Subterranean termites cause billions in structural damage every year and often go undetected for years. Our inspection, treatment, and monitoring programs protect homes across Toccoa, Gainesville, Jefferson, Clayton, Cornelia, and every town across Northeast Georgia.
There is arguably no other pest that causes as much property damage as termites do for both residential and commercial owners. One reason termites are so impactful is that they can go undetected for years, sometimes decades, quietly eating away at a building's structural wood.
Termites are never alone. They operate within a colony that grows steadily until it reaches maturity and produces swarmers, which fly off to establish new colonies, often on the same property. Without professional intervention, this cycle compounds year after year.
Northeast Georgia's warm, humid climate and abundance of hardwood forests make this region especially favorable for subterranean termites. Homeowner's insurance does not cover termite damage. Prevention and early detection are the only real defense.
Termites leave subtle clues long before structural damage becomes visible. If you notice any of these signs, schedule an inspection right away.
Pencil-width tunnels of mud running up exterior foundation walls, piers, or basement walls. The single clearest sign of subterranean termites.
Clouds of small winged insects emerging from walls, door frames, or foundations on warm spring days, typically after rain.
Small piles of translucent wings near windows, doors, or light fixtures. Swarmers shed wings after finding a new nest site.
Wood that sounds thin or papery when tapped. Termites eat wood from the inside out, leaving only a thin outer shell.
Paint that looks like it has water damage, even when there is no known moisture issue. Often indicates termite activity beneath the surface.
Subtle sagging, especially around bathrooms and kitchens. By this stage, damage is typically significant.
Small piles of wood-colored pellets resembling sawdust or coffee grounds. More common with drywood termites.
Doors and windows that suddenly stick or become hard to open. Termite damage can cause wood to warp.
Etched, grooved, or galleried wood on floor joists, sill plates, or subfloor panels. Often the first visible termite damage.
Quiet tapping or rustling inside walls at night. Soldier termites bang their heads against wood as a warning to the colony.
Noticed any of these signs? Do not wait. Every month of delay means more damage.
Schedule a Free InspectionFive quick questions about your home and property. In under two minutes you'll receive a personalized risk score and specific recommendations for your situation.
Different species require different treatments. Proper identification is the first step in effective termite control.
Georgia's most destructive termite. Builds mud tubes up foundation walls to reach wood. Worker termites are creamy white and soft-bodied. Swarmers are dark brown or black with smoky-colored wings.
Colonies can contain hundreds of thousands of workers foraging up to 300 feet from the central nest. A single colony can cause significant damage in three to five years.
Nicknamed "super-termites." Build much larger colonies than native species, sometimes with several million members. Can establish above-ground carton nests, eliminating their need for soil contact.
Historically limited to coastal areas, but now found in scattered Georgia locations including Metro Atlanta suburbs. Early identification is critical because damage progresses quickly.
Unlike subterranean species, drywood termites live inside the wood they consume and do not require soil contact. Often introduced via furniture, hardwood floors, or imported wood materials.
Tell-tale sign: small piles of six-sided pellets (frass) resembling sawdust or coffee grounds near infested wood. Treatment differs significantly from subterranean termite protocols.
Largest of the termite species. Require high moisture content and are typically found in decaying wood, fallen trees, and wood in direct contact with wet soil.
Rare as a primary home pest in Georgia but can colonize homes with chronic moisture problems, leaking roofs, or inadequate drainage. Correcting moisture issues is essential to any treatment plan.
Every home is different. Our licensed technicians recommend the treatment method best suited to your construction, soil, and specific termite pressure.
A continuous protective barrier of non-repellent termiticide applied to soil around the foundation. Termites traveling through the treated zone transfer the active ingredient throughout the colony.
Tamper-resistant bait stations installed at regular intervals around the perimeter of your home. Termites consume the bait and share it with the colony, leading to complete elimination.
Targeted treatment of active infestations in walls, piers, or structural wood. Foam termiticide expands into cracks and galleries, reaching termites where liquid applications cannot.
For new construction in Toccoa, Jefferson, Cumming, and Sugar Hill. Soil treatment applied before the slab is poured creates a permanent protective barrier from day one.
Buying, selling, or refinancing a home in Stephens, Hall, Habersham, or Jackson county? Most lenders require a Wood-Destroying Organism (WDO) inspection letter before closing.
Hanco offers priority WDO scheduling for real estate agents and title companies throughout Northeast Georgia. Our standard turnaround is 48 hours or less from inspection to signed Georgia Form 100 letter.
Schedule a WDO InspectionTermite control is most effective as part of a comprehensive pest protection plan. Our most popular bundle includes full termite coverage at a significant savings over individual services.
Foundational protection against the common household pests of Northeast Georgia.
Complete pest control plus active subterranean termite monitoring for homeowners protecting their largest investment.
Complete protection for wooded lots, lake properties, and homes in high-moisture foothill locations.
Turf Care Add-On available with custom pricing by yard. Commercial, HOA, and multi-property quotes available by phone.
A thorough walk of your property by a licensed technician. Foundation, crawl space, attic, and yard.
A treatment plan built for your home, your soil, and your specific termite pressure. Straightforward pricing.
Liquid barrier, bait stations, or spot treatment applied by licensed technicians with full documentation.
Annual re-inspection, bait station monitoring, and documented reports. A termite-free home, year after year.
Every community has unique termite pressure based on soil type, forest cover, and construction era. Our treatments are tailored to the region you live in.
Our home base. Historic downtown homes, mountain foothill properties around Lake Toccoa, and Stephens County rural acreage each face distinct termite pressure. We know them all.
Schedule in ToccoaLake Lanier moisture and dense tree canopy create ideal termite conditions. Subterranean termite inspections and WDO letters for real estate closings are among our busiest Gainesville services.
