Damascus Termite Control
Family-owned & local since 1968
Free termite inspections and Sentricon protection for Damascus homes, from 1980s colonials to old farmhouses on the ridge. No binding contract.
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Trusted Termite Control in Damascus, MD — in Our Customers' Words
Hear what Northern Virginia and Maryland homeowners have to say about our service — in their own words. Real customers from real homes, sharing why they trust Better Termite with what matters most.
- Homes protected
- 100k+
- Google reviews
- 4.9★
- Years local
- 58+
Why Better Termite
Termite Control in Damascus you can trust — from $35/mo with no binding contracts.
Lower-Impact Products
Hand-picked, EPA-approved treatments selected by our research team — without 9 of the harshest products still used by most companies.
Local Termite Control Experts
Family-owned since 1968, with 300+ years of combined experience protecting Damascus homes. A licensed local tech answers the phone.
The Better Promise
Unlimited free re-services and no binding contracts — we keep coming back until your problem is gone. Cancel anytime with 30 days notice.
About Better Termite
Termite Control in Damascus, MD
Most of Damascus Was Built in Two Decades
Damascus started as a postal stop on the ridge in 1816. For most of the next 150 years it stayed a small farm town. Then the subdivisions arrived. Census estimates show that of roughly 6,000 homes in Damascus today, about 3,400 were built between 1970 and 1989, and more than a third went up in the 1980s alone. Over three quarters are single-family detached houses.
That one building boom shapes termite control in Damascus. Homes built in the same years have the same age problems at the same time. Any soil treatment the builder put down wore out long ago. Decks have been rebuilt, beds re-mulched and basements finished. And the termites that lived in those fields before the houses came are still in the ground.
Better Termite & Pest Control has protected homes in the DC area since 1968. We are family-owned, now in our third generation, with a small team that adds up to 300+ years of experience. Our research team cut 9 of the harshest products in our industry from our programs, so Sentricon bait and borate do most of our termite work. We have serviced over 100,000 homes and earned 1800+ reviews.
Local Termite Pressure
What Drives Termite Activity Around Damascus
High on the Ridge, Wet at the Edges
Damascus sits on Parr’s Ridge, the high ground that Ridge Road (MD-27) follows from Mount Airy toward Laytonsville. People assume a hilltop town is too dry for termites. It is not. Damascus sits at the headwaters of Great Seneca Creek and Little Seneca Creek, and Magruder Branch runs right through town along its stream valley park and trail. Little Bennett Regional Park lies to the west and Patuxent River State Park to the northeast. Those wooded valleys are full of fallen logs and damp soil, which is where colonies grow big.
A big colony does not stay in one place. The University of Maryland Extension notes that subterranean termites travel through soil tunnels and can feed at spots more than 200 feet apart. A house backing onto a stream buffer or a wooded common area is well within reach.
Life on the Edge of the Agricultural Reserve
The county’s Damascus Master Plan describes the town as surrounded by the farms and open land of the Agricultural Reserve. That is a big part of the appeal. It also means a lot of wood touching dirt: board fences and split-rail fences, run-in sheds, old barns, pole buildings, and cords of firewood stacked for the winter. Each one is food a colony can use on its way to the house. Our post on termites in firewood shows how to stack a woodpile so it does not become a termite highway.
Farmhouses Older Than the Subdivisions
Roughly 600 Damascus homes were built before 1960, and some date back to the town’s early days as the Pleasant Plains of Damascus. Older farmhouses often sit on fieldstone or block foundations with wood sills close to the ground, and many have additions from several eras. Each joint between old and new is a spot where termites can find a way in. These houses need a slow, careful inspection. To learn more about the insect itself, see Eastern subterranean termites in our pest library.
Where We Look
Where Termites Show Up on Damascus Homes
Daren, one of our technicians with about ten years in the field, has a set order for every termite inspection. He starts on one side of the front stoop and works all the way around the house before going inside. He does not skip around. The stoop is a big area and one of the most common places he finds termites, so it comes first.
The Spots He Finds Them Most
- Mulch beds against the foundation, the number one spot
- The band board and sill plate in the basement, where the wood frame rests on the foundation wall
- The garage, especially where the slab meets the framing
- Around the chimney, a common outside spot on colonials with a brick chimney on the side wall
- The front stoop, where packed dirt sits right against the house
Outside, the main clue is a mud tube: a thin line of dried dirt running up a foundation wall, a pier or a chimney. Termites build them to move from the soil to the wood without drying out. Our guide to termite mud tubes shows what fresh and old tubes look like.
