Pre-Construction Termite Treatment Cost in 2026
Checked 14 October 2026: no source we could fetch publishes a current pre-construction termite treatment price. What is published is how much product the label requires under a new slab, which is what a builder's or pest control company's quote is made of.
From the labels and rules
Pre-construction at a glance
- 01Under the slab: 1.0 to 1.5 gallons per 10 sq ft, before the pour
- 02Along the foundation: 4 gallons per 10 linear ft per ft of depth
- 03Exterior perimeter only after the final grade
- 04Bait can substitute where the state allows (Trelona label)
- 05FHA new builds need form HUD-NPMA-99-A in most counties
From the Termidor SC label, the Trelona label and HUD Handbook 4000.1, read 14 October 2026.
Section B / By footprint
How much termiticide a new slab needs
The Termidor SC label's pre-construction rates applied to a slab footprint: 1.0 to 1.5 gallons of finished dilution per 10 sq ft under the slab, plus 4 gallons per 10 linear feet along the exterior foundation at 1 ft of depth. Concentrate is at the label's 0.06% mix, 0.8 fl oz per gallon.
| Footprint | Under slabgal | Foundationgal | Concentratefl oz |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 sq ft | 100-150 | 50 | 120-160 |
| 1,500 sq ft | 150-225 | 62 | 170-230 |
| 2,000 sq ft | 200-300 | 72 | 217-297 |
| 2,500 sq ft | 250-375 | 80 | 264-364 |
| 3,000 sq ft | 300-450 | 88 | 310-430 |
- Footprint is the ground-floor slab, including carports, porches and entrances the slab covers. The label also treats the interior foundation perimeter and every pipe or service that passes through the slab, so real volumes are higher.
- Linear feet = 4 x the square root of the floor area, which assumes a square, single-storey footprint. Real homes are rarely square, so the true perimeter is usually longer.
- Why no dollar column: the only published Termidor SC prices we found are for 20 fl oz homeowner bottles, and a builder's pest control company buys larger containers through distributors. Pricing a slab job from a homeowner bottle would overstate it, so we give the volumes and let the quote supply the price.
Section C / Rules
When and how it is done
Soil treatment. Under the Termidor SC label, the horizontal treatment covers the whole area the slab will cover and goes down before the pour. The foundation is treated by trenching and rodding to the top of the footing, or at least 4 feet where the footing is deeper, and the exterior perimeter only after the final exterior grade. Before each application the applicator must tell the general contractor, who keeps workers out until the dilution has soaked in.
Bait instead. The Trelona label allows its bait on new structures as a substitute for pre-construction soil treatment, except in states that prohibit bait-only pre-construction, with stations placed after the final exterior grade. Bait then needs a yearly service; see Trelona ATBS cost.
Texas. A full pre-construction treatment must give a continuous horizontal and vertical barrier, and the final treatment must be done within 30 days of notice that landscaping is complete or one year after construction is finished, whichever comes first (4 TAC 7.173).
FHA loans. For new construction, HUD Handbook 4000.1 requires the builder's Subterranean Termite Protection Builder's Guarantee (form HUD-NPMA-99-A), unless the county is on HUD's Termite Treatment Exception Areas list.
What to ask your builder
| Ask |
|---|
| Which product, at what concentration?The label sets the rate; the quote should name it. |
| How many gallons under the slab, and along the foundation?Check them against the table above for your footprint. |
| Will the exterior perimeter be treated after final grade?The label allows it only then, so it may be a second visit. |
| What does the warranty cover, for how long, and does it transfer?Retreatment only, or repairs too. |
| For an FHA buyer: is form HUD-NPMA-99-A included?HUD requires it for new construction in most counties. |
Section D / The last published example
What a pretreatment cost in 2005
The University of Arizona's extension service published worked liquid termiticide costs in March 2005: pretreating a house on a floating slab came to $930 to $1,130, against $1,070 to treat the same kind of house after it was built. Those are Arizona figures from 21 years ago, shown as history: the gap between before and after is the useful part, not the dollar amounts. University of Arizona AZ1357. Today's post-construction prices are on the termite treatment cost page (HomeGuide: whole-home liquid $500 to $2,000 or more).
Section E / Method
How we priced this
- We checked HomeGuide, HomeAdvisor and This Old House for a pre-construction price on 14 October 2026; none publishes one.
- Volumes are our arithmetic on the Termidor SC label's pre-construction rates (EPA Reg. No. 7969-210, accepted 30 April 2024).
- Rules: the Trelona label, 4 TAC 7.173 and HUD. History: University of Arizona, 2005.
- Full methodology.
Section F / Frequently asked
Pre-construction termite treatment questions
How much does pre-construction termite treatment cost?+
No source we could fetch publishes a current price: HomeGuide, HomeAdvisor and This Old House give none (checked 14 October 2026). The latest published worked example we found is the University of Arizona's from March 2005: $930 to $1,130 to pretreat a home on a floating slab. Prices have moved since, so ask your builder or a licensed company for a written figure, with the gallons it will apply.
How much termiticide does a new slab need?+
The Termidor SC label requires 1.0 to 1.5 gallons of finished dilution per 10 square feet under the slab, plus 4 gallons per 10 linear feet per foot of depth along the foundation. For a 2,000 sq ft footprint that is 272 to 372 gallons with the exterior perimeter at 1 foot of depth, or about 217 to 297 fl oz of Termidor SC concentrate (our arithmetic on the label rates). A quote should say how many gallons it covers.
Can bait stations replace pre-construction soil treatment?+
The Trelona label allows its bait to be used on new structures as a substitute for pre-construction soil treatment, except in states that do not allow bait-only pre-construction, and the stations go in only after the final exterior grade is set. Bait needs a yearly service contract; a soil treatment does not.
Does an FHA loan need termite treatment on a new house?+
Yes, in most of the country. HUD Handbook 4000.1 requires the builder's Subterranean Termite Protection Builder's Guarantee (form HUD-NPMA-99-A) for new construction, unless the county is on HUD's Termite Treatment Exception Areas list, which covers parts of northern and western states.
When is pre-construction termite treatment done?+
The Termidor SC label has the horizontal treatment applied before the slab is poured and the exterior perimeter treated only after the final exterior grade, and the applicator must warn the contractor before each application. Texas adds a deadline for a full treatment: the final treatment within 30 days of notice that landscaping is complete, or one year after construction is finished, whichever comes first.
Section G / Where to next
Related cost pages
Open file
Termite treatment cost
Post-construction prices, the calculator and why published prices disagree.
Open file
Termidor SC cost
The liquid termiticide on these labels.
Open file
Trelona ATBS cost
The bait alternative for new builds.
Open file
Termite treatment cost in Texas
The Texas pre-construction rule and what a quote must show.
Open file
Termite inspection for home buyers
VA and FHA inspection rules.
Open file
Termite bond cost
Keeping protection going after the builder's warranty.
A cost guide, not pest control or building advice. Check your local code and your lender's requirements with your builder.