Schedule in GainesvilleRapid new construction has brought fresh termite pressure to Jefferson subdivisions. We offer pre-construction soil treatment for builders and monitoring programs for new homeowners.
Schedule in JeffersonLake Hartwell properties and older farmhouses each need tailored termite protection. Moisture management and bait station monitoring are our most-requested Lavonia services.
Schedule in LavoniaA mix of historic downtown structures and I-85 corridor commercial properties. Restaurant and retail WDO inspections are particularly common accounts for our Commerce route.
Schedule in CommerceApple country, heavy tree cover, and older home stock mean Cornelia homes face elevated termite pressure. Annual inspections are the standard of care here.
Schedule in CorneliaMountain cabins, rental properties, and wooded estates. Many Clayton homes sit on moist, shaded lots where termite activity is a near-constant concern.
Schedule in ClaytonPiedmont-area homes and rural farms both require vigilant termite protection. We handle WDO letters for home sales and full annual monitoring for year-round residents.
Schedule in ClarkesvilleHelen-adjacent cabins and year-round homes. Short-term rental owners particularly rely on our annual inspection programs to protect their investment.
Schedule in ClevelandDense suburban neighborhoods along Lake Lanier. Our bait station monitoring programs are the standard for most Buford-area homeowners.
Schedule in BufordFast-growing family neighborhoods with a mix of established and new construction. Pre-construction treatment and post-construction WDO inspections are both common in Cumming.
Schedule in CummingEstablished neighborhoods with mature trees. Most Sugar Hill homeowners in our service choose the Complete bundle with ongoing termite monitoring.
Schedule in Sugar HillRural homes, farms, and outbuildings. Subterranean termite pressure is high throughout Banks County, particularly around older structures and wooded lots.
Schedule in Banks CountySmall-town Baldwin sits at the crossroads of two high-pressure termite counties. Annual inspections and bait station programs are our most-recommended approach here.
Schedule in BaldwinThey caught a subterranean termite infestation behind our basement stairs that we had no idea was there. Hanco treated the area and installed bait stations around the whole foundation. It has been three years with no activity.
We needed a WDO letter on short notice for a closing on Lake Lanier. Hanco was out the next morning, signed the Georgia Form 100 within 24 hours, and the closing happened on time. Professional and easy.
Our 1940s farmhouse needed a full termite treatment after we found damage in a sill plate. Their technician explained every step, treated only what needed treating, and gave us a clear written report. Prices were fair.
Practical guides written by our licensed technicians for Northeast Georgia homeowners, real estate agents, and builders.
March through May brings termite swarms across our region. Here are the five early-warning signs we find most often on inspections in Gainesville and Habersham County homes, with photographs of what to look for.
Read Article
A practical guide to Wood-Destroying Organism inspections, Georgia Form 100, lender requirements, and how to avoid closing delays when termite evidence is discovered.
Read Article
The two primary termite treatment methods each have clear strengths. Here is how we decide which is right for each home, with real examples from Toccoa, Clayton, and Cumming.
Read ArticleThe easiest way to tell them apart: termite swarmers have two pairs of equal-length wings, straight antennae, and a broad waist. Flying ants have front wings longer than rear wings, bent (elbowed) antennae, and a distinct narrow waist. If you're not sure, save a sample in a sealed bag and send us a photo. We'll identify it at no charge.
Treatment cost depends on the size of the home, foundation type, treatment method, and severity of the infestation. Most single-family homes in our service area fall between $1,200 and $2,800 for a complete liquid termiticide treatment, or $900 to $1,800 for a bait station system installation with the first year of monitoring included. We provide a clear written estimate after a free on-site inspection.
The Georgia Department of Agriculture recommends an annual inspection for all homes. Homes with a history of termite activity, wooden foundations, or located in heavily wooded areas benefit from inspections every six to nine months. Customers on our Complete or Premium plans receive annual termite inspections automatically.
A properly applied liquid termiticide barrier typically provides effective protection for seven to ten years, sometimes longer. Bait station systems provide ongoing protection as long as stations are professionally monitored and maintained. We recommend annual inspections regardless of the initial treatment method.
No. Homeowner's insurance policies in Georgia universally exclude termite damage, which is considered preventable through regular inspection and treatment. This is why annual inspections and termite protection plans are so important. Our documented treatment records are frequently used during home sales to demonstrate active protection.
Yes. The termiticides we use are EPA-approved and applied according to label directions. Liquid treatments are applied to soil around the foundation, which means virtually no exposure inside the home. Bait stations contain the active ingredient inside tamper-resistant housings inaccessible to children and pets. Your technician will walk you through any post-treatment guidance specific to your home.
The WDO letter provided at closing is a snapshot of that single day. Georgia's year-round termite pressure means active protection requires ongoing inspection and treatment. We recommend new homeowners schedule their first Hanco inspection within six months of closing to establish a baseline, then continue with annual protection.
A Wood-Destroying Organism (WDO) letter is a signed inspection report on Georgia Form 100 confirming the presence or absence of termites, wood-destroying beetles, and wood-decaying fungi. Lenders require WDO letters for most home purchases and refinances. Our standard turnaround from inspection to signed letter is 48 hours or less.
Yes. We coordinate with builders throughout Stephens, Hall, Habersham, Jackson, and Forsyth counties to apply soil termiticide before the concrete slab is poured. Pre-construction treatment provides permanent protection built into the foundation and is often required by lenders for new construction loans.
Every month of delay means more damage. Call today for a no-obligation termite inspection. Same-week scheduling available throughout Northeast Georgia.
Family-owned pest control, termite protection, and mosquito reduction serving Northeast Georgia and Metro Atlanta since 2002.
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