Perimeter Termite Treatments are similar to conventional liquid termite treatments. The chemical is placed into the soil around the foundation and under concrete slabs adjoining the foundation to form a chemical barrier. Holes must be drilled in any adjoining slabs in order to apply the chemical in a continuous zone around the home. The holes are usually not very noticable after the chemical has been applied and the holes filled in with cement. Because we use modern non-repellent chemicals, the termites can not detect the barrier and will pass through the treated soil. As the termites do this, they pick up some of the chemical and on returning to the nest, some of the chemical is transferred to termites in the nest.
The chemical works slowly so that the termites have time to return to the nest before dying. Most or all of the termites in the nest will die protecting the home from further damage. The chemical binds to the soil when applied will continue to be effective for up to 10 years. The chemicals are low odor and are the same chemicals used in many popular flea control products applied to cats and dogs. In fact the concentration of chemical in the flea treatments is higher than the concentration applied to the soil around your home.
Because the termites can not detect the barrier, they do not try to avoid the treated area. Drilling concrete slabs in basements and garages or on the interior of slab homes is only required as a spot treatment if termites are entering the structure frim the inside of the foundation. In traditional liquid termite treatments using repellent chemicals, the slab of the entire inside of the home must be drilled and treated. This creates much more work and requires more chemical making this type of treatment expensive and time consuming.