Bora-Care - Questions & Answers

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  • Asked by Chester from Georgetown, Ky
    11/01/2017
    Q
    How long should I wait to paint after applying Boracare?
    A

    We recommend waiting at least 3 days before sealing/painting (but no longer than 6 weeks) after applying Boracare.

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    10 of 10 people found this answer helpful.
  • Asked by Paul from Salinas, Ca
    09/06/2016
    Q
    Can Boracare be applied over time in multiple 1 to 5 coats to achieve the desired 1 to 1 final mixing ratio?
    Would multiple coats like this possibly lead to better & deeper boron absorption? I would imagine the extra moisture & time would encourage the boron to penetrate, plus I like that the 1 to 5 mixture remains stable for up to 30 days. I'm looking to slowly mix up 1 to 5 batches & spray suspect areas as I have time or as I find them, though I do have a few areas of active infestation that I will probably immediately hit hard with the recommended 1 to 1 ratio. Does anybody have experience doing this? This is definitely a DIY approach, but I think it would work best for me at my own home.
    A

    Boracare will only penetrate up to 8 inches with 2 applications done at the ratios listed on the product label, depending on if you are treating for an active infesation or prevention as well as the type of wood it is being applied.  Applying multiple times would not make it penetrate any deeper. You should do your best to only mix enough solution for the job you are doing that day to prevent having to discard any solution. Any unused solution can be dumped out right up against the foundation of the structure taking care not to get it on plants.

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    10 of 11 people found this answer helpful.
  • Asked by Jason
    10/12/2016
    Q
    Does Boracare even penetrate hard woods as well?
    A

    Boracare can be used on ANY raw wood that is not painted, stained, or sealed. Even hardwoods. Since it dries on clear, it is no problem to stain, paint, or seal when you are done or apply a clear coat finish. 

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    10 of 11 people found this answer helpful.
  • Asked by Carolyn
    11/03/2009
    Q
    I plan on using Bora-Care in the crawl space. Can I also use it on the live palm tree without killing it? I have discovered a decay fungus in our crawl space under the tub and on the bottom of a nearby palm tree in our yard.
    A
    No, Bora-Care is a borate product, and borate products will kill any plant or tree life.  We have recently started carrying several fungicides for trees and other plants. We would recommend trying to contact a local college or university with a arborist program or a local lawn and turf company for a proper identification of the fungus. Please click on the link for the contact information for your local cooperative extension office.
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    10 of 10 people found this answer helpful.
  • Asked by Heather from New Orleans, La
    08/05/2013
    Q
    Is there anything non toxic I can do to treat severe drywood termite infestation?
    We have drywood termites in our hardwood floors in several rooms of our 1910 home. We just moved in a few months ago and they are already eating our furniture although our pest control man said they were probably in the furniture for years before and just dormant and woke up in the warmer weather down south (never had problems before moving here). There's no company locally that treats with orange oil or any other green methods. Could we treat this ourselves with Boracare or Timbor? Or pure d-limonene? The pest control company says fumigation is our only option. I am nervous about the health issues with fumigation.
    A
    If the drywood termites are in the floors, you can treat the floors with Boracare as long as they are unfinished. Boracare can only be used on raw natural wood so if there is a stain or sealant on the floors, it will need to be sanded up first before applying the Boracare. If there are drywood termites in your furniture, your options are limited. You can either strip down the finish on it and treat, drill holes all throughout it to treat with either Boracare or a foaming product, or fumigate it. Most of the time fumigation is your best option as its the only way to gurantee you are going to get every last one of them that deep within the furniture. Typically for this treatment they bring a pod type device similar to that of a portable storage unit, and place your furniture inside and either heat it or fumigate it for a set period of time. Aftewards you air out the furniture, steam clean it if you want, and its completely safe to use as normal. There are just not many truly green options out there for termite control as it is such a specific treatment, and most areas are not places you will be inhabiting with extended points of direct contact to a surface. Please let us know if you have any other questions.
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    10 of 12 people found this answer helpful.
  • Asked by Jordan from Rutherfordton, Nc
    10/04/2011
    Q
    Do I need a respirator in order to spray Boracare mixture in my crawl space?
    What type of respirator would you suggest? Also, I had a sporicidine sprayed in the crawl space about a month ago for a light mildew/mold issue. Will this have any adverse effect on the Boracare product?
    A
    When applying Bora-Care in confined spaces you should provide ventilation or an exhaust system or use a Comfo Classic Respirator Mask with P100 Cartridges. You should contact Nisus 800-264-0870, the manufacturer of Boracare, to inquire about using sporicidine in the same area as Boracare.
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    10 of 14 people found this answer helpful.
  • Asked by Marilyn from Tomahawk Wisconsin
    10/11/2014
    Q
    What is the recommended temperature to apply Bora Care?
    A
    BORACARE can be applied in any temperature as long as it is not below freezing. However, the warmer the temperature the easier it will be to mix and apply the BORACARE because of its thick consistency.
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    10 of 12 people found this answer helpful.
  • Asked by Cindy from Bartow, Florida
    03/04/2015
    Q
    Boracare
    We are spraying boracare on the entire wood framed home that we are restoring. How long do we need to wait until we apply the spray foam insulation on top of it?
    A
    You want to wait at least 72 hours after application to allow for Boracare to dry. Then you can do what ever you wish to the wood.
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    10 of 11 people found this answer helpful.
  • Asked by Rob from Canada
    06/24/2014
    Q
    Will you ship Bora-Care to Canada?
    A

