Pest Control for New Homes: Pre-Treatment, Post-Construction, and Ongoing Care
A new home should feel like a fresh start, yet bugs do not care about your closing date or fresh paint. They care about shelter, wetness, food, and gain access to. The smartest time to strategy pest control is before the structure is put, and the 2nd smartest is before the last walk-through. After that, it becomes a rhythm of monitoring and peaceful avoidance. I have actually seen tasks where a 200 dollar pre-treatment saved thousands in repairs, and I have actually also checked new homes riddled with ant colonies since the builder skipped sealing around piece penetrations. Treat pest control as part of the develop, not an afterthought.

Why brand-new building and construction is not immune
Construction websites produce food and shelter: stacked lumber, dumpsters, disturbed soil, and standing water after rain. Workers prop doors open, and supplies come with hitchhiking insects. When your home is closed up, those bugs do not instantly leave. Rodents follow energy lines. Ants love foam board and warm voids behind siding. Below ground termites are currently in the soil. Even high-end builds with tight envelopes can attract periodic intruders if grading directs water back towards the slab or if soffit vents do not have proper screening.
The new-home advantage is gain access to. Before drywall, whatever is open. Once you reach the surface stage, any correction is more costly and untidy. Think like an exterminator during the construct: what would make this home harder to go into, less appealing to nest in, and simpler to check later?
Soil and termite pre-treatments during the build
In most termite-prone areas, home builders either use a soil-applied termiticide before the slab or set up a baiting system around the perimeter after the construct, in some cases both. The choice depends on local pressure, soil type, and code.
With liquid pre-treatments, the team treats compressed fill and trench areas at a rate specified on the label, usually 1 gallon per 10 square feet, so the chemical bonds with soil particles underneath and around the piece. They also deal with around pipes penetrations, bath traps, and growth joints. If the piece gets disrupted after treatment, such as trenching for an added drain, the afflicted location requires retreatment. This information gets missed out on. I have walked structures where the initial treatment was impeccable, then a late-stage modification included a line to the island sink and nobody called the insect company back. 2 years later on, termite shelter tubes appeared under the cabinet.
Bait systems approach the issue in a different way. After building, stations get positioned every 8 to 12 feet around the perimeter, with additional stations near moisture sources and utility lines. Termites feed upon cellulose bait laced with a development regulator, spread it through the nest, and ultimately collapse it. Baits are a slower kill, but they prevent broad soil applications and offer constant tracking. In heavy clay, where liquid movement is unequal, baits often exceed termiticides over the long run.
Some develops specify borate treatments for framing. Applied to raw wood before insulation, borates penetrate the surface area and repel or kill wood-destroying insects and fungi. They shine in crawlspace homes or basements where wetness is a longer-term threat. The limitation is protection. If drywall or insulation goes in before treatment or if it rains on exposed lumber after treatment without a follow-up application, security can be patchy.
Integrated programs match a mindful pre-treat with clever building practices: cap vapor barriers appropriately, compact backfill, keep 6 inches of clearance from soil to bottom of siding, and set up a noticeable termite shield or barrier where proper. State policies differ, which is why trusted builders keep a certified pest control firm in the loop and get documents for closing.
Sealing and exclusion when the walls are still open
The most inexpensive and most durable pest control is a caulk weapon, copper mesh, and a contractor who cares. Air-sealing and pest exclusion overlap. If you prioritize one, you typically help the other.
During framing and rough mechanicals, stroll your home as if you were a mouse. Take a look at penetrations where pipe and channel pass through bottom plates and exterior sheathing. Spaces larger than a pencil should be sealed with fire-rated foam where needed, then backed or packed with copper mesh and top quality sealant at the outside. Do not rely on lightweight plastic escutcheons to stop insects.
Attic vents must have 1/8 inch bug screen safely attached. Ridge vents require baffles that hinder wasps and birds. Gable vents, if present, require undamaged screening that can not be brushed aside by squirrels. Soffit vents should align with baffles to avoid insulation from obstructing air flow, decreasing condensation that brings in ants and silverfish.
Garage-to-house doors must self-close and fully seal. A 1/4 inch space under a door is an open invite to rodents and roaches. Weatherstripping compresses over time, so begin with a tight fit. At limits, an aluminum or composite sill coupled with a quality sweep makes a difference. I prefer sweeps with changeable inserts and a rigid, low-friction surface area that glides over a little unequal garage floors.
Around the slab, insist on sealed growth joints where practical, specifically at patios that abut the structure. Bugs follow those cool, protected lines directly into sill areas. A flexible, exterior-grade sealant limits that access.
Moisture management is pest management
Nearly every insect issue I detect in new homes ties back to moisture. Termites require it, ants follow it, roaches thrive in it, and rodents are more likely to check out where condensation pools.
