What does horizontal pretreatment involve?

Horizontal pretreatment refers to a specific pest control method designed to mitigate the risk of termite infestations by applying termiticides to the soil before any concrete slab is poured. This method is crucial because it creates a protective barrier that can prevent subterranean termites from accessing the structures built above. By treating the soil surface with termiticide at this stage, it effectively establishes a chemical barrier that deters termites from entering the building through the foundation and slab.

The importance of performing this application prior to pouring the concrete lies in the fact that, once the concrete is in place, it becomes significantly more challenging to treat the area, as access to the soil underneath is limited. This proactive measure aims to intercept any potential termite activity before it can compromise the integrity of the building.

The other options describe various practices related to pest control but do not accurately depict the processes involved in horizontal pretreatment. For instance, applying termiticide after the concrete has cured would not be classified as horizontal pretreatment, nor does drilling into wood structures relate to the foundational treatment of soil. Lastly, while bait systems are effective for managing termite populations, they operate under different principles and do not pertain to the soil treatment aspect defined by horizontal pretreatment.