Termite Protection in Florida: Tenting vs Bond Costs
Florida is the only state facing both drywood and subterranean termites at full scale. Here's what tenting, no-tent treatments, and annual bonds actually cost — and which one survives a resale.
The short answer
Termite protection in Florida costs roughly $1,200–$4,000 for whole-house tenting (fumigation) that kills drywood termites, or $500–$1,500 for localized no-tent treatments. Annual bonds run $150–$400 and cover subterranean termites with re-treatment guarantees. No homeowners insurance policy in Florida covers termite damage, so an active, transferable bond protects both your structure and your resale value.
Why Florida homeowners fight two termites at once
Short version
Florida is the only U.S. state where drywood and subterranean termites both thrive at scale year-round. Drywood termites live inside the wood itself and require tenting or spot treatment. Subterranean termites nest in soil and attack from below, requiring bait systems or soil treatments. You often need two different defenses on the same house.
Drywood termites infest dry, sound wood above ground — attic rafters, door frames, furniture — and need no contact with soil. They announce themselves with small piles of pellet-like frass. Because colonies live sealed inside the wood, the only reliable whole-structure fix is fumigation (tenting).
Subterranean termites, including the aggressive Formosan variety common in South Florida, nest in the ground and build mud tubes to reach your framing. They cause the majority of structural termite damage nationwide. Tenting does nothing to them — you need soil termiticide or in-ground bait stations.
The uncomfortable truth: a single Florida home can host both at the same time, and the treatment that kills one is useless against the other. Anyone selling you a single 'termite package' should be able to explain how it addresses both.
What does each termite treatment cost — and what does it actually guarantee?
The word to watch is guarantee. Two treatments at the same price can carry wildly different re-treatment and repair promises. A treatment is only as good as what happens when termites come back — and in Florida, they come back.
| Treatment | Typical cost | What it kills | What it guarantees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tenting / fumigation | $1,200–$4,000 | Drywood termites (whole structure) | One-time eradication; no ongoing protection unless paired with a bond |
| No-tent / spot treatment | $500–$1,500 | Localized drywood colonies | Treated areas only; misses hidden colonies |
| Soil / liquid termiticide | $800–$2,500 | Subterranean termites | Barrier lasts ~5–10 years; often bundled with a bond |
| Bait station system | $1,200–$3,000 install | Subterranean termites | Ongoing monitoring while contract is active |
| Annual termite bond | $150–$400 / year | Depends on coverage type | Re-treatment and sometimes repair — as long as you keep paying |
Tenting is priced by cubic footage of the home, not square footage — a two-story house with vaulted ceilings costs more than its floorplan suggests. Expect to vacate for 24–72 hours and remove or bag food and medication.
No-tent treatments (heat, localized fumigants, or spot injections) are cheaper and less disruptive, but they only treat what the inspector can find. If drywood colonies are scattered through the framing, spot treatment misses them. It's a reasonable choice for a limited, confirmed infestation — not for a whole-house problem.
Why the termite bond matters most at resale
A termite bond is a service contract with a pest control company that keeps your treatment active — the company monitors, re-treats, and (on the better contracts) repairs new damage. There are two tiers, and the difference is enormous.
A re-treatment bond means the company will treat again for free if termites return. A repair bond (sometimes called a damage warranty) means they'll also pay to fix new structural damage. Repair bonds cost more and require regular inspections, but they're the only version that protects your wallet from the thing termites actually do — eat your house.
Here's where it hits your closing: many Florida bonds are transferable to the buyer, and a WDO (wood-destroying organism) inspection is standard in most Florida transactions. A home with an active, transferable repair bond and a clean WDO report closes cleaner than one where the buyer discovers frass in the attic and demands a tenting credit. That's real money — a full tenting can knock $2,000+ off a deal at the eleventh hour.
“The homeowners who get burned aren't the ones with termites — it's the ones who let the bond lapse and can't prove continuous coverage at closing. A $200 annual payment protects a $3,000 treatment and a $300,000 asset. Keep the paperwork where you can find it in five years, not five hours before the inspection.”
Todd Paton, Partner, One Home Agent
The record-keeping problem is real. Bonds renew annually, inspections happen on a schedule, and the paperwork lives in an email from 2022 nobody can find. This is exactly the kind of recurring home obligation a platform like One Home Agent tracks — flagging the renewal, storing the WDO report, and keeping the bond ready to hand a buyer. Missing the renewal doesn't just cost coverage; it can void the transferability that makes the bond worth anything at sale.
Termite risk in Florida by the numbers
Key takeaways
- Homeowners insurance covers zero termite damage — insurers treat it as preventable maintenance, per the Insurance Information Institute.
- Tenting kills drywood termites only; it does nothing for the subterranean colonies attacking from the soil.
- A repair bond, not a re-treatment bond, is the version that pays to fix new damage.
- An active, transferable bond plus a clean WDO report smooths a Florida closing and protects sale price.
- Letting a bond lapse can void transferability — the single most common self-inflicted mistake.
Bottom line
Bottom line
If you have a confirmed whole-house drywood infestation, tent it ($1,200–$4,000) and pair it with a bond. For subterranean threats, use soil treatment or bait stations under an annual bond ($150–$400). Whatever you choose, keep the bond active and transferable — because insurance won't help you, and a lapsed bond is worthless at closing.
Never miss a termite bond renewal again
One Home Agent tracks recurring home obligations like termite bonds, stores your WDO reports and warranties, and keeps everything ready to hand a buyer at resale. See how it works for Florida homeowners.
Talk to usFrequently asked questions
No. Standard homeowners insurance excludes termite damage because insurers classify it as a preventable maintenance issue, according to the Insurance Information Institute. Even after a covered event, termite repairs are your responsibility. The only financial protection is a repair-grade termite bond from a pest control company.
Sources & further reading