Preconstruction Soil Treatment of Structures

Assist in the control of Subterranean Termites by the installation of a chemical barrier around the structure, or critical structural wood. Since it is impossible to build structures that termites cannot damage, a thorough preconstruction treatment can be applied.

Some preconstruction treatments utilize conventional liquid termiticides, while others utilize bait monitor systems, or wood treatments with borates. FHA/VA standards allow for any of these three type options when preconstruction treatment is required.

There are two general categories of termiticides (Table-1) that are differentiated by how termite tunneling is affected when they encounter a soil treatment. The first category is referred to as a, "Repellent Termiticide." All of the synthetic chemicals classified as "Repellent Termiticides" are pyrethroids. The name "Repellent Termiticide," is ambiguous; the chemical properties of the soil treatment only repel termites from the structure. "Repellent Termiticides" do not kill termites because they are able to detect the soil treatment. Since the termites are able to detect the treated soil they do not tunnel into the treated soil barrier.

The other, newer category is referred to as a "Non-Repellent Termiticide." Termite tunneling is not affected by a "Non-Repellent Termiticide" soil treatment because the termites are unable to detect the treated soil. Since they continue to tunnel freely through the treated soil they become exposed to the "Non Repellent Termiticide" by contact or ingestion and will die. This is the category of chemicals most often utilized by modern termite control companies.