Whether you're building your dream home from scratch or expanding your existing one, taking steps to prevent termites during new construction is crucial. Unlike battling an established infestation later, new construction termite treatments are designed to help prevent termites from becoming an issue in the first place, as termite damage and treatment can make your costs even higher.

New home build

Before construction: termite pretreatment

When building a new house, one of the crucial steps you shouldn't overlook is termite pretreatment. Pre-construction termite treatment is a proactive measure that offers long-term protection for your home. By addressing the termite threat before the house is even built, you can save significant money and avoid the stress associated with termite damage repairs.

Termite pretreatment for new construction is designed to create a chemical barrier in the soil that termites cannot cross. This barrier prevents termites from accessing the wooden structures of the house, thereby protecting the new home from potential infestations. The process typically involves the application of termiticides to the soil before laying the foundation. By investing in new construction termite treatments, you are proactively protecting your home from one of its most formidable enemies.

Termite treatment during construction

During the construction of a new home, the structure can be particularly vulnerable to invasions by a wide range of pests, including termites, ants, and rodents, due to the exposed wood and open access points that naturally occur during the building process. Implementing protective measures early on is crucial to safeguard your home from these unwanted guests and ensure its long-term integrity and comfort.

Limit soil-to-wood contact

By minimizing direct contact between the wood structures and the ground, you reduce the chances of termites accessing and damaging the wooden parts of the house. You can help prevent this by using physical barriers like metal shields or constructing concrete foundations that elevate wood away from the soil. It’s also important to avoid leaving any wood, paper, cardboard, or other cellulose-based debris underneath or in the construction area.

Termites in soil

Use termite-resistant materials

While traditional new construction termite treatments like soil applications remain important, using termite-resistant materials during construction adds another layer of defense. For example, incorporating concrete and rebar into the foundation and walls can reduce the likelihood of a termite breach. Steel framing and borate pressure-treated lumber are also effective options as they are less appealing to termites and more difficult for them to establish themselves in.

Ensure proper ventilation and drainage

Certain species of termites flourish in damp environments. It is essential to incorporate adequate ventilation and drainage throughout the building process to prevent them from infesting your home.

To achieve this, ensure that the foundation of your house slopes away from the building to direct water outwards. Also, gutters should be installed to properly manage rainwater and maintain good air circulation in crawl spaces to prevent moisture buildup.

Protect your crawl space

While new construction termite treatments tend to focus on chemical barriers around the foundation, protecting your crawl space is also crucial. Builders can incorporate several preventative measures during construction, such as proper grading to direct water away from the house, vapor barriers to control moisture, and adequate ventilation with screened crawl space vents.

These measures, along with the use of termite-resistant lumber for crawl space components, will create a dry, well-ventilated environment that deters termites from taking hold in your new home.

Is termite treatment required for new construction?

Requirements for termite treatments for new construction may vary by location. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) mandates a termite pretreatment for new builds in 34 states. Many other states or counties with high termite risk also enforce similar requirements, though some exceptions exist for steel or concrete structures. Individual states or counties may have even stricter requirements, so it's important to check local building codes before construction begins.1 If you’re unsure if termite treatment was done when your home was built, contact the experts at Terminix for help.

Get a termite inspection in your new home

By the time all of this is finished, you'll have a new home in which you can rest easy knowing you and your contractor took the necessary steps to treat it for termites. After your new home is complete, getting a termite inspection and regular annual inspections can also be valuable to continue preventing termites. For example, regular inspections help ensure that any preventative measures, such as termite bait stations, remain effective.

A termite control professional can check your new home for any signs of a termite infestation and help identify any points of entry so you can address them before termites can find their way into your new home.

Want to keep your new or current home safe from termites and other pests? Terminix® can help. Get started today with a termite inspection.

1 Information on new construction termite treatment requirements is sourced from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development(HUD).