Bora-Care starts working as soon as it has soaked into the wood. When wood boring insects such as termites consume the wood treated with Bora Care, they will ingest a lethal dose which will kill them. Bora Care will also remain active in the wood for the lifetime of the wood, so it will continue to protect the wood for it’s lifetime.
We do not recommend applying Bora-Care to firewood. Burning wood treated with any insecticide would release the active ingredients into the air. Burning the wood without treating with any chemical will kill anything in it.
Boracare is the best treatment option for any type of wood destroying insect including powder post beetles. However, no matter how new or old the wood is, Boracare can only be used on wood in its raw natural state. If the wood has any type of stain or finish on it, you would need to sand it off, then apply Boracare and re-finish it.
We have consulted with the Boracare manufacrurer and think that some probably went in. With oak it’s best to do a 5:1 or the result is what will occur as described. The manufacturer recommends that you just wipe off the excess.
You should apply Boracare to raw wood. You can then apply any stain, sealant, or paint after the Boracare application has dried, usually 24-48 hours.
When applying Bora-Care to structural wood in the home, you only need to apply the product once. It will last for the life of the wood. If you are applying to exterior wood like a deck, porch, or fence which is exposed to rainfall, then you would either need to use a water sealant after the Boracare is dry, or you would re-apply Boracare after about 3-5 years.
After Boracare has been applied to raw wood for treatment, you would just need to wait until the wood has dried before painting and installing it. No other treatments or repellents would be needed.
Yes, you can apply paint or stain (oil or water based) to the wood 48 hours after it has been treated with Bora-Care.
Boracare contains borate, a form of Boron, that is different than boric acid products. Borate products are water soluble and are used in wood treatments as it can penetrate into the wood and/or used as a dust (depending on the specific product being used). Boric acid (dust) is not water soluble and is only for crack and crevice applications.
If you are needing to spot treat wood with a borate product, then it would be better to use the ready-to-use formulation of Boracare called Jecta. Jecta is a gel-like product in a tube that does not require mixing. Keep in mind that if the integrity of the wood you are treating is already compromised, then a borate product will not recover the wood or make up for lost integrity of the wood. If you have wood that is compromised, then it is best to replace the wood after correcting the moisture issue.
It is safe to put insulation back once surfaces treated that have been treated with Bora-Care are completely dry. You can either use the same insulation or replace with new.
Bora-Care should be mixed at a 1:1 ratio and can be applied by spraying or painting the wood for active infestations. Please refer to the product label for full mixing and application instructions.
You need to be very careful about using any kind of termiticide around a body of water that contains fish or other aquatic life since most termiticides could harm the fish. Boracare can be used on the raw wood, then once the Boracare is dry, you would want to use a water sealant to protect the treatment. Be sure that you apply the Boracare away from the water so there is no runoff, overspray, etc. into the water.
Yes, you can apply Bora-Care with Mold-Care over an application of Bora-Care.
No, Boracare is not labeled for carpenter bees. For carpenter bees, we would recommend using our Carpenter Bee Kit. Please also check out our Carpenter Bee Guide for more tips on how to treat and prevent them in the future.
Yes, Bora-Care can be injected into the studs themselves. It can be sprayed, painted, rolled or injected.
Yes, you will treat the wood directly and let the application dry completely. Bora-Care will not absorb into the soil or treat the soil in any way.
We would recommend contacting the manufacturer of Boracare directly to see if this application would be safe or harmful to the bees. You can reach Nisus directly at 800-264-0870.
You will need to allow the wood to dry completely before applying the finish. We would recommend waiting at least 3-5 days after the Boracare application.
Per the manufacturer, Bora-Care can be used in conjunction with a tent treatment but it's recommended to be applied afterwards. How long after the tent treatment, depends on the chemical the professional company uses, they should be able to tell you how long you have to wait.
