Subterranean termites make their home in the ground, where they can find plenty of water. To feed, however, they will enter homes like yours and eat the wood that’s in your walls and attic. They often live in large colonies and can do a great amount of damage in a short amount of time.
That’s why when you’re building a new home or adding an addition onto your home, it’s always a good idea to treat the foundation to prevent these pests from establishing their colonies. Below we explain how the pre-treatment process works, a process that can save you thousands of dollars down the road.
How to pre-treat for subterranean termites at a construction site
Before the foundation slab is poured or the walls of an addition go up, pest control services may conduct a termite treatment to the soil. Saturating the soil with termiticide ensures the ground below your home will not allow termites to establish. Other preventative measures during the construction process include:
- Termite barriers applied to plumbing, electrical, sidewalks, etc. These barriers include termiticide as a preventative measure.
- Treatment of the wood studs.
- Final Spray of Site Perimeter. A final spray of the new construction site perimeter, or the addition of a home perimeter, is necessary to finalize the pre-treat process. The idea is that near-by or future termites will take the termiticide from the final perimeter spray and distribute it throughout the colony.
By taking these steps, you can be assured of protection from termites. This will make the usual access points inaccessible, including cracks and control joints in the concrete slab, crawl spaces, and plumbing/conduit openings.
Subterranean termites need to be retreated every 7 to 10 years. The effectiveness of a termiticide depends on a variety of factors, including weather conditions and how often it’s applied. Another way to prevent termites is removing the termite food sources, including mulch and tree stumps.
Why pre-treatment for termites works
The average home suffers $8,000 in damage from termites before they are even detected. That’s why prevention is the best strategy.
Pre-treatment creates a barrier around and under the building and prevents damage to the wood that frames your home. The cost of this treatment process is far less than what you would have to spend to get rid of termites that have established themselves and repair the damage they’ve done.
Get a free inspection of your home from JD Smith Pest Control
Whether you’re building a new home, adding onto your current home, or building a new commercial complex, JD Smith Pest Control is here to provide the treatment for years of lasting protection.
Take a moment to ensure you’re protecting your property from these pests. Contact JD Smith Pest Control for a free inspection and to learn more about our pre-treatment services. Our certified inspectors are ready to assess your site and create a subterranean termite control plan that safeguards what you value and saves you thousands of dollars.
