Soil treatment is a common method used to control subterranean termites. The process involves applying a termiticide to the soil around the foundation of a structure, creating a barrier that prevents termites from accessing the structure and infesting it. If the structures has crawl space access, the soil also near the foundation and surrounding posts that hold up the sub floor are also treated with termiticide.
The soil treatment process typically involves digging a trench around the foundation of the structure, and then applying the termiticide directly to the soil. For cement areas, a nickel sized hole is drilled every 12-15” and each hole is injected with termtiticide. The termiticide is formulated to be long-lasting, and provides protection against termites for several years. The specific process and products used for soil treatment will depend on the type of structure, the location, and the severity of the termite infestation.
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Inspection: The first step is to inspect the property and determine the extent and location of the termite infestation. The inspector should look for evidence of termite activity, such as mud tubes, damaged wood, and swarmers (winged termites).
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Preparation: The area to be treated must be prepared, including removing any objects that may be in the way and covering any plants or garden beds with plastic to protect them from the treatment.
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Soil excavation / cement drilling: A trench is dug around the perimeter of the foundation to expose the soil. The trench should be at least 6 inches wide and 6 inches deep. Any areas with cement are drilled a nickel sized hole about 12-15" apart.
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Termiticide application: A liquid termiticide is applied to the soil in the trench (including soil in the crawl space of property (if any) as well as injected into the drill holes surrounding the perimeter of the structure.. The termiticide should be evenly distributed and the soil should be thoroughly soaked.
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Backfilling: The trench is then backfilled with the treated soil, making sure not to disturb the termiticide application and any cement portions drilled will be patched with new cement..
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Monitoring: The treated area should be monitored regularly to ensure that the treatment was effective and that there are no signs of termite activity. Our full structure soil treatements are covered with a 3 year warranty.