Finished Basements
Finished Basements Hide the Evidence
A lot of Damascus homes from the 1980s and 1990s now have finished basements. That is great for family space and bad for spotting termites. Once drywall covers the band board and sill plate, nobody can see mud tubes climbing the foundation wall. Often the first sign is a cloud of winged bugs in the basement on a warm spring day.
Daren remembers a call that started as a flying ant problem. When he got to the house, it was termite swarmers, in a basement that had just been fully remodeled with new flooring. The homeowner did not believe him at first. When termites come up in a finished basement and you cannot tell from the outside where they are entering, Daren has to warn people that treating may mean drilling through that brand-new floor. Nobody wants to hear that.
Swarmers or Flying Ants?
Termite swarmers have straight bodies with no pinched waist and four wings that are all the same length. Flying ants have a narrow waist, bent antennae and front wings that are longer than the back ones. Our side-by-side on flying ants vs. termites has photos. If you are planning to finish a basement, get a termite inspection before the walls go up, not after.
Treatment
Termite Treatment Options for Damascus Properties
Sentricon Colony Elimination
Most Damascus homes start with Sentricon. We set bait stations in the ground in a ring around the house. Worker termites find the bait, feed on it and share it through the colony. The bait stops them from molting, so the colony shrinks and dies, queen and all. We do not dig a trench or spray the yard. Since the bait stays inside closed stations, it is often a good fit for properties on a private well. Tell us where the well head and septic field are, and we plan station spots around them.
Liquid Treatment for Active Termites
If termites are already feeding inside the house, we may recommend a targeted liquid treatment with a product like Termidor or Premise in the soil along the foundation. Under a stoop, a patio or a garage floor, that means drilling small holes to reach the soil underneath. In a bad infestation, termites sometimes do not find bait stations fast enough, and liquid is the faster way to stop them. We price this after the inspection and follow every label rule, including distance from wells.
Townhomes and Shared Walls
About one in seven Damascus homes is a townhouse. A colony under one end of a row does not respect property lines, so if a neighbor had termites, it is worth a look at your unit too. Our post on how termites spread through a neighborhood explains why.
Prevention
A Termite Checklist for Damascus Homes on Larger Lots
Many Damascus homes sit on an acre or more. Larger lots mean more places for termites to settle in before they reach the house. Take a walk around yours with this list. It does not replace an inspection, but it will help you spot trouble early.
- Firewood: keep it on a rack, off the ground and well away from the house. Bring in only what you will burn that week.
- Fence posts and gates: wood fences that tie into the house give termites a direct path to the siding.
- Old stumps and fallen trees: storm-downed trees near the yard are prime colony sites. Grind or haul them out.
- Landscape timbers and raised beds: check where they meet the soil for soft or hollow spots.
- Mulch depth: keep mulch thin and pulled back so a few inches of foundation show below the siding.
- Downspouts and AC lines: send water well away from the foundation. A wet strip of soil is all termites need.
Our guide to signs of termites in the yard shows what to look for in each of these spots. Dealing with mice, stink bugs or ants too? Our Damascus pest control plans can be bundled with termite protection.
Sentricon stations sit flush with the ground, so mowers and kids pass right over them
One winged swarmer surrounded by workers. Where you see one, the colony is close by
Workers never leave the soil or the wood, which is why most homeowners never see them
Homeowner termite inspections in Damascus are free
Family-owned since 1968, now run by the third generation
One full termite inspection a year comes with every Sentricon plan
Everything We Do
Every service we offer in Damascus — one local team, one phone call.
Core Programs
- Home Pest Control in Damascus
- Termite Control in Damascus
- Rodent Control in Damascus
- Mosquito & Tick Control in Damascus
- Extermination Services in Damascus
- Eco-Friendly Pest Control in Damascus
- Sentricon® Termite Baiting in Damascus
- IN2CARE® Mosquito System in Damascus
- Commercial Pest Control in Damascus
- Pre-Construction Termite Control in Damascus
Insects & Spiders
- Ant Control in Damascus
- Carpenter Ant Control in Damascus
- Sugar Ant Control in Damascus
- Spider Control in Damascus
- Roach Control in Damascus
- German Cockroach Control in Damascus
- Oriental Cockroach Control in Damascus
- American Cockroach Control in Damascus
- Flea Control in Damascus
- Silverfish Control in Damascus
- Carpet Beetle Control in Damascus
- Pantry Pest Control in Damascus
- Stink Bug Control in Damascus
- Lady Bug Control in Damascus
- Boxelder Bug Control in Damascus
- Cricket Control in Damascus
- Tick Control in Damascus
- Earwig Control in Damascus
- Millipede Control in Damascus
- Centipede Control in Damascus
- Pill Bug Control in Damascus
- Springtail Control in Damascus
- Clover Mite Control in Damascus
Stinging & Flying
Rodents & Wildlife
What Upper Montgomery County Homeowners Say
1800+ Reviews on Google "I've had nothing but great experiences for 3 years now. Their consistent, reliable service really stands out for me, and everyone is always kind and easy to talk to. I also like that they're a local, family-run business. Kamaal, who I'm gonna call my customer consultant, is fantastic—he really listens to my concerns."
