Conventional liquid treatments applied to the soil act a continuous chemical barrier in the soil around both sides of the foundation. For houses with crawlspaces, treatment includes applications to the soil around piers that will support the floor system. This barrier should prevent foraging termites from reaching the foundation and piers and, ultimately, the wood in your house. For slab construction, the soil must be treated before the slab is poured over it.

Once the treatment is done, the soil should not be disturbed. A properly-done liquid treatment is not a one-time application. It is done in stages coordinated with all building activities from foundation construction through final grading. Termite baits are installed after final grading and sometimes after landscaping is completed so that the bait stations are not disturbed or damaged.

A list of currently approved termiticides and the state regulations governing treatment of new or existing homes is available from the NC Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services - Structural Pest Control Division