Silver Bullet Pest ControlSoft sill plate, hollow joists or mud tubes on the basement wall? We stop the termites first, then repair or replace the damaged wood: sill plates, rim and floor joists, beams, studs and porch framing. You see exactly what's damaged, and the price, before any wood comes out.
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Not sure if it's termites, carpenter ants or plain water rot? Text us a photo and we'll tell you what to look for.
Silver Bullet Pest Control repairs termite damage in Clifton, NJ and the rest of Passaic County: call 973-510-2585 (NJ License 90568B). We confirm whether termites are still active, treat the colony, then repair or replace the damaged sill plates, rim and floor joists, beams, studs and porch framing, and fix the moisture or wood-to-soil contact that let termites in. One company handles the inspection, the termite treatment and the wood repair, you get the price before any work starts, and we provide documentation for a home sale or lender. Hablamos español.
Clifton is one of the biggest cities in Passaic County, and much of its housing is older: Cape Cods, colonials, split-levels and two-family homes in neighborhoods like Athenia, Allwood, Richfield, Lakeview, Botany Village and Delawanna. Many of these houses have stood for 60 years or more. That is plenty of time for eastern subterranean termites, the most common termite in New Jersey, to find a way in.
Subterranean termites live in the soil and come up into the house through the foundation. The wood they reach first is the wood sitting closest to the ground. In Clifton homes we see the same conditions again and again:
None of this means your home is doomed. Most termite damage we find is local and repairable. The key is finding all of it and stopping the termites before new wood goes in.
All three make wood soft, and they need different fixes. This table helps you tell them apart before you call.
| What you see | Termites | Carpenter ants | Water rot (no insects) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inside the wood | Tunnels along the grain packed with mud and soil | Smooth, clean galleries, like sanded | Wood is spongy, cracked into cubes or stringy |
| Outside the wood | Pencil-width mud tubes on the foundation or sill | Piles of sawdust-like frass below the wood | Stains, mold, paint peeling, no debris piles |
| Insects seen | Pale, soft workers; winged swarmers in spring | Large black or black-and-red ants, often at night | None, or insects that came later |
| Where it starts | Wood on or near the foundation and soil | Damp wood anywhere, including roof edges and decks | Wherever water sits: under leaks, near gutters, at the soil line |
| What fixes it | Treat termites, then repair the wood | Treat the ant nests, fix moisture, repair wood | Stop the leak, replace the rotted wood |
Often it's more than one: termites and rot both love wet wood. We'll tell you what we find. Text a photo to 973-510-2585.
Termites eat from the inside, so the surface can look fine while the wood behind it is hollow. These are the three places we check first.
This is where nearly every subterranean termite job starts. We probe the full length of the sill, mark every soft section, and replace or reinforce it once the termites are treated.
When termites move from the sill into joists and beams, the floor above can sag. We support the structure first, then sister new lumber onto damaged joists or replace sections that can't be saved.
In finished basements and first-floor walls, we open only what we need to see. Damaged studs and framing are replaced, then the wall can be closed and finished.
Not every damaged board has to come out. Here's how the most common repairs are handled.
| Part of the house | Light damage | Heavy damage |
|---|---|---|
| Sill plate | Remove the soft section, install new treated lumber | Support the house, replace longer runs of sill |
| Rim & floor joists | Sister new lumber alongside the old joist | Replace the joist, add blocking or support |
| Beams & girders | Reinforce the beam | Temporary support, then replace or add a new beam section |
| Studs & wall framing | Sister or replace individual studs | Replace the framed section |
| Subfloor | Patch the damaged area | Replace sheets of subfloor |
| Porch, step & deck framing | Replace damaged pieces | Rebuild the framing and lift it off the soil |
Don't close it up yet. Covering damaged wood before the termites are treated can hide active feeding. Treat, confirm, then repair.
Termite damage repair is really four jobs. Doing them out of order is the most common mistake we see in Clifton homes.
| Step | What happens | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Inspect | Confirm whether termites are active and map every damaged area, with photos | You see the whole problem, not just the board you found |
| 2. Treat | Liquid termiticide or foam treatment where the termites are coming in | New wood put in before treatment is just more food |
| 3. Verify | Check that activity has stopped | Covering wood that termites are still feeding on hides the problem |
| 4. Repair | Replace or reinforce sill plates, joists, beams and framing; fix moisture | The repair lasts because the cause is gone |
Because Silver Bullet does all four, you deal with one company and one schedule instead of an exterminator and a separate carpenter.
We confirm whether termites are active, then mark every damaged area so you see the full picture, not just the spot you found.
