Last reviewed by Sterex Pest Control,
Sterex treats active ant infestations with a detailed inspection, prep guidance, interior treatment where needed, exterior perimeter work, and direct nest or burrow targeting. We handle carpenter ants, pavement ants, Pharaoh ants, and recurring ant pressure across Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area.
Thorough inspection
Prep required
Nest-focused work
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Send the basics and Sterex will call or text you to confirm service within two hours.
Real inspection examples
These are the kinds of exterior signs that help Sterex explain where the ants are coming from and where the treatment has to be focused for better results.
Pavement ant trails
When ants are running through sidewalk joints, driveway seams, or patio cracks, the colony route is usually outside. Sterex follows the trail so treatment starts at the source instead of only at the indoor sighting.
Best for showing active exterior routes, slab pressure, and where perimeter treatment should begin.
Burrow evidence
Fresh dirt around a small opening can mark the active burrow. This kind of sign helps Sterex target the nest, protect nearby entry points, and explain why the ants keep returning after store-bought sprays.
Useful for identifying the main burrow, confirming activity, and focusing treatment near the foundation edge.
Why detailed ant service matters
Visible ants are usually workers. The real problem may be an exterior burrow, a foundation gap, a damp wall void, a cabinet leak, a deck or stump nest, or a colony route that keeps feeding new activity into the home. That is why Sterex starts with inspection instead of treating every ant case the same way.
Carpenter ants need especially careful attention because repeated activity near a kitchen sink, dishwasher, bathroom, window, roofline, or damp wood can point to a moisture condition. Pavement ants often need exterior burrow work. Pharaoh ants need careful product selection because poor treatment can spread activity.
Carpenter ant activity in kitchens or bathrooms often makes us check under sinks, around dishwashers, and near damp cabinet or wall areas.
Many ant issues are fed from outside. The technician looks for burrows, trails, soil mounds, wood decay, and foundation entry points.
Empty cabinets and exposed wall edges allow treatment to reach the route ants are using instead of only treating the open counter.
Carpenter, pavement, and Pharaoh ants behave differently. The product and placement should match the ant, not just the room.
Ant identification
Sterex looks at size, colour, trail pattern, room, moisture, exterior activity, and nesting clues before deciding how to treat.
Large black ants that often point to moisture, softened wood, roofline gaps, deck areas, window frames, or sink and cabinet leaks. They excavate wood to make galleries instead of eating the wood itself.
Small dark ants that commonly trail from cracks in driveways, patios, sidewalks, garage slabs, foundation seams, and soil edges into kitchens or lower-level rooms.
Tiny yellow to light-brown ants that can spread through heated indoor spaces. Pharaoh ants require careful identification because the wrong spray can make activity split into new colonies.
Infestation signs
Ants can look minor at first because only part of the colony is visible. Repeated trails, kitchen activity, large black ants, or exterior burrows are signs that the source needs to be located and treated properly.
Inspection detail
Sterex treatment process
On-demand ant treatment is for active infestations where ants are already entering the home, trailing through kitchens, or nesting around the property. Sterex pairs interior precision with exterior perimeter and nest-focused treatment.
Seclira may be used inside where label-appropriate. Dragnet may be used outside where suitable. The technician decides placement based on species, surface, access, moisture, trails, and exterior nesting pressure.
Step 1
Sterex starts by confirming the ant species, active trails, entry points, moisture clues, cabinet access, and exterior nesting pressure. For carpenter ants in kitchens or bathrooms, prep matters because leaks and cabinet voids often hide the real activity.
Step 2
When interior service is needed, Sterex uses Seclira where label-appropriate around cracks, baseboards, cabinet voids, wall edges, and active routes. Customers empty cabinets where service is required and expose the treatment zones before the technician arrives.
Step 3
The technician treats the exterior perimeter and focuses on the burrow, nest, or strongest trail source when found. Dragnet may be used outside where suitable. Heavy burrow or void activity may need a more detailed targeted application or fumigation-style nest treatment when appropriate.
Ant treatment prep
Ant service is more effective when cabinets, baseboards, wall edges, and exterior nesting areas are accessible before the technician arrives.
Use the prep guide before service so cabinets, baseboards, exterior access points, and active areas are ready for inspection and treatment.
Related resources
Active ant problems need inspection and treatment. Seasonal prevention plans help reduce exterior pressure before trails start moving indoors.
Residential and exterior service
Sterex treats ant problems in homes, condos, basements, kitchens, rental units, commercial properties, patios, garages, decks, foundation edges, and landscaped exterior areas.
We focus on kitchens, bathrooms, baseboards, windows, patio doors, under-sink areas, and the routes ants use to enter living spaces.
Pavement ant and exterior carpenter ant pressure often starts outside. Foundation edges, slab cracks, garden beds, and deck posts get careful attention.
Carpenter ant service includes looking for damp wood, leaks, soft cabinet bottoms, rotting exterior wood, and structural conditions that support activity.
Ant treatment FAQ
Shop protection plans
Summer Ant Protection is for seasonal exterior prevention. HomeGuard covers year-round pest pressure. If ants are already active inside, book an on-demand technician visit so Sterex can inspect, confirm prep, and treat the active source.
2-Spray Bundle
$499
One-time · Exterior barrier sprays
Two exterior barrier sprays timed to peak GTA ant season. Covers foundation, garden perimeter, and all entry zones.
4-Month Bundle
$279
One-time · Includes materials
Pre-season bait box placement, entry point inspection, and sealing — before mice move in for winter.
Year-Round
$799
Per year · 4 seasonal visits
Spring, summer, fall, and winter visits. Over $1,200 in services. Priority callback and 15–17% off additional treatments.
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Seasonal4-Month Bundle
$279
One-time · Includes materials
Fall and winter rodent prevention for Toronto properties — bait stations, entry inspection, and sealing before mice seek shelter indoors.
Year-Round
$799
Per year · 4 seasonal visits
Year-round pest protection plan for Toronto and the GTA — four seasonal visits, priority callback, and bundled savings on bed bugs, wildlife, and specialty treatments.
Seasonal2-Spray Bundle
$499
One-time · Exterior barrier sprays
Targeted summer ant control for Toronto and GTA homes — two professional exterior barrier sprays during peak pavement and carpenter ant activity.
Use a protection plan for seasonal prevention. Book a technician visit when there is active pest activity, visible trails, bites, droppings, nesting, or a recurring issue.
Local SEO service area
Sterex helps customers with carpenter ants, pavement ants, Pharaoh ants, kitchen ant trails, exterior burrows, foundation entry points, and recurring summer ant pressure across Toronto, Brampton, Mississauga, Scarborough, Etobicoke, Vaughan, North York, Markham, Richmond Hill, Milton, Oakville, and nearby GTA areas.
Get detailed ant service with inspection, prep guidance, interior treatment where needed, exterior perimeter work, and direct nest targeting across Toronto and the GTA.