Grading needs to slope away from the house for a minimum of 5 to 10 feet. Downspouts should discharge well previous planting beds, not into them. If you plan rain gardens or cisterns, represent overflow that will not backflow towards the structure. Splash blocks are much better than absolutely nothing, but buried downspout lines that daytime or feed to a drain basin reduce splash that can rot sill plates or saturate footing edges.
Inside the home, set dehumidifiers or the heating and cooling system to control humidity during and after construction, especially if woods or cabinets enter while the structure still holds building and construction wetness. Go for indoor relative humidity around 45 to 55 percent. In crawlspaces, constant vapor barriers sealed at seams and piers, plus mechanical ventilation or conditioning, keep conditions unfavorable for camel crickets, wood roaches, and termites. In basements, insulate rim joists correctly and solve any seepage before ending up walls, or you welcome silverfish and mold.
Bathrooms and laundry rooms are worthy of real fans that vent outdoors. I have actually discovered more than one brand-new home where the bath fan ended in the attic. That produces a sauna in winter and a magnet for cluster flies and wasps. Put in the time to verify the duct goes to an appropriate roof or wall cap with a backdraft damper.
Post-construction walkthroughs and first-year pitfalls
By the time you hold the keys, many insect choices are secured. Still, a concentrated walkthrough catches vulnerabilities while warranties are fresh and professionals are responsive.
Start outside, tracing the foundation gradually. Look for unsealed energy entries, gaps at pipe bibs, and weep holes clogged by mortar. Brick weep holes must remain open to let walls dry, but they need weep hole covers or stainless steel wool that permits airflow while stopping bugs. If landscaping is going in instantly, keep mulch back from the foundation by 6 inches and limitation depth to 2 to 3 inches. I have pulled back new mulch lines to discover ant nests gladly established against warm structure walls within weeks.
At doors and windows, validate screens fit securely, with no extended corners. Overspray from paint typically hides split mesh unless you flex the screen. On moving doors, inspect the track weep holes, which must drain freely. If they clog, water swimming pools and carpenter ants take note.
Inside, run water at every fixture and expect slow leakages at traps and angle stops. Even a drip that moistens the back of a cabinet once a day can support German cockroaches if a roaming egg case gets here in a moving box. In the cooking area, inspect the cutouts under the sink. If there is a half-inch gap around pipes that leads into the wall cavity, seal it. The drawer bank next to the dishwashing machine ought to be tight, not an open chimney for heat and steam that draws insects.
New house owners often call an exterminator when they see beetles or moths in the very first month. Frequently, the perpetrator is kept item pests hitchhiking in pantry products or seed-heavy bird food stored in the garage. Keep dry products in sealed containers at the start and observe. If you find moths, place pheromone traps to validate the species and remove plagued products instead of blasting the pantry with aerosols that do little to reach larvae inside packaging.
Builders, homeowners, and the pest control contract
Some home builders include a termite guarantee and an initial general bug service for 60 to 90 days. Read the paperwork. A termite warranty usually covers re-treatment if termites are found, not fix costs, unless you pay for extended protection. General bug services might include interior fracture and crevice work, exterior perimeter treatment, and keeping an eye on for ants and roaches. They seldom consist of rodents unless the agreement states so.
Choose a pest control business like you would a tradesperson. Inquire about their technique to new homes. An expert need to discuss exclusion and wetness control before noting spray products. If you prefer lower-impact chemistry, ask about reduced-risk actives, baiting strategies, and targeted treatments. A good exterminator will inform you where chemicals are unnecessary and where they are important, like a wasp nest in a soffit near a kid's bedroom window or a carpenter ant satellite colony in a window frame.
Price differs by region, but for context, a liquid termite pre-treatment on a common 2,000 to 2,500 square foot piece might run a couple of hundred dollars, while a full bait system with yearly tracking can be 4 figures upfront with lower recurring costs. Ongoing quarterly basic bug service typically lands in the low hundreds annually for standard lots. If the numbers are drastically lower, look carefully at scope. If they are considerably higher, look for included value such as detailed inspections, ensured callback windows, or bundled mosquito or rodent programs.
Materials, surfaces, and little options that matter
Some home features age better under bug pressure. Solid surface or quartz counters fit tighter than tile with lots of grout lines. Shaker-style drawers with full-overlay fronts leave fewer edge gaps than elaborate profiles that collect grease and crumbs. In garages and basements, smooth-painted walls and sealed floors show droppings and tracks much faster, which makes early detection much easier. A concrete sealant in the garage also restricts wicking that draws moisture upward.
