Silver Bullet Pest ControlWinged bugs by the basement window in spring, mud tubes on the foundation, or soft wood at the porch? Silver Bullet Pest Control inspects and treats termites in Caldwell, North Caldwell and West Caldwell homes — and after treatment, our own crew can repair the damaged sill plates, joists and framing.
4.9 stars on Google • NJ License 90568B • 15+ years • Serving Essex County from Garfield • Hablamos español
Found wings or swarmers? Text a photo to 973-510-2585 — we'll tell you if they're termites or flying ants.
Silver Bullet Pest Control is a licensed termite exterminator serving Caldwell, North Caldwell and West Caldwell from our base in Garfield. We inspect the foundation, basement and wood inside and out, show you what we find, treat the colony's way into the house, and can repair termite-damaged wood ourselves afterward. NJ License 90568B, 4.9 stars on Google — call or text 973-510-2585 for a free quote.
The termites in this part of New Jersey are eastern subterranean termites. They live in the soil, need moisture, and come up into houses through the foundation to eat wood. A few things about the Caldwells give them plenty to work with:
None of this means your house has termites. It means a careful inspection is worth it, especially on an older home or before you buy one.
What to look for, and what it usually means:
| What you see | Where | What it usually means |
|---|---|---|
| Pencil-width mud tubes | Foundation walls, sill plate, piers | Active or past termite travel route |
| Piles of small, equal-length wings | Basement windows, doors, sills | A swarm — the colony is close by |
| Wood that sounds hollow or feels soft | Sills, joists, door frames, baseboards | Possible damage inside the wood |
| Bubbling or rippled paint | Trim and walls near the foundation | Moisture or termites under the surface |
| Doors or windows that suddenly stick | Lower floor | Could be damage, could be humidity — worth a look |
Don't knock down tubes or spray them. Take a photo and text it to 973-510-2585 so we can see the activity as it is.
Termite swarms in North Jersey usually happen on a warm day in spring, often right after rain. Winged termites (swarmers) pour out of a crack or window frame, fly for a short time, drop their wings and die. If they swarm inside your house, the colony is almost always nearby.
Quick way to tell them apart:
Seeing a swarm right now? Our termite swarm emergency page explains what to do. If it turns out to be ants, see carpenter ants.
The foundation line, porches, steps, decks, mulch beds, stumps, wood piles, gutters and downspouts.
Foundation walls, sill plates, joists, support posts and where pipes and wires come through the slab.
Door and window frames, baseboards and trim along outside walls, and anything with signs you've noticed.
We show you what we found — live termites, old damage, mud tubes, or conditions that invite them — and explain your options in plain English.
There's more than one way to treat termites. Here's an honest comparison:
| Liquid soil treatment | Termite bait systems | |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | A termiticide is applied in the soil along the foundation and at active areas, creating a treated zone | Bait stations in the ground are checked; termites carry the bait back to the colony |
| Speed | Starts working as termites pass through the treated soil | Slower — depends on termites finding the bait |
| Best for | Active infestations and homes where the foundation can be reached | Some homes where drilling or trenching is hard |
| Upkeep | Inspections; re-treat if needed | Stations need regular monitoring |
Most homes we see get a soil treatment along the foundation plus treatment of the active areas, but every house is different — ask us which fits yours. More: Sentricon vs. liquid treatment and does termite spray work?
Repairing wood while termites are still active just feeds them new lumber. We treat first and point out the leaks, downspouts and wood-to-soil contact that made the house attractive.
Termite damage often looks small on the surface and runs deeper inside the wood. We check how far it goes before recommending what to repair or replace.
After treatment, our crew repairs termite-damaged sill plates, joists, beams and framing ourselves, so you're not chasing a second contractor.
Many New Jersey home sales include a wood-destroying insect inspection, and VA loans require one. With so many older homes in Caldwell and North Caldwell, buyers and their inspectors often ask about termites.
More: termite inspections for buyers and sellers and VA termite inspections in NJ.
We give a free quote after the inspection. These are the things that change the price:
| Factor | Smaller job | Bigger job |
|---|---|---|
| Size of the foundation | Small Cape Cod | Large colonial with additions |
| Foundation type | Open basement, easy access | Finished basement, slab sections, stone walls |
| Activity | One small area | Several active areas or a swarm inside |
| Porches and additions | None | Porches, decks or additions on their own foundations |
| Damage | No repair needed | Sills, joists or framing to repair |
Call or text 973-510-2585. Same-day inspections are often available.
Clean gutters, extend downspouts away from the foundation and fix basement leaks. Damp soil is what termites look for.
Keep firewood, lumber and old fence posts off the ground and away from the house. Grind down old stumps near the foundation.
Keep mulch a few inches deep and pulled back from the siding so you can see the foundation wall.
A quick walk along the basement walls before swarm season catches mud tubes early.
Tell us what you found — swarmers, wings, mud tubes, soft wood — or your closing date if you're buying or selling. We'll give you a free quote.
🔒 Your info stays private · Hablamos español.
Yes. We serve Caldwell, North Caldwell and West Caldwell from our base in Garfield, along with the rest of Essex County and nearby towns like Cedar Grove and Montclair. Same-day termite inspections are often available — call or text 973-510-2585 to check the schedule.
Termite swarmers have a straight, thick waist, straight antennae and four wings the same length. Flying ants have a pinched waist, bent antennae and longer front wings. The easiest way is to text us a clear photo of the insect or the wings, and we'll tell you.
Termite swarms in North Jersey usually happen in spring, on a warm day, often after rain. Swarmers inside the house mean the colony is close by and probably already feeding on the structure, so it's worth an inspection soon even after the swarm stops.
Most homes are treated in a day. Bigger homes, finished basements, slab sections or porches on separate foundations can take longer. We'll tell you the timing and what to expect before we start, and you can usually stay home during the work.
Yes, when it's applied correctly. Treatment goes into the soil along the foundation and into the active areas, following label directions. We'll tell you what we're using and if anyone needs to stay out of an area for a while. Our technicians are EPA pesticide safety certified.
Yes. After the termites are treated, our own crew repairs damaged sill plates, floor joists, beams and framing. Treating first matters, because new wood put in while termites are still active just gives them something else to eat.
The price depends on the size and type of foundation, how many areas are active, whether there are porches or additions, and whether repairs are needed. We give a free quote after the inspection rather than guessing over the phone.
They can if the conditions that drew them in stay the same or the treated zone is disturbed. Fixing moisture, pulling back mulch and keeping wood off the soil helps a lot. A check every year or two catches new activity early, before it becomes damage.
Yes. Many NJ home sales include a wood-destroying insect inspection, and VA loans require one. Tell us your closing date and lender when you call. Ask us about the specific report your lender needs so we get it right the first time.
Sí. Hablamos español. Llame o mande un texto al 973-510-2585 para una cotización gratis.
From our base in Garfield we cover the Caldwells, the rest of Essex County and nearby towns, including:
Updated November 2026 by the Silver Bullet Pest Control team, Garfield, NJ • NJ License 90568B
