Doc Summary
A borate wood pre-treatment requires the wood studs to be treated at the “dried-in” stage of construction. Sometimes a dye is required with treatment. Borate is an alternative to soil pretreatment and is considered green. It is often applied 2-4 feet up from the foundation. Other types of wood products exist. Read their labels. Bora-Care and Bora-Thor are the main types of products.
- Agitation: Borates are very thick. For a home, you need a 2-gallon or 4-gallon sprayer. Always mix the product in a separate container and agitate very well. If you do not, it will gum up and ruin the sprayer most likely. Agitate it separately according to the label, then put it in the sprayer applicator.
- Apply: 2-4 ft up covering all wood studs. Studs only need to be lightly, consistently covered. Treat wet areas heavier and higher, such as around pipes, tubs, and window areas.
- Bath traps: Pour 1 gallon of a soil treatment product into the bath traps you see. Be sure to put it on your paperwork (required for Louisiana).
- After the borate treatment: The perimeter treatment with a soil termiticide after final grade has been met around the slab occurs. This is usually included in the Bora-Care price. Flat work is also pre-treated around the borate time.
- Pricing: Bora-Care pricing for 2-3 ft. up treatment ranges from 8.0 – 15.0 cents/sq. ft.
- Pricing to cover up to a 10 ft ceiling: would be around 25.0 – 40.0 cents per sq. ft.
- Renewal: They will have the same renewal program and pricing as a liquid soil pretreatment. Try to upgrade to Sentricon at the perimeter and first renewal time.