    Unfortunately, we currently only ship within the United States.

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    9 of 12 people found this answer helpful.
  • Asked by Laurens from Birmingham Al
    08/13/2014
    Q
    Once mixed with water, what is the shelf life of Bora Care?
    A
    The shelf life of Boracare in original bottle is 3 years if stored in cool dry area. Like with most concentrates, you want to be sure to use any mixed solution within 24 hours of mixing.
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    9 of 12 people found this answer helpful.
  • Asked by Leslie
    02/04/2011
    Q
    Why won't my sprayer discharge Bora-Care?
    Mixture at recommended ratio seems too thick and won't come out of the sprayer. Is there a special sprayer I must use to apply this product? Can it be brushed on with a large paint brush instead?
    A
    Bora-Care should be mixed in a bucket with hot water and then poured into the sprayer. If you don't use hot water or if you try to dilute Bora-Care directly in the sprayer, the sprayer will clog. You can paint Bora-Care onto the wood surface, just be sure to be thorough and paint all sides of the wood.
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    9 of 9 people found this answer helpful.
  • Asked by Matt
    04/28/2011
    Q
    How would I apply Bora-Care to a localized wood termite infestation under exterior stucco?
    The wood above a window is infested (droppings are visible on the interior sill). We can't go through the inside because the wall is covered with rock so need to go through the exterior stucco. How much would I need to use and how would I inject it?
    A
    The only way to get the Bora-Care into the area where the termites are would be to drill holes through the stucco into the studs or through the window trim.  We suspect maybe they are in the window trim based on your description.  Since Bora-Care can only be applied to wood that is not painted, stained, or sealed,  you have to drill a hole into the center of the window trim and inject Bora-Care by using a sprayer or some other method  that might be available to you to get the product through the drill hole.  Or you can remove the wood or stucco to get into the interior of the wall, but this is usually not a feasible step in the process.
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    9 of 9 people found this answer helpful.
  • Asked by Jason
    01/24/2015
    Q
    I'm spraying my unfinished basement where there are electrical wires running. How should I handle them?
    Can I just spray over the wires or do I need to do something else? I am talking about just the wires. There are no junction boxes of any kind.
    A
    It would be best to be cautious of the exposed wires.  BORACARE can also be applied with a paint brush as well. Please be sure to mix with hot water to make it easier to mix and apply. 
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    9 of 13 people found this answer helpful.
  • Asked by Eric from Sterling, Va
    02/08/2012
    Q
    Spray or brush Bora-care on basement ceiling?
    We have about a dozen beetle holes in the bottom of one of joists in our basement storage area. Seems like Bora-care is the right choice for treatment. What I am trying to figure out is if I should brush it on (which will take me several hours to apply to the joists and ceiling) or if I should spray it on. Spraying will be faster, but I am concerned about it getting all over the rest of the storage area (and me!). Any thoughts on the best way to apply to a ceiling and joists?
    A
    You should apply Boracare in whatever way is easiest for you and will still give you a thorough application. If you do decide to spray the Boracare on to the joists you should lay plastic tarps over the entire floor area to catch any drips or over spray. You should also wera a protective coverall, respirator, gloves and goggles to protect yourself. You can find all of the personal safety equipment in our Professional Safety Kit.
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    9 of 10 people found this answer helpful.
  • Asked by Brantley from Dublin Ga
    02/22/2012
    Q
    Can paint or stain be applied after using bora-care?
    I have some thick oak lumber I was thinking about using for a kitchen table. Can the wood be stained or painted after boracare is applied?
    A
    Absolutely.  Bora-Care dries on clear and is made that way so you can stain, paint, or seal any piece of wood after using it.
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    9 of 9 people found this answer helpful.
  • Asked by Ramses
    03/10/2012
    Q
    Can I use a paint sprayer to apply Bora-Care?
    A
    Boracare is a very thick product, and we get calls all of the time from people that try to use paint sprayers and complain that the product clogged the sprayer.  So we would not advise you use a paint sprayer.  You can either apply Bora-Care using a paint brush, or a hand pump or backpack sprayer.  Since Bora-Care is thick, you should always mix it with hot water in a separate bucket first.  Make sure the solution is well mixed first, then pour it in your sprayer and apply right away.
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    9 of 12 people found this answer helpful.
  • Asked by Mitzi from Wilson, North Carolina
    07/30/2015
    Q
    Do I need to sand 80 year old barnwood before applying Bora-Care?
    The wood is untreated and raw.
    A