In landscaping, choose plantings that do not lean against siding. Dense shrubs trap humidity. If you desire ivy, accept that it offers a ladder for ants and a hideout for rodents. Keep firewood off the ground and far from your home by a minimum of 20 feet if you have the space. Decorative gravel surrounding to foundations dries faster than heavy mulch. Where code allows, utilize metal or cement-based trim at grade rather than wood.
Lighting attracts pests. Warm LEDs draw in less flying bugs than cool, blue-leaning lights. Position brilliant landscape components far from doors and pick shielded fixtures that cast light down rather than outward.
Pests you might see in a new home and what to do
Even with mindful work, some bugs appear during the first year as the structure settles and landscaping matures. The ideal response depends on the types and the context.
Ants are the most common grievance. Pavement ants and odorous home ants track along piece edges and energy lines. If you capture a couple of scouts, withstand the desire to spray everything you can reach. Lots of contact sprays fend off or eliminate employees without affecting the nest, which splits and ends up being more difficult to handle. Gel baits and non-repellent border treatments work better because ants carry the active back to the nest. The exception is when you discover a satellite nest in wood inside your home, like carpenter ants in a window frame after a leakage. There, physical elimination and targeted dust or foam injections make sense.
Subterranean termites seldom swarm inside during the first months, however you may notice mud tubes along structure cracks or in crawlspaces. Do not break all televisions to "see if they return." Leave an area intact for recognition and call your termite service provider. Disturbing tubes can spread employees, making complex bait uptake or monitoring.
German cockroaches typically get here in boxes or used devices, not from the soil. If you see a single adult, check under the fridge's warm motor real estate and behind the dishwashing machine kick plate. A couple of put bait stations can stop the issue before it ends up being an infestation. Sprays in the open do little bit; concentrate on cracks and crevices.
Spiders typically bloom after construction due to the surge in flying insects. Reduce harborages first: clear construction debris, adjust outside lighting, and vacuum webs. If you require treatment, ask for targeted outside sweeps and spot applications rather than blanket spraying.
Rodents often test garages and attics as the neighborhood establishes. If you hear scratching in the evening in the ceiling of a brand-new home, check for building spaces at soffit intersections and where the garage roofing ties into the main roofing. Snap traps effectively placed along runways work, however sealing entry points is the fix that lasts. Foam alone is not a rodent barrier. Back any foam with hardware cloth or metal flashing.
Service frequency and what "maintenance" truly means
The concept of quarterly pest control appears arbitrary till you think about insect life process and weather. Numerous perimeter products last 60 to 90 days in sun and rain. Assessments on that cadence catch seasonal shifts: spring ant flights, summertime wasps, fall rodent pushes. In low-pressure locations with excellent exclusion, semiannual service works. https://www.facebook.com/valleyintegratedpest In Gulf or coastal areas with unrelenting insect pressure, monthly mosquito or ant programs might be required for comfort.
Maintenance is not simply spraying. It is examining downspouts after a storm, re-tacking a garage sweep that dragged on concrete and curled, clearing vines from weep holes, and resetting a loose screen. It is listening for hollow noises in a baseboard near a shower, or observing frass on a windowsill before a wood-boring beetle does damage. The best company spend more time inspecting and talking with you than they do applying products.
When to intensify to an expert fast
Most small invasions can be handled with perseverance and great routines. A few situations benefit from calling an exterminator immediately.
Active termites inside the structure, noticeable mud tubes, or swarms emerging from interior wood warrant professional treatment without delay. Rodents in living spaces, particularly where children or animals exist, due to the fact that contamination threats increase and DIY baits can create hazards. Stinging insects nesting in walls or soffits, where inappropriate treatment can drive them inside or cause secondary problems. Bites or rashes that might be bed bugs. Misidentification lose time. An expert will validate with evidence and strategy accordingly.
Practical practices that keep a brand-new home clean and quiet
Long after the contractors leave, your daily habits either enhance the home's defenses or weaken them. Small routines include up.

Keep kitchen area surface areas dry over night and vacuum crumbs under devices monthly. Store animal food in sealed containers and pick up bowls after mealtime. Wash recycling and do not let it accumulate in a warm garage. After heavy rain, walk the boundary. If you see mulch floating or dirt splashed high up on siding, adjust downspouts or edging. Cut plant life so you can see 4 to 6 inches of foundation all around; it acts like an assessment line. In winter season, check exterior tube bibs and vacuum breaker real estates for leakages that melt snow at the base of walls, a sign of slow dripping that invites pests and damages siding.

When you bring products into the home after travel or from storage, examine them. Cardboard from warehouses in some cases brings roach ootheca or spider egg sacs. Switching to plastic bins for long-lasting storage, specifically in basements and garages, lowers surprises.
