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Termite mound treatment in the South African veld

termites, treated to spec.

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Soil Poisoning & Termite Treatment

Pre-construction barriers, post-construction perimeter drilling, nest flooding and dry-wood gassing. Subterranean, harvester and dry-wood termites are each handled with the technique that actually works for that species.

EcoPest warrantied pre-construction treatments (often called a "pre-treat") are available for new construction homes, additions, garages, offices and other industrial and commercial buildings. They are performed once the foundation, blocks and backfill are complete.

Every termite treatment carries a one-year guarantee warranty from the date of service. If termites are found within that year, a return visit for additional treatment is made at no additional charge.

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Pre-construction termite treatment in progress

How subterranean termites are controlled

  • Pre-construction. Foundation trenches, v-channels and the area under solid floors are drenched with a termiticide according to label directions, normally at 5 litres per square metre.
  • Post-construction. The structure is drilled through the outside perimeter wall to reach below the floor slab, and a solution of termiticide is then injected according to label directions.
  • Nests. Holes are drilled into the nest and the nest is flooded with a termiticide solution. A minimum of 75 litres of solution is normally required, depending on nest size.

Harvester termites

Harvester termites build shallow nests rather than deep mounds. Control involves establishing where the shallow nests are and injecting a termiticide solution into the numerous nests. The surface area around the nests must also be treated, because harvester termites strip the surrounding vegetation and carry the clippings down into the nests.

Dry-wood termites

Control of dry-wood termites is accomplished by encasing the entire structure in gas-proof plastic sheeting and then introducing a toxic gas for 24 hours. If this is not possible, the infested timber must be replaced with new pre-treated timber, and the remaining structural timber must be drilled at 300mm intervals and pressure-injected with a registered wood preservative.

Pre-construction termite treatment

EcoPest warrantied pre-construction treatments are available for new construction homes, additions, garages, offices and other industrial and commercial buildings. The pre-treat is performed once the foundation, blocks and backfill have been completed, and it creates a preventative and protective barrier against possible future termite infestations.

Post-construction termite treatment

Post-construction termite treatments are an option for homeowners and business owners after the building is finished. The soil surrounding the building is treated as a protective barrier against termites that may pass through or under the treated soil areas. The same one-year warranty applies.

FAQ

Frequently asked

What is the difference between pre-construction and post-construction termite treatment?
Pre-construction (or "pre-treat") is applied once the foundation, blocks and backfill are complete, before the slab goes in. It creates a chemical barrier in the soil under the building so termites cannot enter through the slab. Post-construction is applied after the building is finished, by drilling through the outside perimeter wall to reach below the floor slab, then injecting termiticide.
How much termiticide is used?
For pre-construction trenching, the dosage is approximately 5 litres per square metre, applied according to label directions. For nest treatment, a minimum of 75 litres of solution is required per nest, varying with the size of the nest.
How are dry-wood termites different?
Dry-wood termites do not need contact with soil, so the standard soil-treatment approach does not work. The standard treatment is to encase the entire structure in gas-proof plastic sheeting and introduce a toxic gas for 24 hours. If full encasement is not possible, the infested timber is replaced with pre-treated timber and the remaining structural timber is drilled at 300mm intervals and pressure-injected with a registered wood preservative.
How are harvester termites handled?
Harvester termites build shallow nests rather than the deep mounds of subterranean species. Control involves locating the shallow nest sites and injecting a termiticide solution into them. The surrounding surface area is also treated, because harvester termites strip surrounding vegetation and carry it back to the nests.
Is the treatment guaranteed?
Yes. Pre-construction and post-construction termite treatments come with a one-year guarantee warranty from the date of treatment service. If termites are found within that guarantee year, we return for additional treatment to the affected area at no additional charge.
When in the build does pre-construction treatment happen?
After the foundation, blocks and backfill are complete, before the slab is poured. This is the only window when the soil under the eventual building footprint is accessible for full coverage. Missing the window means switching to post-construction methods later, which work but are more disruptive.