New Orleans termite damage repair replaces and reinforces the structural wood that Formosan subterranean termites destroy — sill plates, floor joists, subflooring, beams, and wall framing. Termite damage repair is a carpentry and structural job, separate from extermination: a licensed pest professional kills the colony, and the repair work rebuilds the structure afterward. This page explains what to do when you find damage, how each structural element is repaired, and what the work costs.
What should you do when you find termite damage in New Orleans?
Do not start repairs first. When you find termite damage, take three steps in order. First, have a licensed pest professional confirm and eliminate the colony — repairing occupied wood lets termites move straight into the new lumber. Second, get the damage assessed; load-bearing damage to joists, sill plates, or beams needs a structural engineer. Third, hire a repair contractor to remove the compromised wood and rebuild. The structural work begins only after the colony is confirmed dead, because the alternative is paying to repair the same wood twice.
How do you repair termite-damaged floor joists and sill plates?
Termite-damaged joists and sill plates are either sistered or replaced. Sistering bolts a new joist alongside a partially damaged one to restore load capacity, and sistering costs $500 to $1,200 per joist. Full floor joist replacement costs $350 to $1,000 per joist. Sill plate replacement is the largest structural repair: the contractor lifts the affected section of the home on hydraulic jacks, removes the hollowed sill plate resting on the foundation, and installs new pressure-treated lumber to code — work that costs $12,000 to $35,000, or $100 to $200 per linear foot. New Orleans’s raised and pier-foundation homes expose sill plates and rim joists directly to soil, so sill and joist repair is the most common structural work these homes require.
How do you repair termite-damaged subfloor and framing?
Termite-damaged subfloor and framing are cut out and replaced section by section. The contractor removes the compromised subfloor panels and wall studs, installs new pressure-treated framing alongside or in place of the damaged members, and rebuilds drywall, insulation, and finishes last. Wall framing replacement runs about $2,000 per section. Framing and subfloor repair is co-scheduled with joist work when the damage runs continuously through the floor system, because opening the structure once is cheaper than opening it twice.
Do you need a structural engineer for termite damage in New Orleans?
Load-bearing termite damage requires a structural engineer. Any damage to floor joists, sill plates, or main beams gets an engineer’s assessment and sign-off before repair, and that assessment costs $300 to $900. The engineer evaluates whether the structure is safe and specifies the repair method. Cosmetic damage to drywall or trim does not require an engineer. Repair to weight-bearing wood proceeds on the engineer’s specification.
How much does termite damage repair cost in New Orleans?
Termite damage repair costs $1,000 to $10,000 or more, and structural repair to load-bearing wood runs to the top of that range and beyond. The ranges below are national 2026 cost figures; a local inspection sets the real number, because termite damage routinely extends past the visible surface.
| Structural repair | Typical cost (2026) |
|---|---|
| Floor joist replacement | $350 – $1,000 per joist |
| Floor joist sistering | $500 – $1,200 per joist |
| Wall framing replacement | ~$2,000 per section |
| Subfloor + major structural (beams, load-bearing walls) | $5,000 – $15,000+ |
| Sill plate replacement (home lifted on jacks) | $12,000 – $35,000 |
| Structural engineer assessment | $300 – $900 |
Add a 10–25% contingency for hidden damage. Hollowed joists and sill plates frequently appear only once repair opens the floor system.
Why does the termite colony have to be treated before repair?
The colony is treated first because repair does not kill termites. A repair contractor rebuilds wood; a repair contractor does not exterminate the colony. If new lumber goes into a structure that still holds a live Formosan colony, the termites move into that lumber and the damage returns. Termite damage repair therefore starts only after a licensed pest professional confirms the colony is eliminated — and in New Orleans that step matters, because the Formosan subterranean termite is the most destructive insect in Louisiana and rebuilds its numbers fast.
Request a free assessment and a local inspection will confirm the scope, the repair sequence, and a fixed written quote.
Sources
- LSU AgCenter — Formosan Subterranean Termites in Louisiana (“the most destructive insect in Louisiana”). https://www.lsuagcenter.com/
- HomeGuide / Angi / myhomecostcalc (2026) — national termite damage repair cost data (repair-cost ranges, the treat-first sequence, engineer sign-off, and the contingency guidance). https://homeguide.com/costs/termite-damage-repair-cost