Silver Bullet Pest ControlTermite Exterminator & Termite Inspection in Clifton, NJ
Winged insects by the back door in April, mud tubes on the foundation of an Athenia colonial, or a buyer's inspection due next week? Silver Bullet Pest Control inspects Clifton homes and buildings for termites, shows you exactly what we find, and treats the problem before the repairs get expensive.
4.9 stars on Google • NJ License 90568B • 15+ years • Just across the river in Garfield • Hablamos español
Found swarmers or wings? Text a photo to 973-510-2585 — we'll tell you if they're termites or flying ants.
- ✓ Same-day appointments often available
- ✓ Licensed & insured in NJ
- ✓ Homes & businesses
- ✓ English & Español
Who does termite inspections and treatment in Clifton, NJ?
Silver Bullet Pest Control inspects and treats termites in Clifton from our base just across the Passaic River in Garfield. A licensed technician checks the foundation, basement, sills and wood inside and out, shows you what we find, and recommends a treatment — most often a soil treatment along the foundation plus the active areas. NJ License 90568B, 4.9 stars on Google. Call or text 973-510-2585.
Where termites get into Clifton houses
Clifton's termites are eastern subterranean termites: they live in the soil and come up through the foundation looking for wood and moisture. What we find depends a lot on the house:
- Older homes in Botany Village, Dutch Hill and Lakeview often have stone or block foundations with joints and cracks that termites follow up to the wood sill.
- Capes, colonials and ranches in Athenia, Allwood, Richfield and Rosemawr have decks, porches, additions and garages — places where wood sits close to soil and where an addition meets the original foundation.
- Homes near the Passaic River, Weasel Brook and the other brooks deal with damp soil, which termites need.
- Finished basements anywhere in town hide the walls termites travel on.
None of this means your house has termites — it means older Clifton homes are worth checking, especially if they've never been inspected.
Termite swarmers or flying ants?
| Look at | Termite swarmer | Flying ant |
|---|---|---|
| Waist | Thick and straight | Thin, pinched |
| Antennae | Straight | Bent at an elbow |
| Wings | Four, all the same length; fall off easily | Front wings longer than back |
| When | Spring, often a warm day after rain | Spring and summer |
| What it means | A colony is very likely close by | Ants nesting in or near the house |
Save a few in a bag or take a close-up photo and text it to us.
Signs of termites
Mud tubes
Pencil-width dirt tunnels up the foundation, piers or pipes.
Soft or hollow wood
Sills, joists, stairs or trim that a screwdriver sinks into.
Discarded wings
Small piles of identical wings on window sills or the basement floor.
Doors that stick
Warping in a frame can come from moisture or termite damage.
Termites work inside the wood, so no signs doesn't always mean no termites.
What our termite inspection covers
Outside
Foundation, sill line, decks, porches, garage, wood touching soil, mulch beds and downspouts.
Basement & crawl spaces
Walls, sill plates, joists, posts and pipes through the slab.
Inside
Door and window frames, baseboards and trim along outside walls.
Report
We show you what we found and explain your options — including if it isn't termites at all.
Already have damage? After treatment our crew repairs damaged sill plates, joists and framing. See termite damage repair.
How we treat termites
We recommend what fits your house — most often a treatment in the soil along the foundation so termites coming up from the ground pass through it, plus treating the active areas inside.
- We explain where we treat, what we use and how long it takes before we start.
- We point out water and wood-to-soil problems that make termites more likely to return.
- If it's carpenter ants or rot instead, we tell you and what to do.
Prevention: point downspouts away from the house, keep mulch and firewood back from the foundation, fix leaks and keep wood off the soil.
A quick check you can do this weekend
Grab a flashlight and a screwdriver and spend ten minutes looking — most termite problems we find in Clifton could have been caught earlier with a look like this:
- Walk the outside of the foundation. Look for thin dirt tubes running up the wall, especially behind shrubs, under the deck and where steps meet the house.
- Go to the basement and follow the top of the wall. Where the wood sill sits on the foundation, press the screwdriver in. It should feel solid.
- Check the garage. Detached garages on older Clifton lots often have wood framing sitting right on the slab or soil.
- Look under windows and by doors for small piles of wings in spring.
- Don't break open tubes or spray anything. Take a photo and text it to us so we can see the activity as it is.
Buying or selling a home in Clifton
Many New Jersey home sales include a wood-destroying insect inspection, and VA loans require one. Clifton has a busy housing market, so call as soon as you're under contract.
- Tell us the closing date, lender and who should get the report.
- If termites are found, we explain the treatment and the paperwork you'll need.
More: VA termite inspections in NJ.
Commercial buildings
Stores, offices, schools and warehouses along Route 3, Route 46 and Main Avenue can get termites too — especially where wood framing, planters or landscaping sit against the building. We inspect around your hours and give you a written report, and property managers with several buildings can set up a yearly inspection schedule.
What affects the price of termite treatment
The quote is free and given after the inspection:
| Factor | Smaller job | Bigger job |
|---|---|---|
| Activity | One small area | Several areas or long runs of tubes |
| House | Small footprint | Larger home, additions, garage, porches |
| Foundation | Poured concrete, open basement | Stone or block, finished basement, slab |
| Moisture | Dry foundation | Water problems to fix too |
| Damage | None | Wood that needs repair afterward |
Call or text 973-510-2585 to set up an inspection.
Get a Free Termite Quote in Clifton
Tell us what you found — swarmers, wings, mud tubes, soft wood — or your closing date.
Why Clifton calls us for termites
- Winged insects inside in spring
- Mud tubes on the foundation
- Soft wood at a sill, deck or porch
- An inspection for a sale or VA loan
- Want an honest answer — termites or not
Request Service
🔒 Your info stays private · Hablamos español.
Termite Questions from Clifton
Are termites common in Clifton?
Subterranean termites are common across North Jersey, and older homes with stone or block foundations, decks and finished basements are the ones we check most carefully.
How do I tell termites from flying ants?
Termites have a thick waist, straight antennae and four equal wings. Flying ants have a pinched waist, bent antennae and longer front wings.
When do termites swarm?
Mostly in spring, often on a warm day after rain.
Do I need an inspection if I don't see anything?
Damage can be hidden inside the wood, so older homes benefit from regular inspections.
Do you do inspections for home sales?
Yes. Tell us the closing date, lender and who needs the report, and call early.
How long does treatment take?
Most homes are treated in one visit; larger homes or finished basements can take longer.
Is the treatment safe for my family and pets?
We explain where and how we treat and any precautions before we start.
Can termite damage be repaired?
Yes, and we do it ourselves. We treat the termites first so the new wood isn't damaged again, then our crew repairs or replaces damaged sill plates, joists, beams and framing.
Are you licensed?
Yes. NJ License 90568B, over 15 years of experience, based just across the river in Garfield.
¿Hablan español?
Sí. Hablamos español. Llame o mande texto al 973-510-2585.
Termite control near Clifton
From our base in Garfield we cover Clifton and the towns around it.
Updated November 2026 by the Silver Bullet Pest Control team, Garfield, NJ • NJ License 90568B