Professional vs. DIY

Over the years, I’ve inspected countless homes where the owner tried to handle their termite problem on their own. These DIY attempts range from spraying swarmers with Raid to taping over drywood termite kickout holes in hopes of sealing the problem away.

When homeowners turn to big-box stores—whether their preference is orange or blue—they almost always walk out with the same product: Spectracide Terminate Termite Killing Foam.

I can’t blame them. If I didn’t know any better, I’d probably buy it too. The packaging screams TERMITE KILLING FOAM in bold, capitalized letters. Below that, “Kills on Contact” sits next to an image of what looks like a dying termite. It’s easy to think, That’s exactly what I need! I’m not about to let those little jerks feast on my walls.

But here’s the problem: killing worker termites on contact is like spraying a trail of ants—it’s not a long-term solution. Unless you eliminate the termite queen, she’ll just produce more workers, and the infestation will continue.

Why Professional Treatment Works

What professionals use is far more effective because it doesn’t kill on contact. Instead, it exploits termite biology. Worker termites groom and feed the queen. Their colonies are tightly packed, meaning termites are constantly rubbing up against each other. Professional-grade treatments like Termidor are undetectable to termites. When workers chew on treated wood, they unknowingly transfer the substance throughout the colony, leading to its eventual collapse.

Compare that to Terminate, and you’ll find a key flaw: the product’s Safety Data Sheet lists its odor as “Solvent and pyrethroid.” In other words, termites can detect it—and will avoid treated areas, potentially burrowing deeper into the wood instead.

Toxicity & Longevity

Here’s another surprising fact: The professional-grade termiticide has a toxicity signal word of Caution. Terminate, on the other hand, carries the more serious signal word Warning, meaning the over-the-counter product is actually more toxic to humans and pets than what professionals use.

Longevity is another factor. Professional products remain effective for up to ten years, according to the manufacturer. I’m not sure how long Terminate lasts, but it doesn’t really matter—since termites avoid it, it won’t stop future infestations. And if the moisture issue that attracted termites in the first place isn’t addressed, the problem will persist.

The Fine Print Tells the Truth

There’s one telling sentence in Terminate’s product description:

“This product is not recommended as sole protection against termites. For active infestations, get a professional inspection.”

If you see termites, that means your infestation is active. Instead of wasting time and money on a temporary fix, call a professional. The sooner you catch a termite infestation, the less damage they’ll cause—saving you thousands in wood repairs down the line.