on the length of the foundation, the kind of house, how we can get at it and whether termites are active. We write the number down after the inspection and before any work starts. The pricing page lists what drives it.
Is a termite bond the same as insurance?
No. A bond is a service contract. It says what the firm will do if termites return and, in some contracts, what new damage it will repair up to a limit. Read the terms, limits and exclusions before you sign anything.
Is it a flying ant or a termite?
Look at the waist, the antennae and the wings. Termites have a thick waist, straight antennae and two pairs of wings the same length. The swarm-season guide has a side-by-side table, and you can text us a photo.
Does a termite report guarantee anything?
No. A report describes what the inspector could see on the day. It does not promise anything about the inside of the walls or about what happens next.
Do you work on houses in a historic district?
Yes. Tell us if yours is in one, or has a preservation easement, before we plan. Some exterior work needs approval, and we won't drill or remove original material without asking you first.
Request an inspection
Tell us about the house and what you saw. If you have wings or a photo, text it and we will read it with you.
Phone(504) 555-0100
Hours
- Monday – FridayToday
- 7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
- SaturdayToday
- 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
- SundayToday
- Closed