Environmental considerations and thoughtful product choices
It is possible to preserve a robust pest control program without unnecessary chemical load. Pick non-repellent products when sprays are warranted, as they are utilized in smaller sized amounts and act within targeted zones. Use baiting for ants and roaches in choice to broadcast insecticides indoors. Dusts like silica gel in wall voids offer long-lasting control in hard-to-reach locations without volatilization. Outdoors, prefer granular baits for fire ants and targeted nest treatments for wasps, rather than border blanket sprays, unless there is a specified need.
If you garden, avoid stacking garden compost versus the house and space raised beds away from the foundation. Drip watering minimizes overspray that wets siding. Mulch with pine straw or cedar if you like, but keep depth modest and refresh rather than stack brand-new layers on old, which traps moisture. Where native useful insects thrive, you will see less break outs of plant-feeding insects, which balance extends to the microclimate around your home.
What a year-one schedule can look like
A common first-year prepare for a brand-new single-family home may appear like this: termite pre-treatment noted in closing files, with either liquid soil protection or bait station setup within 30 days after grading and landscaping stabilize. A preliminary general bug service at move-in that focuses on outside boundary, garage, and utility entry points. Follow-up check outs at 60 to 90 day periods to tighten seals, revitalize border security, and respond to seasonal activity. Moisture and exemption checks in spring and fall. If you have a crawlspace, a humidity reading each check out, and a fast inspection for condensation on ductwork or plumbing.
After that first year, adjust. If you see extremely little activity and your environment is dry and open, scale back the frequency and keep exclusion tight. If you live near woody lots, water functions, or thick areas with shared walls, keep the cadence stable. The best programs are customized and versatile, not locked into a rigid template.
The payoff for doing it right
Good pest control for brand-new homes does not feel significant. It feels uneventful. You discover fewer secret bugs at the kitchen sink in the morning. You never ever mop up a swarm of termites in spring. You do not hear running in the attic at 2 a.m. The expense is modest compared to remediation, and the habits you form early keep the home much healthier overall.
The bigger reward is control. You understand where water goes, how air relocations, and how animals try to share your space. You choose materials and regimens that make their lives troublesome. Whether you manage the details yourself or lean on a trustworthy exterminator, treating pest control as part of the construct and the maintenance plan maintains the new-home feeling far longer than a punch list ever could.
NAP
Business Name: Valley Integrated Pest Control
Address: 3116 N Carriage Ave, Fresno, CA 93727, United States
Phone: (559) 307-0612
Website: https://vippestcontrolfresno.com/
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Popular Questions About Valley Integrated Pest Control
What services does Valley Integrated Pest Control offer in Fresno, CA?
Valley Integrated Pest Control provides pest control service for residential and commercial properties in Fresno, CA, including common needs like ants, cockroaches, spiders, rodents, wasps, mosquitoes, and flea and tick treatments. Service recommendations can vary based on the pest and property conditions.
Do you provide residential and commercial pest control?
Yes. Valley Integrated Pest Control offers both residential and commercial pest control service in the Fresno area, which may include preventative plans and targeted treatments depending on the issue.
Do you offer recurring pest control plans?
Many Fresno pest control companies offer recurring service for prevention, and Valley Integrated Pest Control promotes pest management options that can help reduce recurring pest activity. Contact the team to match a plan to your property and pest pressure.
Which pests are most common in Fresno and the Central Valley?
In Fresno, property owners commonly deal with ants, spiders, cockroaches, rodents, and seasonal pests like mosquitoes and wasps. Valley Integrated Pest Control focuses on solutions for these common local pest problems.
What are your business hours?
Valley Integrated Pest Control lists hours as Monday through Friday 7:00 AM–5:00 PM, Saturday 7:00 AM–12:00 PM, and closed on Sunday. If you need a specific appointment window, it’s best to call to confirm availability.
Do you handle rodent control and prevention steps?
Valley Integrated Pest Control provides rodent control services and may also recommend practical prevention steps such as sealing entry points and reducing attractants to help support long-term results.
How does pricing typically work for pest control in Fresno?
Pest control pricing in Fresno typically depends on the pest type, property size, severity, and whether you choose one-time service or recurring prevention. Valley Integrated Pest Control can usually provide an estimate after learning more about the problem.
How do I contact Valley Integrated Pest Control to schedule service?
Call (559) 307-0612 to schedule or request an estimate. For Spanish assistance, you can also call (559) 681-1505. You can follow Valley Integrated Pest Control on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube
Valley Pest Control is honored to serve the Clovis, CA community and offers professional exterminator solutions for apartments, homes, and local businesses.
For pest management in the Central Valley area, call Valley Integrated Pest Control near River Park Shopping Center.