Silver Bullet Pest ControlA screwdriver that sinks into the sill plate, a sagging floor over the basement, or termite damage found during a renovation or home inspection? Silver Bullet Pest Control treats the termites first and then our own crew repairs the damaged wood: sill plates, floor joists, beams and framing. One company, one plan, no finger-pointing between an exterminator and a contractor.
4.9 stars on Google • NJ License 90568B • 15+ years • Based in Garfield • Hablamos español
Text photos of the damaged wood to 973-510-2585. We'll tell you if it looks like termites, rot or carpenter ants.
Termite damage repair in NJ starts with treating the active termites, then opening up and probing the wood to find where the damage ends, and finally reinforcing or replacing what's weak: sistering new lumber alongside damaged joists, replacing sections of sill plate, and reinforcing beams and framing. Silver Bullet Pest Control does both the termite treatment and the structural wood repair with our own crew across Bergen, Passaic, Essex and Hudson counties. Call or text 973-510-2585 for a free quote.
It's tempting to call a carpenter, replace the bad wood and move on. The problem is that eastern subterranean termites, the species that causes nearly all termite damage in North Jersey, live in the soil, not in the wood. Replacing a joist doesn't touch the colony. If it's still active, the workers simply move into the new lumber, often behind new drywall where nobody sees them for years.
That's why we do it in this order:
Because the same company does both, you aren't stuck between a contractor who says "it's a pest problem" and an exterminator who says "it's a carpentry problem."
Our crew handles the structural wood termites usually attack in North Jersey homes:
Damaged sill sections are cut out and replaced with new lumber, with the house supported while the work is done. Sill damage is the most common termite repair we see in older homes with block or stone foundations.
Damaged joists are usually sistered: new full-length lumber is fastened alongside the old joist so it carries the load again. Badly damaged sections may be replaced.
Beams and posts are reinforced or replaced depending on how far the damage goes, and damaged wall framing is repaired where we open it up. We explain each step and what it involves before we start.
Termites eat wood from the inside out and leave the surface intact, so damage almost always looks smaller from the outside than it is. To find where it really ends, we probe the wood with a tool, tap for hollow spots, check both ends of joists where they sit on the sill, and open finished walls or ceilings where the signs point.
What we findWhat it usually meansTypical fixSurface galleries, wood still firmLight damageTreat; often no structural repair neededProbe sinks in, wood crumbles in spotsModerate damage to part of a memberSister or reinforce the affected sectionHollow wood, packed with mudHeavy damage; wood isn't carrying loadReplace the section with the house supportedSagging floor, cracks in walls aboveSeveral members affectedA larger repair plan, joists, sill and beam togetherDon't jump on a soft floor or remove a post to "see how bad it is." If a floor is sagging or a beam looks crushed, stay off it and call.
We confirm it's termites, find active areas and the entry route, and treat the colony's way into the house.
We expose and probe the affected wood and show you exactly what's damaged, with photos if you want them.
We support the structure where needed, then sister, reinforce or replace sill plates, joists, beams and framing.
We close up the work area and point out moisture and wood-to-soil problems that invite termites back.
Some larger structural repairs may need a building permit from your town. We'll talk through the scope with you; check with your local building department if you're unsure what applies to your house.
Not every piece of soft wood is termites. The fix is different for each:
| Cause | What the wood looks like | What it needs |
|---|---|---|
| Subterranean termites | Galleries along the grain, packed with dirt; mud tubes nearby | Termite treatment, then wood repair |
| Carpenter ants | Smooth, clean galleries; piles of sawdust-like shavings | Ant treatment, fix moisture, repair the wood |
| Wood rot (fungus) | Soft, cracked into cubes or stringy, often discolored; no insects | Fix the leak, replace the rotted wood |
| Water damage | Stained, swollen or warped wood near leaks | Fix the water source; repair as needed |
Plenty of damage is a mix: a leak softens the wood and termites move in. See termite damage vs. water damage and carpenter ant damage.
A lot of termite damage in New Jersey is discovered during a home inspection or a wood-destroying insect inspection before closing. When that happens, time is short and both sides want clear answers.
More: termite inspections for buyers and sellers and VA termite inspections in NJ. Ask us about the specific report form your lender requires.
Every repair is different, so we give a free quote after we see the damage. What changes it:
| Factor | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| How far the damage goes | A few feet of sill is a small job; damage running along a whole wall is not. |
| Which wood is damaged | Sill sections and joists are routine; main beams and load-bearing posts need more support work. |
| Access | An open basement is easy to work in; finished ceilings, walls and crawl spaces have to be opened and closed. |
| Moisture problems | Leaks and drainage that caused or worsened the damage need fixing too. |
| Termite treatment | Treatment is quoted alongside the repair, since it has to be done first. |
Most homeowners insurance policies don't cover termite damage, so catching it early is what keeps the bill down. Check your own policy to be sure.
Gutters clean, downspouts carried away from the foundation, plumbing and basement leaks fixed, a dehumidifier in a damp basement.
Deck posts, porch steps, fence boards and firewood off the ground and away from the house.
Keep mulch and soil a few inches below the siding so termites can't sneak in unseen.
A professional inspection every year or two, and a quick look at the basement walls each spring before swarm season.
Send photos of the damage and tell us where it is (basement, porch, floor, wall). We'll set up an inspection and give you a free quote for treatment and repair.
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Yes. Most termite damage to sill plates, joists, beams and framing can be repaired by reinforcing the damaged wood (sistering) or cutting out and replacing damaged sections. The termites have to be treated first so they don't attack the new wood.
Treat first. Subterranean termites live in the soil, so new wood installed while the colony is still active just becomes their next meal. We treat, confirm the activity is under control, and then repair.
Usually not. Most policies treat termite damage as a maintenance issue and exclude it. Check your own policy, and if a covered event like a sudden collapse is involved, ask your insurer.
Active damage often has live termites, moist mud in the galleries or fresh mud tubes; old damage is dry and empty. It's hard to tell for sure without probing and inspecting, so leave the wood as it is and send us photos.
In most cases yes, because termite damage builds slowly and the house has other framing carrying the load. Sagging floors, cracking walls above, or a crushed-looking beam or post are warning signs. Stay off the area and call right away.
A small sill or joist repair can often be done in a day or two. Larger repairs involving several joists, a beam or a long run of sill take longer. We give you a timeline with the quote.
It depends on how much wood is damaged, which members are involved, how hard the area is to reach, and whether moisture problems need fixing. We give a free quote after inspecting.
Yes. Once the carpenter ants and the moisture behind them are dealt with, damaged wood can be repaired the same way as termite damage.
We're based in Garfield and serve Bergen, Passaic, Essex and Hudson counties. We also serve some towns in Morris and Union counties, with visits scheduled ahead.
Yes. Silver Bullet Pest Control holds NJ License 90568B for pest control and has over 15 years of experience.
Sí. Primero tratamos las termitas y luego nuestro equipo repara la madera dañada: soleras, vigas y estructura. Hablamos español. Llame o mande texto al 973-510-2585.
Based in Garfield, we repair termite damage across Bergen, Passaic, Essex and Hudson counties.
Updated November 2026 by the Silver Bullet Pest Control team, Garfield, NJ • NJ License 90568B
