Hydra Pest Control

    What should I ask a termite pre-treatment company before I hire them?

    Written by the Hydra Pest Control team, Arizona-licensed (license #9790)

    Last reviewed:

    Direct Answer

    Ask for a written scope, the product and label method, how they'll handle critical areas, their final grade plan, the eTARF filing, the 3-year retreatment terms and copies of your records. Arizona's rule (R3-8-308) sets what a pretreatment must include: termiticide applied per the label, a horizontal barrier before the slab is poured, a vertical barrier in critical areas, a site tag and a final grade treatment.

    Checklist

    1. License

      Confirm the business license and applicator certification with the Arizona Department of Agriculture's Pest Management Division. Consumers can check license status.

      Source: AZDA Pest Management FAQs (eTARF)

    2. Written scope

      A horizontal barrier before the slab plus vertical treatment of critical areas, per the label (R3-8-308(D)).

      Source: Ariz. Admin. Code R3-8-308

    3. Product and label method

      Termiticide applied only as the label directs (R3-8-308(C)).

      Source: Ariz. Admin. Code R3-8-308

    4. Site tag

      Posted after the pretreatment with the product, amount applied and area treated (R3-8-308(D)(6)).

      Source: Ariz. Admin. Code R3-8-308

    5. Final grade plan

      Done after grading and construction soil disturbance are complete and within 18 months of the original pre-treatment (R3-8-308(F)(1)). Recent update: this deadline was adjusted from 12 to 18 months; some public statute and rule pages still show 12 months while they are updated. Current rule: R3-8-308(F)(1). Ask how they'll know when your grading is done. See the final grade guide.

      Source: Ariz. Admin. Code R3-8-308

    6. eTARF

      Filed with AZDA within 30 days of the pretreatment and the final grade. AZDA keeps a searchable eTARF database of termite actions on a property.

      Source: AZDA Pest Management FAQs (eTARF)

    7. 3-year retreatment

      If subterranean termites show up within three years of the pretreatment, the company that did it must re-treat the affected area at no charge (R3-8-309(C)). That's a retreatment, not a damage-repair warranty; ask what any separate warranty covers in writing.

      Source: Ariz. Admin. Code R3-8-309

    8. Records

      The applicator gives the customer a written notice right after each application (R3-8-306). Treatment records must be kept at least three years and made available to the property owner on request within three business days (A.R.S. 3-3624(B)(15)-(16)).

      Source: Ariz. Admin. Code R3-8-306, A.R.S. 3-3624

    Frequently asked

    Is a termite warranty the same as the 3-year retreatment?

    No. R3-8-309(C) requires the company that did the pretreatment to re-treat the affected area at no charge if subterranean termites show up within three years. That's a retreatment, not a damage-repair warranty. Ask what any separate warranty covers in writing.

    Can I see the termite treatment history for a property?

    AZDA keeps a searchable eTARF database of termite actions on a property, and treatment records must be made available to the property owner on request within three business days (A.R.S. 3-3624(B)(15)-(16)).

    What's a critical area?

    Places termites can get around the barrier, such as plumbing penetrations and the inside of stem walls. Arizona rules require a vertical barrier in critical areas (R3-8-308(D)).

    Does a borate wood treatment replace a soil pre-treatment?

    Arizona's pretreatment rule (R3-8-308(D)) calls for termiticide barriers in the soil: a horizontal barrier before the slab is poured and a vertical barrier in critical areas. If a wood treatment is offered, ask what's being treated and confirm the soil pretreatment and final grade are in the written scope.

    Does my lender require a termite pre-treatment?

    FHA requires a builder's termite guarantee (form HUD-NPMA-99-A) on new construction across Arizona, and VA uses the same forms. USDA and conventional loans leave it to the lender. See our lender guide.

    Related

    Sources

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