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Pre-Construction
Pre-Construction Termite Treatment: what it covers
Quick answer
Pre-construction termite treatment applies a termiticide to the soil and foundation of a new building before it is finished, so the zone is in place while the site is open. It is recorded as wood-destroying organism work under Alabama's licence structure, and the zone and the products are written down for the owner.
A new building is easier to protect while the ground is open. Once the slab is poured, the footings are in and the backfill is placed, the soil beside the foundation is harder to reach and the zone is harder to set evenly. Pre-construction treatment is the job done in that window, and it is planned with the builder's schedule in mind rather than around a finished house.
The work is recorded under the same wood-destroying organism category that Alabama's licensing structure uses for existing houses. The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries sets the exams for that category, and the technician carrying out the job should hold the credentials it requires. The caller can ask for those credentials before the work is booked.
This page does not describe a building code requirement for Birmingham, because none is on file for this site. It describes the treatment itself, the records that go with it and the points the owner and the builder should agree between them before the job is started.
Keep the open trench fenced and the treated soil undisturbed until the technician confirms the zone is set. Do not stack timber or form boards against the treated foundation, and do not apply product yourself, since a wrong product or dose changes the zone.
A foundation that has been poured but has no soil zone recorded beside it
Backfill that has been placed against the wall before any treatment
Utility trenches cut through the zone that were dug after the first treatment
A builder's schedule that puts the slab and the framing ahead of the soil work
A new site with stockpiled timber or form boards left against the foundation
Plans that show a crawl space, a slab or a cellar with no note of which the treatment was for
Job stories
Typical jobs for pre-construction termite treatment
A new slab house with a utility trench dug after the first treatment
What homeowners notice
A builder treats the soil beside a new footing before the slab is poured. Later a utility trench is dug through part of the zone for a water line, and the owner asks whether the protection still holds.
What we do
The technician measures the trench, marks the disturbed part of the zone on the sketch and returns to re-treat the soil where it was cut. The utility penetration is treated at the point where the line enters the building. The record is updated with both applications, the dates and the places.
What to expect
The owner and the builder each hold the updated sketch and the record, and the zone is shown as complete with the re-treated section marked.
Two visits, half a day each typical visit
Options
Types and options for pre-construction termite treatment
Slab-on-grade building
On a slab, the zone is applied along the footing trench and at the edge of the slab before the pour. Utility lines that pass through the slab are treated at the point of entry, and the sketch shows each one.
Building with a crawl space
A crawl space leaves the soil open beneath the floor, so the zone is applied to the crawl's soil as well as the perimeter. The technician agrees the access with the builder, because the crawl will be closed once the floor is framed.
Addition or extension to an existing building
An extension adjoins a building that already has a zone. The technician measures the join, treats the new perimeter and records where the two zones meet, so the boundary is clear to the next technician.
One call and it gets handled.
Tell us when you need someone and we book the earliest visit a pre-construction termite treatment technician has, and you approve the price before any work starts.
Why is the treatment done before the building is finished?
The soil under and beside a new foundation is open before the building is finished, and that is the easiest time to set an even zone. Once the walls are up and the grade is finished, the same zone costs more to apply and is harder to check.
An open trench lets the technician see the footing, the soil profile and the edge of the slab. The zone can be applied evenly along each side, and the depth can be checked against the sketch as the work goes. That is not possible once the trench is backfilled, and it is why the schedule is agreed with the builder before the job starts.
The timing is also a question of who is responsible for what. The builder controls the open ground, and the technician controls the zone. Agreeing the schedule in advance means neither waits on the other, and the record shows who did which part of the work and on what date.
What should the owner keep after the build?
The owner should keep the sketch, the application record, the product class and the list of places where the zone was disturbed and re-treated. Those documents are what a later technician or a buyer needs to follow the zone through the life of the building.
The record is a working document for the owner. It shows where the zone runs, where it was broken by a later trench, and where it was re-treated. A new landscape bed, a fence post or a water line dug after the build is a change to the zone, and the owner should tell the technician before it is made.
A copy should also go to the builder, who may need it for warranty or handover paperwork. The technician does not guarantee the building, and the record does not say what the builder's obligations are. It says what was applied, where and when.
Our process
How our pre-construction termite treatment visit works
Agree the schedule with the builder
The technician and the builder agree when the soil is open, when the footings are ready and when the backfill will be placed. A treatment booked after the soil is covered is harder to apply evenly, so the schedule is set first.
Survey the open site
The footing trenches, the slab edge, the utility trenches and any stockpiled wood are surveyed. The sketch marks the places where the zone has to be applied by hand, and where access will be needed later.
Apply the soil zone
The zone is applied to the soil beneath and beside the footings and along the slab edge, with the depth and the band recorded on the sketch. Utility penetrations are treated at the point where they enter the building, so no gap is left for a later trench to open.
Record and hand over
The record includes the sketch, the application date, the product class and the places where a later trench must be treated again. The builder and the owner each receive a copy, so the zone can be followed through the rest of the build.
Re-treat after disturbance
If the soil is disturbed after the first application, the disturbed areas are re-treated and the record is updated. A second visit is booked where the builder has to dig through the zone, such as for a sewer or a water line.
Jefferson County
Why pre-construction termite treatment is different in Central Alabama
New work in Birmingham and across Jefferson County is planned around the same wood-destroying organism category as existing houses, so the record format is the same.
Towns such as Hoover, Vestavia Hills and Trussville are reached from the same line, and the schedule for a new build there is set with the builder directly.
Alabama Cooperative Extension can give general guidance on termites in new construction. The treatment plan is written for the building in front of the technician, not for a county average.
Where we work
Pre-Construction Termite Treatment across Jefferson County
Treating the soil around the foundation in Birmingham and Jefferson County, with the zone, the method and the aftercare set out in writing before the work starts.
A written termite inspection of the wood, the soil line and the foundation in Birmingham, with the treatment options explained before anything is applied.
A written inspection for wood-destroying organisms, booked for a sale in Birmingham and Jefferson County, with a report the buyer and seller can both read.
A wood-destroying organism inspection in a Birmingham home sale checks the wood for termites, wood-boring beetles and fungi, and writes down what was found and what could not be examined.
Read the guide
FAQ
Pre-Construction Termite Treatment FAQs
Does pre-construction treatment replace a later inspection?
No. The treatment is applied to the soil during the build. A later inspection checks the building and the zone, and it is booked separately.
What happens if a utility trench goes through the zone?
The disturbed area is re-treated and the record is updated. The builder should tell the technician before digging, so the second visit can be booked in the same window.
Who gets the paperwork?
The builder and the owner each receive a copy of the sketch, the record and the product class. The owner keeps the file for the life of the building.
Is this work the same as a home inspection?
No. It is a treatment of the soil and foundation during construction. A home inspection looks at the finished building, and a wood-destroying organism inspection is a separate job.
