Builders
Do you offer your clients protection from termites and other wood destroying insects?
Bradford & Son's Pest Services offers 5 year service agreements on pretreats. We also offer damage warranties on certain treatments.
Home remodelers building an addition to a structure or simply remodeling a home should be aware of the need for termite treatments. Do you know without a doubt what caused that damage? If not call us for a inspection and protect your clients property.
Termite Pretreats
In recent years, there have been many changes relating to the performance of a soil pretreatment for termites. Generally, these changes apply to the type of product that can be used, the method used to apply products and the amount of regulation. The quality of the work has also been affected by the locations where the homes are being built.
As the population grows in Northern Virginia, more and more homes are being built on previously wooded land or farmland. The amounts of subterranean termite colonies in these areas are much higher and opportunities to attract infestations are greater.
What is a subterranean termite pretreatment?
It is a preventive chemical treatment to a structure to control invading subterranean termites. This treatment can only be made by a licensed pest control operator.
The chemical is applied in a manner consistent with the termiticide label, rules and regulations of the Virginia Department of Agriculture Division of Pesticides and the United States Department of Agriculture Bulletin 64.
In addition to a soil treatment, wood treatment is approved for termite pretreats. This type of treatment is applied to selected wood members of the structure. See our wood treatment section for additional information.
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Wood Treatment Information
How do I determine if my home requires a pretreatment?
The Federal Housing Administration (FHA), Veterans Administration Department of Housing and Urban Development (VA HUD) and the laws in many communities of Virginia require that any building built as a single-family residence or duplex, or which could be sold with FHA or VA HUD warranted financing, have a soil pretreatment. The pretreatment is warranted for five years.
Do pretreatments prevent a subterranean termite infestation?
Generally speaking, this procedure is more than adequate to last during the warranty period. However, a combination of events occurring during and after the pretreatment can cause problems.
If I have subterranean termites, does that mean the job was not done correctly?
No. The warranty issued and required is a retreatment warranty. Pretreatment work is not an exact science. The factors affecting pretreatments are the application equipment and types; soil types; soil moisture content; and the disturbance of the treated barrier. Homeowners making cosmetic changes can disturb and destroy the treated barrier.
What can I do to help prevent subterranean termites infesting my home?
Any improvement or repairs you make to your home that require breaking or cutting into the concrete slab, or which require changing or digging in the soil that touches the outside foundation of your home, needs to be reported to and retreated by the pest control operator who originally treated and guaranteed your home to maintain the integrity of your warranty.
If you add any concrete for patios, room additions, garages or carports, or make any other alterations to your home, these need to be treated. Failure to do so could void your original five-year pretreatment warranty.
Landscaping should be installed without disturbing the treatment and not contributing to a future infestation. Consult with your provider for more information. Irrigation should be installed outside the plant line. Avoid installing fence posts, trellises, or any other wooden decor that touches both the ground and the structure. Do not change the grade level of soil outside the foundation to create drainage toward the house.
Who is responsible for termite damage to my home?
The pest control operator is responsible for retreatment during the applicable warranty period. The FHA/VA warranty states that the builder agrees to repair all construction damage within the one-year builder's warranty period. The homeowner generally is responsible for repair of termite damage after the builder's warranty has expired.
