Termites work out of sight. By the time you notice hollow skirting or a mud tube running up a wall, they have usually been feeding for months. Universal Pest Control has protected Surat properties from termites since 1998, using chemicals registered with the Central Insecticides Board & Registration Committee (CIB&RC) under the Insecticides Act, 1968, and a documented treatment process you get in writing before we start.
What most people in Surat call “udhai”
If you searched for udhai ni dava, udhai treatment or white ant treatment, you are in the right place. Udhai is the everyday Gujarati word for termites, and “white ants” is the older English name for the same insect. They are not ants at all — termites are a separate order of insect, and the treatment is completely different from an ant problem. The species behind most structural damage in Surat homes is the subterranean termite Odontotermes obesus, which nests in the soil and travels up into the building through mud tubes.
Not sure whether what you have found is udhai, ghun (wood borer) or ordinary damp damage? Our plain-language guide to what udhai is and how to spot it in wood walks through the signs.
How do you know it is termites and not something else?
Four signs are worth checking yourself before you call anyone:
- Mud tubes — pencil-width earth tunnels on walls, plinths or foundations. This is the clearest single sign.
- Hollow-sounding wood — tap door frames and skirting. Termites eat wood from the inside out, so the surface can look intact.
- Discarded wings near windows and tube lights, usually after the first monsoon rains, when winged termites swarm.
- Buckling paint or tiny holes in woodwork and plywood panelling.
Any one of these is worth an inspection. Two or more together usually means an active colony.
What does termite treatment in Surat actually involve?
- Inspection. A trained technician checks the property, identifies the species and maps the affected zones. Free of charge, with no obligation to book.
- Written scope and quotation. You get the treatment type, the chemical, the area covered and the price in writing before any work starts. No verbal estimates.
- Application. Registered termiticides are applied to soil, foundations, wall–floor junctions, wood and entry points, at the dilution and dosage the treatment calls for.
- Follow-up. Return visits are included where the agreed service period covers them, so activity that reappears gets dealt with rather than argued about.
Pre-construction or post-construction — which one do you need?
These are two different jobs and people often ask for the wrong one.
Pre-construction treatment is done while the building is going up. Soil and foundations are treated before the floor is cast, creating a chemical barrier under the whole structure. It is far cheaper than treating the same building later, and it is the only point at which you can protect the areas that will be permanently sealed.
Post-construction treatment is for a building that already exists. Access is limited to what can be reached, so the work concentrates on drilling and injecting along the plinth and wall–floor junctions, plus direct treatment of affected woodwork.
If you are still at slab stage, ask about pre-construction. If you have already moved in, post-construction is your route.
Is termite treatment safe around children and pets?
The chemicals we use are low-odour formulations registered with the CIB&RC for exactly this purpose, applied by trained technicians who give you re-entry guidance for each treated area. Follow that guidance — usually a few hours for treated rooms to ventilate — and normal use of the house resumes the same day. If anyone in the house is pregnant, asthmatic or very young, tell the technician at inspection so the schedule and product can be planned around it.
What cover do you get in writing?
A written service warranty is available on our annual maintenance contracts and yearly service agreements, rather than on one-off treatments. If you want cover you can hold us to, ask for an annual maintenance contract at the quotation stage and we will set out the term, what it covers and what it does not.
We will not tell you that any treatment eliminates termites permanently. Termites live in the soil around the building and can find a new route in. What a proper treatment does is break the existing colony’s access, and what a service agreement does is make sure someone comes back and deals with it if they return.
What does it cost?
Cost depends on the built-up area, whether the treatment is pre- or post-construction, and how far the activity has spread. There is no useful single number, which is why the inspection and the written quotation come first and both are free. You will know the price before you commit to anything.
Frequently asked questions
What is udhai treatment?
Udhai is the Gujarati word for termites, so “udhai treatment” means anti-termite treatment — applying registered termiticides to soil, foundations and affected woodwork to break the colony’s access to the building.
Do you offer pre-construction termite treatment in Surat?
Yes. We treat soil and foundations during construction to create a barrier under the structure, and we also handle post-construction treatment for buildings already in use.
How long does termite treatment last?
Professional anti-termite treatment typically protects for several years. The exact period depends on the treatment type, the soil and the property, and it is stated in your written service terms rather than promised in general.
Are termites and white ants the same thing?
Yes. “White ant” is an old common name for termites. They are not ants — they belong to a different insect order, and ant treatments do not work on them.
Can I treat termites myself with a spray from the shop?
Surface sprays kill the termites you can see and leave the colony in the soil untouched, so the activity usually reappears within weeks. Worse, spraying visible workers can push the colony to move and start feeding somewhere else in the same building.
Does termite treatment mean drilling my floor?
For post-construction treatment, usually yes — small holes along the wall–floor junction, drilled at intervals, injected and then sealed. The technician will show you where before starting.
How soon can you come?
Call or WhatsApp +91 97243 11777 and we will book the free inspection, usually within a day or two across Surat.
Which chemicals do you use?
Only termiticides registered with the Central Insecticides Board & Registration Committee (CIB&RC) under the Insecticides Act, 1968. The product name and dilution are stated on your quotation.
Book your free inspection. Call or WhatsApp +91 97243 11777 — Universal Pest Control, Surat, since 1998.
We provide this service across Surat, including Vesu · Adajan · Citylight · Katargam · Varachha · Piplod — and all surrounding areas. See all our services.
Want to check what a termite treatment should involve before you compare quotations? Our reference page on termite damage in India and what IS 6313 requires sets out the permitted chemicals, dilutions and litres per square metre from the Indian Standard, with every figure sourced.
Want to know who we are? Read about Universal Pest Control, operating in Surat since 1998.
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers, no jargon.
What is the difference between pre-construction and post-construction anti-termite treatment?
Pre-construction is done while the building is going up - the soil, plinth and pipe entries are treated before flooring goes down, which is far more thorough because everything is still open. Post-construction is done on a finished building by drilling at the floor-wall junction and injecting the chemical. Both work. Pre-construction is cheaper and lasts longer simply because of when it is done.
We call it udhai. Will the treatment damage our flooring or woodwork?
Post-construction treatment means small holes drilled at the floor-wall junction, chemical injected, then sealed. On tile and marble the holes go in the grout line wherever possible. Woodwork is treated separately and much more gently. We walk the house with you first and show you exactly what will be drilled before any machine comes out.
How long does anti-termite treatment last?
A properly done post-construction treatment gives you years of protection, not a permanent state. Soil conditions, plumbing leaks and new construction next door all shorten it. We give you a realistic timeframe for your specific building before the work rather than a number off a price list, and the plan includes scheduled follow-up visits.
Do you give a warranty?
Warranty terms depend on the treatment type and the building, and they are set out in writing in your quotation rather than promised over the phone. Ask us for them before you decide - if a company will not put warranty terms in writing, that tells you something.
How do I know if it is really termites?
Mud tubes running up a wall or a plinth, hollow-sounding skirting or door frames, paint that bubbles in a line rather than a patch, and fine soil-coloured debris near woodwork. Winged swarmers indoors usually mean an established colony nearby. If you are not sure, the inspection is free and we would rather look than have you guess.