"We had a bad cockroach problem - we knew it was bad because of all the baby cockroaches we spotted. It took a while but Better Termite ultimately solved it and our house is cockroach free. Cindy in particular, was quick to help out and made it pain free."
"I highly recommend this company for your home pest control. Their technicians are thorough and have prevented any unwanted problems from happening on our property. During our last treatment, Jasmine took care of our outdoor spider webs without us even asking. Last summer they removed a mud dauber's nest under our deck and above our patio door. That attention to detail speaks volumes. Thank you for taking care of us!"
"The team at Better Termite & Pest control are phenomenal! I feel like my family and my home are in good hands. Everyone I have come into contact with has been responsive, pleasant and professional. The price is right and the service is superb!"
"Joann is amazing! She always takes time to talk with me and check inside boxes. I so appreciate her!! I have been using Better Termite and Pest Management for over 20 years."
"I've had nothing but great experiences for 3 years now. Their consistent, reliable service really stands out for me, and everyone is always kind and easy to talk to. I also like that they're a local, family-run business. Kamaal, who I'm gonna call my customer consultant, is fantastic—he really listens to my concerns."
"We had a bad cockroach problem - we knew it was bad because of all the baby cockroaches we spotted. It took a while but Better Termite ultimately solved it and our house is cockroach free. Cindy in particular, was quick to help out and made it pain free."
"I highly recommend this company for your home pest control. Their technicians are thorough and have prevented any unwanted problems from happening on our property. During our last treatment, Jasmine took care of our outdoor spider webs without us even asking. Last summer they removed a mud dauber's nest under our deck and above our patio door. That attention to detail speaks volumes. Thank you for taking care of us!"
"The team at Better Termite & Pest control are phenomenal! I feel like my family and my home are in good hands. Everyone I have come into contact with has been responsive, pleasant and professional. The price is right and the service is superb!"
"Joann is amazing! She always takes time to talk with me and check inside boxes. I so appreciate her!! I have been using Better Termite and Pest Management for over 20 years."
How It Works
How Termite Control Works in Damascus
Pick Up the Phone
Call (703) 683-2000. The person who answers is a licensed technician, not a call center. Tell us what you found, where in the house you found it, and whether the property has a well, a barn or other outbuildings.
Free 78-Point Termite Inspection
A licensed professional starts at one side of the front stoop and works all the way around the house, then moves inside to the basement, the garage and anywhere framing sits close to the ground. Mulch beds, the chimney base and the deck get the same attention.
Treatment Matched to What We Find
No live termites? Sentricon bait stations go in the soil around the house to catch a colony before it does damage. Live termites in the wood? A targeted liquid treatment along the foundation. Bare framing in a remodel can be treated with borate.
Yearly Inspection and Station Service
Every Sentricon plan includes one full termite inspection a year. Your technician checks the stations and walks the house again, because new decks, fresh mulch and moved woodpiles change the picture.
Free Callbacks, No Lock-In
If you see wings, mud tubes or anything else that worries you between visits, call us and we come back at no added cost. If the plan stops being worth it to you, cancel with 30 days notice.
Your Local Office
Termite Control Across Damascus, MD 20872
The town center along Ridge Road, Kings Valley, Damascus Valley Park, Sweepstakes and Greenhills, plus Clagettsville, Browningsville, Cedar Grove, Purdum, Lewisdale and Woodfield.
Get in Touch
Call Us
703-683-2000Email Us
info@bettertermite.comVisit Our Alexandria (Headquarters) Office
2647 Duke StreetAlexandria, VA 22314
Office Hours
- Mon, Tue, Thu7:30 AM – 7 PM
- Wed, Fri7:30 AM – 8 PM
- Sat, Sun9 AM – 6 PM
Good to Know
Damascus Termite Control Questions
Still have questions? A licensed local tech picks up at (703) 683-2000.
Our Free Callback Promise
See pests between scheduled visits? We come back and retreat at no extra cost — as many times as it takes. No binding contracts, cancel anytime with 30 days notice.