Pre-Construction Termite Treatment Houston
GreenLight Pest Control performs professional pre-construction termite treatment — borate (Bora-Care) wood treatment on exposed framing — for new construction, additions, remodels, and repairs throughout the Houston region.
Custom home builders, general contractors, remodelers, owner-builders, and homeowners: no job is too small when the framing is exposed and treatment is appropriate.
How Pre-Construction Borate Treatment Works
Pre-construction termite treatment protects a structure during construction, before concealed surfaces make treatment difficult or impossible. GreenLight provides this as a project-based service — not ongoing commercial pest control — using Bora-Care borate wood treatment applied to exposed framing members per the product label and Texas Structural Pest Control rules.
For a primary wood framing treatment in new construction, Texas requires application to exposed wood framing with exterior sheathing in place but before walls are enclosed, including treatment to not less than two feet above slab contact (or the equivalent for crawlspace or basement foundations) under 4 Tex. Admin. Code §7.173(e). GreenLight follows the Bora-Care label and applicable rule requirements for the specific job.
When to Schedule / What Needs to Be Ready
Schedule treatment once the applicable wood framing and sheathing are ready and the required surfaces remain exposed and accessible, before insulation, drywall, or other wall finishes conceal them. The slab may already be poured; borate framing treatment remains available after the slab as long as those wood surfaces are still accessible — unlike pre-slab soil treatment, which is tied to the foundation and soil stage.
Completion of electrical, plumbing, mechanical, or other rough-in work is not a regulatory or label requirement for this treatment. What matters is that the wood to be treated is exposed and walls are not yet enclosed.
GreenLight Inspections performs independent pre-drywall inspections around this same general construction window. That inspection is often timed when framing and MEP rough-ins are substantially complete; termite pre-treatment keys off exposed framing and sheathing under Texas rule and the Bora-Care label. The two schedules commonly overlap but are not defined by the same milestone.
Why Borate Framing Treatment
Soil pre-treatment and physical barriers are legitimate methods used at different construction stages. GreenLight focuses on borate framing treatment because it addresses the wood directly while framing is still open — a practical fit when the slab is already in place or when a soil barrier is not the chosen approach.
Liquid soil termiticide barriers are commonly cited as providing roughly 5–10 years of protection under normal conditions and can require retreatment when excavation, plumbing, irrigation, landscaping, or grading disturbs the treated zone. Borate in protected framing remains effective while the wood is not exposed to rain, continuous water, or direct ground contact, per the Bora-Care label.
In GreenLight's experience serving Houston-area construction, borate framing treatment is the pre-construction method most commonly requested, in part because of how soil disturbance and rainfall affect soil-applied treatments over time.
Licensing & Documentation
GreenLight Pest Control is licensed by the Texas Department of Agriculture Structural Pest Control Service (business license #893710). GreenLight is also a Certified Sentricon® Specialist — a related post-construction termite option; see termite control for Sentricon® baiting and monitoring on completed homes.
After treatment, GreenLight provides TDA-compliant state pre-treatment paperwork as required for the work performed. That state paperwork is sufficient for most jobs. NPMA-99 is available on request when a lender, builder, or municipality specifically requires it.
GreenLight does not warranty a partial treatment when the full labeled or required scope cannot be applied on a given job.
Transparent Pricing
Pre-construction termite treatment starts at $185 and varies with the size of the area or home being treated. Repairs, remodels, additions, and new buildings are all in scope. Every job is a little different — contact GreenLight for scheduling and a specific estimate.
See pricing for other services.
Houston-Area Service Area & Scheduling
This service is offered throughout the Houston region. To schedule: call 346-279-1120, describe your project and construction stage, confirm access to exposed framing, perform treatment, and receive applicable TDA-compliant documentation.
FAQ
Why does GreenLight use borate framing treatment instead of soil pre-treatment in Houston construction?
GreenLight performs borate framing treatment because it treats the wood itself at the construction stage when framing is still exposed, rather than relying on a treated soil zone that must stay intact for years. In GreenLight's experience serving Houston-area construction, borate framing treatment is the pre-construction method most commonly requested. Soil-applied termiticides are commonly cited as lasting roughly 5–10 years under normal conditions and can be compromised when excavation, plumbing, irrigation, or landscaping disturbs the treated soil — a practical concern in a region with substantial rainfall.
What's the difference between soil pre-treatment and borate framing treatment?
Soil pre-treatment applies termiticide to soil before or around the foundation to create a chemical barrier. Borate framing treatment applies later, to exposed wood framing, while exterior sheathing is in place but walls are not yet enclosed. The wood is treated directly rather than depending on an intact treated-soil zone. Texas recognizes primary wood framing treatment (such as borate treatment) as a permitted pre-construction method under 4 Tex. Admin. Code §7.173(e).
Can pre-construction termite treatment still be done after the slab has been poured?
Yes. Borate framing treatment can be performed after the slab has been poured when the applicable wood framing and sheathing are at the construction stage required by Texas rule and the Bora-Care label — exposed and accessible, with exterior sheathing in place but walls not yet enclosed — and before insulation, drywall, or other finishes conceal those surfaces. It does not depend on whether electrical, plumbing, or mechanical rough-in work is complete.
What is Bora-Care, and how does borate wood treatment work?
Bora-Care is an EPA-registered borate wood treatment applied to framing. The borate diffuses into the wood and remains effective while the treated material is not exposed to rain, continuous water, or direct ground contact, per the product label. Wood-destroying insects that feed on treated wood are controlled through that mechanism. It is not a soil termiticide spray.
Does the treatment need to happen before insulation and drywall go up?
Yes. The required wood surfaces must be exposed and walls not yet enclosed under 4 Tex. Admin. Code §7.173(e) and the Bora-Care label, so treatment must occur before insulation, drywall, or other finishes conceal them.
How much does pre-construction termite treatment cost in Houston?
Pricing starts at $185 and varies with the size of the area or home being treated. Every job is a little different — contact GreenLight at 346-279-1120 to discuss your project and confirm an estimate.
Do you treat repairs, remodels, and additions, or only full new construction?
GreenLight treats repairs, remodels, additions, and complete new buildings. No job is too small when suitable framing is exposed and treatment is appropriate.
Do you work with custom home builders, GCs, and owner-builders?
Yes. GreenLight works with custom home builders, general contractors, remodelers, owner-builders, and homeowners building or renovating in the Houston region.
What documentation will I receive?
GreenLight provides TDA-compliant state pre-treatment paperwork as required by applicable Texas rules for the treatment performed. That state paperwork is sufficient for the large majority of jobs. If a lender, builder, or municipality specifically requires the NPMA-99 new-construction termite service record, GreenLight can provide it on request.
What needs to be ready before GreenLight arrives?
The applicable wood framing and sheathing should be ready for treatment and remain exposed and accessible, with a clear path for application. Contact GreenLight to schedule and confirm an estimate — scope and access vary by job.
Is there a warranty on the treatment?
GreenLight does not warranty a partial treatment — when the full labeled or required scope cannot be applied on a given job. GreenLight does not state a specific warranty duration or terms for full-scope treatments on this page; ask when discussing your project if warranty terms apply to your scope of work.
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