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Pre-Treatments for Termites

Pre-Treatment for Termites Alpha Pest Control

You may think of treating your house for termites when you see a mud tube creeping up your wall. But, often the Alpha Pest Control team takes care of termites before they cause damage. This is called a pre-treatment.

A pre-treatment for termites is required when constructing a new building or home or adding onto an existing structure. This is a two stage treatment for subterranean termites.

First Stage

The first stage of treatment is completed before the concrete slab is poured. We treat the ground to create a protective layer under the slab and around the plumbing coming up from the floor. This is important because any little crack can be an access point for these pests. Termites cause billions of dollars in damage every year so you don’t want them eating their way through your property. 

Second Stage

The second stage is treating around the perimeter of the structure. For example, at a house the second stage is called final grade. Once the contractor has the dirt all moved and set in place, so it won’t be  disturbed again, it’s time for us to do a barrier treatment around the perimeter of the home. It is very important not to disturb the soil after the treatment is done. Otherwise you will break the barrier and void the warranty. Most warranties last about three years.

On a related note, a lot of homeowners have really nice pavers and other decorative hardscaping added to their front or back yards. Ideally, you want to keep about three feet of dirt around the house so if you have a termite problem, you have easy access to address the issue without drilling through concrete. But, this isn’t always possible depending on your landscaping design. So, we work with contractors to see when they might be pouring the patios or laying down pavers next to the new house. This way we can come by ahead of time and complete the final grade treatment before they’re finished with their work.

Let Us Help!

If you’re building a new home in the Phoenix area, please make sure that you ask questions about termite pre-treatments. And, of course, if you need help with a pre-treatment, please call or text the Alpha Pest Control team at 480-968-0414 or fill out our contact form.

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