Bulwark Exterminating review: In-depth analysis of services and features

Bulwark Exterminating at a glance

Bulwark Exterminating is one of our best pest control companies, providing fast, dependable solutions to pest infestations. Established in 1999 by three brothers and their father, Bulwark remains a family-owned business and only employs trustworthy, drug-screened technicians.

Fast facts

What we like

Bulwark Exterminating excels in customizable pest control services, a critical factor in our ranking methodology. Bulwark earns top marks from third-party review sites and people who review the company, earning it an A + rating from the Better Business Bureau and consistently high customer ratings on Yelp.

The most unique feature on Bulwark Exterminating’s website is ID a Bug, a customized search tool that allows you to find a bug based on its number of legs, pest type, location and other details. A resource library with short pest bios and photos to help you with identification is also provided.

What we don’t like

Bulwark Exterminating may not be the best fit for homeowners seeking budget-friendly options for infestations requiring highly specialized pest control solutions — like bedbug treatment — which may be beyond Bulwark’s scope.

Bulwark Exterminating pros and cons

Bulwark Exterminating is a prominent pest control provider known for its tailored solutions and eco-friendly treatments. While this provider offers customizable service plans and guarantees satisfaction, it doesn’t provide bedbug treatments and lacks quick online quoting. Its service area coverage is limited to 15 states in the South, Midwest and Southwest, affecting accessibility for customers in northern regions.

Pros

Cons

How much does Bulwark Exterminating cost?

New customers pay $199 for account setup and the first treatment. After that, repeat treatments are $97 to $128 each. Bulwark Exterminating offers three pricing tiers for its plans, but all are on the more affordable side of pest control.

The average cost range of pest control services is $450 to $1,300 annually, and the quotes we received from Bulwark were all in the $500 range. Even one-time treatments are budget-friendly at $350.

?*The costs are based on a 3,000-square-foot home in Fort Mill, South Carolina. Costs may vary depending on your home, pests and location.

Savings and discounts

At the time of writing, Bulwark is offering a $50 summer promotion that reduces the initial fee to $149. Seasonal discounts aren’t always available, but it never hurts to ask your representative if any are available in your area. Bulwark Exterminating guarantees its treatments are 100% bug-free. If you have a complaint, the company will return for free between scheduled services to fix the problem.

Other reviews report that Bulwark has an “anti-no-show policy,” which states that if technicians cancel a scheduled appointment for any reason, your next visit is free. However, when we spoke with the representative at Bulwark Exterminating, he said, “I haven’t heard of that.”

What plans and services does Bulwark Exterminating offer?

Annual subscriptions comprise the bulk of Bulwark’s pest control services, offering top-tier treatments for various pests, including ants, cockroaches and spiders. With the company’s general pest control service plan, customers can select from three plans based on the frequency of pest control visits outlined below.

When we contacted Bulwark Exterminating, the representative suggested the Every Other Month plan. This plan may be the most expensive, but it extends the effectiveness of preventative treatments. The Bulwark representative explained that the pesticide sprays degrade in the summer heat after 75 days, so some pests could emerge before the subsequent quarterly treatment.

Bulwark Exterminating services

Bulwark Exterminating add-ons and optional features

Termite protection

Bulwark offers termite protection as optional protection covering inspections, treatment and prevention measures. Prices vary, so customers should inquire directly for details.

When we posed as secret shoppers purchasing a new home in Las Vegas with a termite problem, Bulwark informed us it couldn’t give a specific phone quote. It charges $25 for a termite inspection, with the technician providing the final quote after inspection. Only the licensed professional can complete the quote.

Termite treatment costs vary by method (e.g., liquid treatments versus bait stations), the size of the home and the severity of the termite problem. The representative said they’d seen bait stations cost up to $650 depending on the quantity needed. The annual treatment includes a warranty costing between $15 and $30, which varies.

Mosquito control

Mosquitoes can appear in regions like Texas and North Carolina as early as February.

Bulwark’s Annual Triple Barrier Mosquito System targets the presence of mosquitoes year-round. This comprehensive system targets every phase of the mosquito life cycle beyond the traditional “biting season” of April to September. The company’s specialized treatments use innovative traps that effectively target mosquitoes while protecting pollinators.

Bulwark provides a free retreatment if mosquito activity reemerges. Costs depend on factors like property size and treatment frequency. When we contacted Bulwark, the representative said that only their licensed technicians could complete a quote following an inspection, mainly due to fogging treatment requirements.

Scorpion Wall

Bulwark Exterminating installs a Scorpion Wall, a pesticide-free barrier to prevent scorpions from climbing into homes. Professional installation can be added to a general pest treatment plan, with a 100% guarantee. The service includes a one-year warranty, extendable at a reduced cost, for continued protection against scorpions. Contact Bulwark directly for an estimate.

What pests does Bulwark Exterminating not treat?

Bedbug services are notably absent from Bulwark’s treatment options.

Bulwark Exterminating customer experience

Bulwark Exterminating is open Monday to Saturday from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. On average, wait times for phone support are often about five minutes, with no significant issues found during random call tests. Bulwark Exterminating offers multiple contact options, including its social media platforms (Facebook and Instagram), phone, online contact form and live chat on its website. The live chat feature is automated, and it couldn’t answer a direct question when we asked. Instead, it directed customers to contact the company directly.

Customer service responsiveness varies but typically earns praise for friendliness and knowledge. Overall, Bulwark Exterminating shows a commitment to accessible and responsive customer service, albeit with room for improvement in consistency.

When we contacted Bulwark directly as a secret shopper, the representative was friendly, knowledgeable (they had been with the company for 20 years) and patient as we navigated the quoting process and asked detailed questions about their treatments. We were told that Bulwark had reduced its workload for its technicians, so they feel free of pressure to rush treatments.

Here’s what customers had to say:

The fine print: Terms and conditions you should know

If you choose ongoing pest control services with Bulwark Exterminating, you’ll sign a service agreement allowing technicians to treat your property. You can cancel anytime if you’re not satisfied.

Some customers reported needing to follow up on cancellations and were offered deals instead of having their cancellations processed immediately. If you cancel after the first service without continuing, you’ll be billed the difference from the one-time treatment quote. The company promises effective treatments and offers free re-treatments if needed.

Bulwark Exterminating vs. competitors

Customer satisfaction is one area in which Bulwark excels. High, near five-star customer reviews on Yelp and the Better Business Bureau indicate a job well done. We often see overall positive Google reviews in the pest control industry, but not necessarily the BBB. Bulwark is one of only four companies on our review list with a rating of 4 or more stars. Even so, you should always check local reviews, as service can vary depending on location.

Cost-wise, Bulwark is affordable compared to competitors. The average pest control service can cost as much as $1,300 annually, whereas, for Bulwark’s most expensive plan, we were quoted just $582 for six treatments.

Compared to competitors, Bulwark Exterminating stands out for its customizable solutions but lacks bedbug treatments and has a very limited service area of just 15 states. Even within those states, service availability may vary. If you don’t live in Bulwark’s service area, you’ll want to consider a provider like Orkin, a nationwide provider of general pest, termite and bedbug treatments.

Bulwark Exterminating competitor comparison

Methodology

Our methodology is transparent, with percentages allocated to each aspect of assessment. We prioritize companies that offer diverse treatment options, trustworthy service, convenient accessibility, fair pricing and reliable customer support. With a meticulous research process and balanced evaluation criteria, our reviews provide dependable guidance for your pest control decisions.

We rigorously evaluated 20 companies, assigning weights to different criteria:

This involved analyzing 1,600 data points from 63 features across 23 primary sources to craft our unbiased star rating system.

FAQs