Moisture, Microclimates, and Termites: Why One Side of Your Bay Area Home Gets Hit Harder
- Jameson Elam
- 1 day ago
- 6 min read
About the Author: Jameson Elam is the owner and operator of Good Sense Termite, serving Alameda, Santa Clara, San Mateo, and Santa Cruz counties. With over 14 years of hands-on experience in the termite control industry, Jameson specializes in thorough inspections, accurate diagnostics, and long-term solutions tailored to California homes. His deep knowledge of local termite behavior and building structures has made Good Sense Termite a trusted name for homeowners and real estate professionals alike.
“Why Is It Always This Side Of The House?”
We hear some version of this all the time:
“It is always this corner of the house.”
“The same wall keeps having issues.”
“The termites are back, but only on this side.”
Termites do not spread damage evenly across a property. In the Bay Area, it is very common for one side or one corner of a home to take most of the hit.
That is not random. It is usually a mix of:
Where moisture collects
How sun and shade fall on the structure
How the lot is graded
What is planted or built against the house
At Good Sense Termite, we pay attention to these patterns during every inspection. This post walks through why one side of a home often has more termite pressure than the others, and how you can spot those higher risk zones yourself.
Microclimates Are Not Just A Bay Area Thing, They Exist At Your House
Most people think of “microclimate” as a city level idea, like coastal fog versus inland heat. In reality, your one home has mini versions of that.
A few examples:
The north side of a house stays shaded and cool
The south or west side may bake in direct sun
One corner might be downhill from the rest of the lot and stay damp
A side yard with concrete on both sides holds heat very differently than one with open soil and plants
Termites care about:
Soil moisture
Wood moisture
Temperature
Access
So they tend to favor the side of the home that gives them the best “terms” for survival.
If you keep seeing termite issues in the same section of the house, it usually matches one of these micro-patterns.
How Moisture Moves Around A Typical Bay Area Home
Moisture is one of the biggest drivers of Subterranean termite activity. Even Drywood termites are more common where wood has been stressed by weather and small leaks.
Here are some common ways moisture piles up unevenly:
1. Downspouts And Gutters
Downspouts that discharge right next to the foundation
Gutters that overflow on one side due to a small clog or poor slope
Extensions that were never added or got knocked off years ago
Result: one side of the home ends up with softer, damp soil that stays wet longer after rain.
2. Yard Slope And Drainage
Lots that slope toward the back corner of the house
Small retaining walls that hold water near the foundation
Low spots in lawns or planter areas where water pools
Over time, this creates a consistent wet zone that is very attractive to Subterranean termites, even if the rest of the yard dries quickly.
3. Irrigation Patterns
Sprinklers that hit siding or the lower stucco band on only one side
Drip lines placed close to the foundation to help plants, but also helping termites
Hoses and hose bibs with slow leaks that never fully dry out
From a termite’s perspective, the side with steady moisture wins.
Why The Same Wall Keeps Getting Termites
When we inspect homes where “it is always this side,” we usually see some mix of:
Soil higher than the foundation on that side
Planter boxes or raised beds against the wall
Decks or stairs attached near that corner
Limited sun exposure so the area never fully dries
Crawlspace vents blocked by plants, trapping moisture inside
Termites simply follow the conditions. If that wall offers:
Moist soil
A crack, joint, or gap
Wood nearby
it will often be the first and second and third place they show up.
Inside The Home: How Microclimates Affect Drywood Termites
Drywood termites do not need soil contact. They nest directly in the wood. They still respond to heat, light, and airflow in ways that make some parts of a structure more appealing than others.
Common patterns we see:
Attic areas under south or west facing roof slopes that get hotter and stay warm longer in the evening
Exposed fascia boards and rafter tails on the weather side of the house
Older wood windows or trim on one elevation that gets more sun, more cracks, and more stress
Swarmers often enter through:
Attic vents
Gaps at eaves
Openings around trim and siding
If those elements are more worn, weathered, or sun beaten on one part of the house, that is where you tend to see Drywood activity first.
How We Use These Patterns During A Good Sense Inspection
When we inspect, we are not only looking for live termites or droppings. We are also reading the house the way termites do.
We look at:
Which sides stay shaded and damp
Where water flows off the roof and across the lot
Which areas have ongoing contact between wood and soil
Where ventilation is blocked or weak
Where landscaping traps moisture against the home
This helps us:
Explain why the same area gets hit over and over
Predict where termites are likely to move next
Recommend changes that actually lower risk, not just treat damage after the fact
Instead of saying, “You have termites here,” we can say, “You have termites here, and here is why it keeps happening in this zone.”
Simple Ways To Spot Your Higher Risk Side
You do not need special tools to do a basic self check. A short walk around your house after rain or irrigation can tell you a lot.
Here is a simple checklist:
After A Storm Or A Long Watering Cycle:
Which side of the house still has wet soil hours later?
Does water pool near any part of the foundation?
Do any downspouts dump water right at the base of the wall?
Is one side shaded most of the day, so it never fully dries?
Any Time Of Year:
Are there planter boxes, steps, or wood features pressed against only one wall?
Is one side of the home packed with bushes that block vents or touch the siding?
Is there a side yard that feels damp, musty, or cooler than the rest of the property?
Do you see more spider webs, mold, or algae on one elevation?
If you can answer “yes” to several of these for the same side of the house, that is probably your higher risk zone.
You do not have to fix everything at once, but knowing where to focus gives you more control.
FAQ: One-Sided Termite Problems
Q: Why do termites keep coming back to the same corner of my house?
Usually because the conditions that invited them have not changed. That might be damp soil, wood in contact with soil, poor drainage, or limited airflow in that specific area.
Q: If I fix the moisture problem, do I still need treatment?
Yes. Fixing moisture helps prevent future problems, but it does not remove an existing colony. Treatment handles the current activity. Moisture control helps avoid repeat issues.
Q: My neighbor has a similar house, but no termite issues. Why me?
Small differences in grading, landscaping, irrigation, and sun exposure can make one house more attractive to termites than another, even on the same street.
Q: Can you help me figure out which side of my home is highest risk?
Yes. During an inspection we not only look for activity, we also explain where your risk is highest and why, with photos and clear notes.
Final Thoughts: Fix The Conditions, Not Just The Damage
Termites are not picking sides at random. They go where the moisture, access, and shelter are best. That is why the same wall or corner can show up in report after report.
Treating the damage is important. Fixing the conditions that make that part of the home a magnet is what keeps you from repeating the cycle.
If you have one side of the house that keeps giving you problems, or you are not sure why activity keeps showing up in the same area, we can help.
We will look at your termites, your moisture, and your microclimate, and explain what is really going on.
It's just Good Sense.
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