Termite Damage Repair Cost (2026)
Repairing termite damage costs $1,500 to $8,000 for most homes, with about $3,500 typical. In a crawl space house the damage is usually in the sill plate, the rim joist and the floor joists nearest the foundation wall — the wood closest to the soil. Treatment to kill the colony is a separate $300 to $2,500 and has to happen first.
- How much does termite damage repair cost?
- Termite damage repair costs $1,500 to $8,000 for most homes, with about $3,500 typical. Sistering damaged floor joists runs $100 to $400 per joist, replacing a sill plate section $1,000 to $6,000, and replacing a main beam $2,500 to $12,000. Extensive structural damage across several rooms reaches $8,000 to $30,000. Treatment to eliminate the termites is a separate $300 to $2,500.
- Does homeowners insurance cover termite damage?
- Almost never. Standard policies exclude damage from insects and vermin as preventable wear and tear. The narrow exception is collapse caused by hidden insect damage, which some HO-3 policies cover; ordinary repair of damaged joists or sill plates is out of pocket.
- Does a termite bond cover repairs?
- Only a repair bond does. A retreatment bond — the cheaper and more common kind — pays for the pest company to treat again if termites return, and nothing toward the damage. A repair bond covers new damage that occurs while the bond is active, usually up to a stated limit, and never damage that existed before it started. Check which one you have before assuming it pays.
- Should termite damage be repaired before treatment?
- No. Treat first, confirm the colony is dead, then repair. Replacing wood while termites are still active feeds them new material and can void the treatment warranty if the contractor disturbs the treated soil. Most pest companies want 30 to 90 days after treatment before structural work.
- How much does a termite inspection cost?
- A termite inspection costs $75 to $325, and is often free when a pest company is quoting treatment. A wood-destroying insect report for a home sale is in the same range. Neither assesses whether the damage is structural — that needs a contractor or a structural engineer at $400 to $1,500.
| What you're pricing | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Termite treatment (required first)Liquid barrier or bait system around the foundation | $300 | $1,200 | $2,500 |
| Sister termite-damaged floor joists$100–$400 per joist; typical 6–12 joists | $1,000 | $3,000 | $7,000 |
| Sill plate or rim joist replacementPer section; house is jacked slightly off the foundation | $1,000 | $2,500 | $6,000 |
| Subfloor replacement above damage$4–$10 per sq ft | $1,200 | $3,000 | $7,000 |
| Girder / main beam replacementIncludes temporary shoring | $2,500 | $5,500 | $12,000 |
| Wall framing, door frames and trimDamage found above the floor; drywall reinstated | $300 | $1,200 | $3,000 |
| Extensive structural damageSeveral rooms, multiple framing members | $8,000 | $15,000 | $30,000 |
| Structural engineer assessmentWorth it before any quote over about $5,000 | $400 | $700 | $1,500 |
What drives the price
- Which members are damaged
- Trim and subfloor are cheap to replace. Joists are priced per joist. Sill plates and girders carry the house and need shoring, which is where the number climbs.
- How long it went unnoticed
- Subterranean termites work slowly. A colony found in its first year leaves a few joists to sister; one found after five years can leave a whole wall line to rebuild.
- Whether the colony is gone
- Repair quotes assume a completed treatment. If treatment has not been done, add $300 to $2,500 and a waiting period before the work can start.
- Access and moisture
- Low crawl spaces add labour, and termite damage in a damp crawl space often comes with fungal rot that widens the scope once the wood is opened up.
Treat first, repair second
The sequence is inspection, treatment, a waiting period, then repair. Treatment is a soil barrier or bait system around the foundation and is priced by the linear feet of the perimeter. Repair is carpentry, priced by the members replaced. Two different trades, two different quotes, and the first has to be finished before the second is worth paying for.
Ask the repair contractor to mark every damaged member on a sketch with the count of joists, the length of sill plate and the area of subfloor. As with any framing repair, the count is what makes two quotes comparable.
Why crawl space homes see more of it
Subterranean termites need contact with soil and moisture. A vented crawl space with damp ground, wood close to grade and humidity above 60% gives them both. The sill plate and rim joist sit within inches of the soil, which is why they are the first members damaged and the most expensive to replace.
Lowering crawl space moisture with a vapor barrier, a dehumidifier or encapsulation makes the wood less attractive. If the crawl space is encapsulated, leave a 2 to 3 inch inspection gap at the top of the wall liner. Many pest companies require it before they will honour a bond, and it lets anyone see mud tubes before they reach the framing.
Common questions
- How much does termite damage repair cost?
- Termite damage repair costs $1,500 to $8,000 for most homes, with about $3,500 typical. Sistering damaged floor joists runs $100 to $400 per joist, replacing a sill plate section $1,000 to $6,000, and replacing a main beam $2,500 to $12,000. Extensive structural damage across several rooms reaches $8,000 to $30,000. Treatment to eliminate the termites is a separate $300 to $2,500.
- Does homeowners insurance cover termite damage?
- Almost never. Standard policies exclude damage from insects and vermin as preventable wear and tear. The narrow exception is collapse caused by hidden insect damage, which some HO-3 policies cover; ordinary repair of damaged joists or sill plates is out of pocket.
- Does a termite bond cover repairs?
- Only a repair bond does. A retreatment bond — the cheaper and more common kind — pays for the pest company to treat again if termites return, and nothing toward the damage. A repair bond covers new damage that occurs while the bond is active, usually up to a stated limit, and never damage that existed before it started. Check which one you have before assuming it pays.
- Should termite damage be repaired before treatment?
- No. Treat first, confirm the colony is dead, then repair. Replacing wood while termites are still active feeds them new material and can void the treatment warranty if the contractor disturbs the treated soil. Most pest companies want 30 to 90 days after treatment before structural work.
- How much does a termite inspection cost?
- A termite inspection costs $75 to $325, and is often free when a pest company is quoting treatment. A wood-destroying insect report for a home sale is in the same range. Neither assesses whether the damage is structural — that needs a contractor or a structural engineer at $400 to $1,500.
How we price this. Figures are national 2026 estimates built from contractor quote ranges, material pricing and regional labour rates, then cross-checked against published industry cost data. Reckon Home does not sell, broker or perform this work. Use these numbers to judge whether a quote is reasonable — not as a quote.