Why do new houses still have pest entry points?
New houses still have gaps where trades pass pipes, cables and vents through the structure, and where the framing and cladding meet. These openings can be small and hidden, and they are easy to overlook on a finished house.
Each trade leaves a small space around the item it installs, such as a hose bib, a gas line, an electrical cable or a vent duct. Some of those spaces are filled and some are not. The inspection looks for the ones that remain open and can admit an insect or a mouse.
The framing and the cladding are a second source. Where the siding meets the trim, or the eave meets the wall, a small gap can form as the house settles. The first season is when those gaps often appear.
Why does soil and mulch matter next to a new foundation?
Soil and mulch placed against the foundation can give pests a route to the wood and the siding, and they hold moisture. Fresh soil and new landscaping placed around recently built houses create contact points, so those are checked.
Wood in contact with soil or mulch can be reached by insects that feed on it, and a damp mulch bed keeps the area moist. Soil built up above the foundation line can also cover the vents and the weep holes, which need to stay clear.
The technician will point out the contact points on the outside of the house and advise on moving mulch away from the siding and the foundation.
What should a new homeowner check in the first autumn?
Look for gaps at the foundation, the window and door frames and the eaves, and for insects gathering on the sunny walls. Check the basement and crawl space for damp corners and openings. A check in late summer lets the sealing go in before the autumn movement.
Iowa State University Extension treats the autumn as the season when fall invaders and mice move toward buildings. A new house is no exception, and the first autumn is when a gap is most likely to be used for the first time.
A simple walk around the house in late summer, with a note of any gaps, gives the technician a useful list for the visit.
Does a builder's warranty cover pest entry?
That depends on the builder's own terms and the contract. A pest prevention visit is a separate service, and this page does not describe what a builder's warranty includes. The homeowner should ask the builder directly.
The terms of a builder's warranty, the coverage of the structure and the responsibilities for the openings are decided by the contract and the builder. The technician does not give a view on those terms, and the homeowner should read the warranty documents or ask the builder.
The prevention visit is about the openings and the landscape. It is written up for the homeowner, who can share it with the builder if they wish.
What affects the price of new construction prevention here?
The price depends on the size of the house, the number of openings found, the height of the eaves, the amount of landscaping work and whether the crawl space or attic needs access. The price is approved before the sealing begins.
A small house with a few openings is a short visit. A larger house with a full crawl space, high eaves and many penetrations takes more time, and the sealing list is longer. Advice on landscaping is included in the visit.
No figure is printed here. The price is confirmed on the visit and approved before any sealing is carried out.
