You can definitely use a product like Bora-Care to treat for the life of the 3" thick piece of raw wood. You may also apply a finishing or paint over the wood once it dries. Usually dry time is about 72 hours.
Boracare can be applied to concrete, however, it would be best to treat the wood itself before it is stained or finished. Treating the slab only would not offer the same protection.
Bora-Care is only for use on cut timber not currently still growing.
Termites do not attack live, healthy trees. If the tree has been damaged by termites it would be advisable to remove the tree. They are natures recyclers so they go after dead/decaying wood more with high moisture content as well. Most people are primarily concerned with protecting the big investment, their home. Please take a moment to read over our article on "How to do a Termite Treatment" for complete details. In most cases, termites out in the yard are completely normal and can be left alone. However if in non fruit bearing trees and you can locate and directly spot treat the nest in the tree you can use something like Termidor SC after drilling into the gallery to be sure you are making contact where they are actively are.
It is recommended to wait until the application of Bora-Care has completely dried throughout the treated wood before sanding or applying any type of paint, stain or sealant. Depending on the humidity or moisture in the wood, this can take 24-48 hours to dry. For best results, applying a stain, paint or sealant should be done within 30 days of the Bora-Care application.
We apologize but that is not a question that has ever come up, and not something we feel would be safe if the horses are going to be inhaling or ingesting the sawdust materials. We would suggest not using any sawdust from a Boracare application in those areas, but you can contact the manufacturer Nisus directly to go over any concerns you may have in detail. You can reach them at 800-264-0870.
We strongly recommend referring to Table A, Table B & Table C on the actual product label for Bora Care to calculate how many gallons you'll need based on your specific application purposes. You may also contact the manufacturer directly with specific product application questions at 1-800-264-0870 or via their website's contact page here. Please let us know if we can further assist with general product information or placing an order, as we are a distributor of this product.
In general, the questions you are asking are a bit of an overthink on how to use this product. Boracare can be sprayed, painted/brushed, or rolled onto wood and should be done so in a way that the wood surface is wet but not dripping the product off. The angle of spray, nozzle pattern, droplet size, and distance make no difference. If you will be applying in freezing temperatures its best to hold off on the Boracare application as the cold could inhibit it from penetrating into the wood fully and correctly. Ideally you would need the air temperatures and wood to not be frozen even if the Boracare solution itself is warm. If you have any additional questions about the application of the Boracare you can always call Nisus directly at 800-264-0870.
According to the manufacturer, both, Bora-Care and Bora-Care with Mold-Care can be applied to pressure treated wood, but because Bora-Care with Mold-Care uses the 5:1 ratio it will take much longer for the product to absorb into the wood.
If you can treat all sides of the wood when applying Boracare, that is best. However, if you can only access one side, then it would still be recommended to apply two coats of Boracare at least 20 minutes apart. If the wood is still very fresh, then it is best to let it cure for at least a few days before applying Boracare.
Keep in mind that for prevention you can dilute Boracare at the 5:1 ratio with water, per the product label.
Yes, if the glue is not holding with the Bora-Care on the surface we recommended sanding before applying the glue.
Since you are wanting the joists to be treated as well, we recommend spraying the Boracare directly onto them as it will not soak through the floorboards into the joists. Boracare may take time to get throughthe floorboards since the wood is very old and would not have much moisture remaining in them. The best way to be sure the Boracare penetrates correctly would be to treat on all sides and get a full coverage spray.
Bora-Care will not penetrate through logs that still have bark on them. The bark will need to be removed from each log for an effective application. If the sleepers are 8-10" in diameter, this will require 2 full applications. The second application will need to be applied once the first application has dried.
Bora-Care is only applied to raw untreated cut wood, it would not be applied to straw and we are not aware of anything that can be used to treat it.
Bora-Care is not labeled for use to target borers on plants or trees, and it only intended to be used on cellulosic materials including wood, plywood, particle board, paper, oriented strand board (OSB), cardboard, and wood composite structural components. You may consider using Tenguard SFR Termiticide which is labeled for use on on fruit and nut trees around residential sites to target Peachtree Borers, but we would recommend reaching out to your local cooperative extension office for recommendations on products to target Shot Hole Borers.
Yes, you can use warm soapy water to clean the runoff from the concrete. Bora-Care will not stain or absorb into the concrete.
Yes, you can use Boracare to treat for insects on the wood once it has dried. You can spray, paint, roll, or spray the product onto the wood. It will penetrate about an inch into each side of the wood make sure you are treating all 4 sides.
