Pre-construction soil poisoning
The cheapest and most complete termite protection your building will ever get — because the soil is still open and we can treat every square meter of it.
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Quote my pre-construction job
Four details and you will have a price on screen — plus we will come back to confirm it in writing.
What actually happens on site
Pre-construction treatment is done after the trenches are dug and the ground is prepared, but before the surface bed is cast. That timing is the whole point: it’s the only moment in the life of a building when every square meter of soil beneath it’s reachable.
Our operator applies a termiticide registered under Act 36 of 1947 to the full footprint of the structure, the trench bottoms and sides, and around any service penetrations coming up through the slab. Those penetrations matter more than people expect — pipe and conduit entries are the classic weak point where termites find a way through an otherwise good barrier.
The result is a continuous treated zone. Subterranean termites moving up through the soil to reach the timber in your roof, doors and fittings have to cross it, and they can’t.
Why it’s worth booking early
Two reasons, one practical and one financial.
The practical one is timing. Treatment has to happen in a specific window: after the ground is prepared, before the concrete. That window is often only a day or two wide on a fast programme. If you call us the morning of the pour, we’ll do what we can, but booking a few days ahead means you get the date you actually need.
The financial one is simple arithmetic. Treating open soil takes a fraction of the time and product needed to protect the same building once it’s standing, because nothing has to be drilled, lifted or reinstated. That’s where the roughly 90% saving comes from. It isn’t a discount, it’s a different job.
What you get
- Written quote with the treated area, product and application rate stated up front
- Treatment by a registered operator using product registered under Act 36 of 1947
- Full footprint and trench coverage, including service penetrations
- Your soil poisoning certificate within 12 hours of completion
- A 5 year written warranty against subterranean termite ingress through the treated barrier
- Certificate sent to your architect or principal agent as well, if you want it
Mixed to the correct rate, every job
The termiticide is pre-mixed on site to the correct application rate for the area being treated, whether that’s a single residential slab or a development running several units. The label sets the concentration, so it doesn’t move with the size of the job or the size of the budget.
We record the product, the concentration, the area treated and the total volume applied on your certificate. That’s partly for your compliance file and partly so there’s a number to check — under-dosing is the usual reason one quote comes in far below the others, and it’s impossible to see on the day.
Our tank, pump and hose travel with the team, so the treatment isn’t waiting on a site water connection that may or may not be live.
Fitting it into your build programme
The sequence we work to is: ground prepared and trenches open, treatment applied, certificate issued, foundation inspection, pour. If your inspection date is already booked, give it to us when you enquire and we’ll schedule backwards from it rather than leaving you to co-ordinate.
For developments running several units, we quote a phased schedule so each slab is treated at the right point instead of you paying for repeated callouts.
Common questions about pre-construction treatment
How long does it take to get my certificate?
Your certificate is issued within 12 hours of the treatment being completed and payment being received. In most cases we email it the same working day. If your inspection is booked for the following morning, tell us when you book and we’ll prioritise the paperwork so nothing on site is held up.
Settling the invoice on the day is the one thing that keeps the clock running — so if the certificate is urgent, get the payment away as soon as you have the invoice and we will do the rest.
Is the treatment safe for my family and pets?
Yes, when it’s applied correctly by a licensed operator. We only use termiticides registered under Act 36 of 1947 and we apply them at label rates. The product is placed into the soil beneath the slab, and on a pre-construction job it’s sealed under concrete before anyone occupies the building.
For post-construction work we’ll talk you through re-entry times before we start. Our operators are trained and registered, which matters: most safety incidents in this industry come from unregistered operators using unregistered product at the wrong concentration.
How much does soil poisoning cost?
Pricing is based on the square meterage to be treated, site access, and whether the job is pre-construction or post-construction. Pre-construction is dramatically cheaper because the soil is open and accessible.
There is a price calculator on our cost page that will give you a rough figure in about ten seconds — it runs on our real rates. Treat it as an estimate: we still quote in writing with the scope spelled out, and plenty of jobs come in cheaper once we have seen the drawing.
How long is the warranty?
We issue a 5 year written warranty on pre-construction soil poisoning treatments. The warranty is against subterranean termite ingress through the treated barrier, and it’s documented, not verbal.
What's the difference between pre-construction and post-construction treatment?
Pre-construction treatment happens before the slab is cast, while the soil is open. We treat the entire footprint and the trenches, creating an unbroken barrier under the whole building. It’s thorough and inexpensive because nothing has to be drilled or lifted.
Post-construction treatment is done on a building that already exists. It involves drilling through the slab or paving at intervals and injecting termiticide, or trenching around the perimeter. It works, but it costs considerably more and is harder to make continuous.
If your slab hasn’t been cast, book pre-construction. It’s the single biggest cost saving available on this job.
Slab not cast yet?
That’s the best possible position to be in. Send us your slab area and we’ll quote you today.