We walk you through what we found and give you the price before anything is treated or removed.
The colony is treated before new wood goes in, so the repair isn't just more food for termites.
Where joists or beams are weak, the structure is supported before damaged wood is cut out.
Damaged sill plates, joists, beams, studs and framing are replaced or reinforced with new lumber.
We correct wood-to-soil contact and point out drainage problems, then recommend ongoing protection so it doesn't happen again.
Termite damage often comes up during a home sale. A wood-destroying insect (WDI) inspection, sometimes called an NPMA-33 or a VA termite inspection, may note active termites, past damage or both. When that happens, the lender or buyer may ask for treatment and repairs before closing.
Because we both treat termites and repair the damage, one company can handle the whole condition:
Sellers: it's easier to deal with termites before you list than in the middle of a deal. Buyers: if a report mentions damage, ask for an inspection so you know what's behind the wall before you close. Landlords and property managers with multi-family buildings can also see our commercial pest control in Clifton.
A repair fixes the wood. These steps keep the termites from finding new wood.
Porch posts, steps, fences and deck framing should sit on concrete or have a gap above the soil.
Clean gutters and point downspouts away from the foundation. Wet soil draws termites.
Keep mulch and soil a few inches below the siding so you can see the foundation.
Stack firewood away from the house and off the ground, never in the basement.
Look for mud tubes and shed wings from March to May, when termites usually swarm.
Ask us about ongoing termite protection and periodic inspections.
Every repair is different, so we don't quote prices on the web. You get the exact price before any work starts. What changes the cost:
Check your homeowners insurance, but most policies don't cover termite damage, which is one more reason to catch it early. For general pricing, read how much an exterminator costs in NJ.
Clifton is our busiest Passaic County town for termite repairs, and we cover every Clifton neighborhood, from Athenia, Allwood and Richfield to Lakeview, Botany Village, Delawanna and Dutch Hill. We also treat and repair termite damage in nearby towns with the same older housing: Passaic, Paterson, Garfield, Nutley, Totowa, Little Falls, Woodland Park and Wayne.
We're based in Garfield, a few minutes from Clifton across the Passaic River, so inspections and repair visits are easy to schedule. We serve North Jersey: Bergen, Passaic, Essex and Hudson counties. We don't cover South Jersey.
Tell us what you're seeing and where. A photo helps. We usually get back to you the same business day.
🔒 Your info stays private · Hablamos español.
Yes. Most damage is fixed by replacing or reinforcing the damaged wood, such as sill plates, joists, beams, studs or porch framing. The termites must be treated first so the new wood isn't attacked.
Silver Bullet Pest Control. We treat the termites and repair or replace the damaged sill plates, joists, beams and framing in Clifton and the rest of Passaic County. Call or text 973-510-2585.
Yes. We repair termite damage in Clifton, Passaic, Paterson, Totowa, Little Falls, Woodland Park, Wayne and nearby Bergen and Essex County towns.
Yes. Replacing wood while termites are still active just gives the colony new food. We confirm the termites are under control, then repair.
Live termites, fresh mud tubes or soft new damage mean activity. Dry damage with broken, empty tubes may be from a past infestation. An inspection tells you for sure.
Termite tunnels follow the grain and are packed with mud and soil, and you'll often see mud tubes on the foundation. Water rot is spongy or cracked with no tunnels. Text us a photo and we'll help you tell.
Light damage usually isn't, but damage to sill plates, joists or beams can weaken floors over time. If floors sag or feel bouncy, have it inspected soon.
Both. We treat the termites and repair or replace the damaged sill plates, joists, beams and framing, so one company handles the whole job.
Often, yes. If a WDI or VA termite inspection notes damage, the lender may require treatment and repair before closing. We provide documentation of both.
Most homeowners policies don't, because termite damage is treated as preventable. Check your own policy to be sure.
Eastern subterranean termites usually swarm from March to May on warm days after rain. A swarm indoors or shed wings near windows means a colony is close.
It depends on how much wood is damaged, where it is, whether the structure needs support and whether treatment is needed first. You get the price before any work starts.
Sí. Tratamos las termitas y reparamos la madera dañada en Clifton y todo el condado de Passaic. Llame o mande texto al 973-510-2585.
Termite treatment and damage repair in Clifton and nearby Passaic, Bergen and Essex County towns.
Real photos from our recent jobs. We show only the street and town, never the customer's exact address.
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Updated November 2026 by the Silver Bullet Pest Control team, Garfield, NJ • NJ License 90568B