    It is not necessary to sand wood that is raw when treating with Bora-Care. If the wood is painted, stained or sealed then you would want to sand first and then treat.

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    9 of 9 people found this answer helpful.
  • Asked by David from Hawkesbury
    08/02/2015
    Q
    Is Bora-Care the right product to clean barn wood before bringing it inside our home?
    A

    Bora-Care would be great for applying to raw, cleaned wood for treatment against wood destroying organisms. We do carry a wood cleaner that you can apply first to remove any staining or discoloration called Mold-Clean.

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    9 of 9 people found this answer helpful.
  • Asked by Robert from Mount Dora, Fl
    02/21/2016
    Q
    Is Boric acid repellent or not?
    In your Subterranean Termite Treatment Guide your pro tip says "Using the Boracare first can cause the outdoor colony to branch off in a different direction" implying that boric acid is a repellent. Yet quoting https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef614, " Unlike many insecticides, boric acid has no repellency to insects". Can you please resolve this seeming discrepancy for me? Is boric acid repellent or not? This is a very important issue to clarify for choosing boric acid treatment or not. Thank you very much.
    A

    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 if using Timbor.  Boric acid (dust) is not water soluble and is only for crack and crevice treatments.  Both forms are not repellent but when dealing with subterranean termites Boracare is not the best product to use as it will only kills the termites that physically ingest the wood.  This can cause the termites to start dying off quickly which sends a signal to the queen below ground that the area is bad and this can cause them to move to another location that is possibly untreated or inaccessible.  It is a great product for Drywood Termites which are all in the wood they are infesting.  When dealing with subterranean it is best to use a product like Termidor SC or Dominion which will be a slow kill and have a transfer effect so that it can kill the entire colony below ground.

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    9 of 10 people found this answer helpful.
  • Asked by Mateusz from Trumbull, Ct
    01/07/2019
    Q
    How often should Bora-Care be applied?
    In other words how long should the chemical prevent termites from coming back?
    A

    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.

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    9 of 9 people found this answer helpful.
Displaying 81 to 100 (of 654 questions)