Yes. Building codes require termite pretreatment on new construction in our high-hazard region, but builder coverage typically expires within a few years — and land clearing pushes displaced pests (ants, rodents, roaches) straight toward brand-new homes.
What termite protection does a new East Texas home come with?
East Texas sits in one of the country's highest termite-hazard zones, so building codes require termite protection on new construction — your builder had the home pre-treated, usually a soil treatment before the slab was poured, and handed over paperwork with a limited initial warranty. That's genuine protection, but it is neither permanent nor comprehensive: it targets subterranean termites only, it degrades over time, and the builder's coverage window typically closes within a few years.
Why do brand-new neighborhoods have pest problems at all?
Because construction is a disturbance event. New neighborhoods around Lufkin, Nacogdoches and Hudson are carved out of former Piney Woods timber and pasture land. Clearing displaces the wildlife that lived there — ants, roaches, spiders, fire ants and rodents — and fresh landscaping, irrigation and open soil give them ideal new habitat. New-home owners are often surprised to meet more pests in year one than they ever saw in an older neighborhood.
When should a new-home owner start service?
Three sensible triggers: within the first year (to establish a barrier while landscaping settles), when the builder's termite coverage approaches expiration (so protection never lapses), and immediately if you see fire-ant mounds, ant trails or rodent evidence. Keeping the termite timeline unbroken matters most — re-qualifying a home after a lapse can require full re-treatment.
What are the failure modes?
- Assuming “new” means “pest-proof.” Slab gaps, weep holes and utility penetrations are entry points from day one.
- Letting the builder's termite coverage quietly expire. Set a reminder the day you close.
- Mulch and irrigation against the slab — beautiful, and a textbook conducive condition for termites.
- Ignoring the yard. Fire ants colonize new sod fast, and mosquito pressure near ponds and creek bottoms is real from the first summer.
How does Spot On protect new homes?
We handle both ends of the timeline: pre-construction termite treatments for builders, and a clean takeover when builder coverage ends — a full inspection, a colony elimination system with ongoing monitoring, and a home pest control plan covering 30+ common pests, applied responsibly by trained, licensed technicians and backed by our 100% satisfaction guarantee. Add mosquito control if your street needs it. We serve Lufkin, Nacogdoches and every community in between.
What should you do next?
Check your builder packet for the termite treatment date, then get a quote to line up coverage before it lapses. Buying rather than building? Start with our WDI inspection guide.
Quick questions
My home was pre-treated during construction — when does that protection run out?
Check your builder's closing packet for the treatment date and warranty terms; initial coverage windows are commonly short, and soil treatments lose effectiveness over time. The safe play is to have ongoing protection in place before the builder coverage expires.
Why does my brand-new yard have so many fire ants?
Fresh sod, open sunny ground and irrigation are ideal fire-ant habitat, and construction displaces existing colonies into new neighborhoods. A targeted yard treatment knocks out the mounds and the colonies that build them.
Is pest control safe for a home with a newborn or pets?
Yes — we use professional products applied responsibly by trained, licensed technicians and apply them responsibly. See our full guide on pet- and kid-safe pest control for the details.
Reviewed by the Spot On Pest Control team
Written and reviewed by the licensed, TDA-regulated technicians who treat homes across Lufkin, Nacogdoches and Deep East Texas every day — applied responsibly, and backed by our 100% satisfaction guarantee.
