Yes, Bora-Care can be applied to concrete blocks, block or brick on the interior of crawl spaces and basement foundations as well as sill plates, piers, girders, subfloors, floor joists and any wood exposed to vertical access above ground. This is done typically to prevent shelter tubing by subterranean termites.
For specifics on the absorbption into AAC (aerated autoclaved concrete), we would recommend contacting the manufacturer directly Nisus at 800-264-0870 for technical information.
If you have termite activity and mold, you will need to make an application of Bora-Care first and once it's dry, then make an application of Bora-Care with Mold-Care. If you no longer have termite activity but would like to make a preventative treatment, we would recommend the same treatment if it is a preventative treatment where subterranean termites are involved. If you are only concerned with a preventative treatment for drywood termites then you can treat with Bora-Care with Mold-Care.
When you apply Bora-Care, it is best to allow it to fully dry before being in the same room as the treated wood.
The dry time for Boracare is entirely dependent on how heavy you sprayed, the mix rate you used, and how quickly the raw wood you treated can absorb the product. This can be anywhere from a few hours to a few days.
If wood treated with Bora-Care will be exposed to moisture such as watering or rainfall, then yes, you want to apply a water sealant after the Bora-Care application is dry.
Boracare would not bother plants if they are in containers on top of the treated wood; however, any Boracare that contact desirable plants directly may damage those plants.
No, vacating the home is not required when using Bora-Care in the home as this is considered a “green” product. Once the application has completely dried which usually takes about an hour or so depending on outside temperatures, humidity, etc, it would be fine to be in the home and sleep.
Boracare should not be applied undiluted at any time and requires to be diluted with water in order to work properly and have the ability to absorb throughout the wood being treated. Boracare and the glycols it contains are designed to replace the natural moisture content of the wood so it bonds and last long term in the piece of timber you are trying to protect.
If the crawlspace is well vented it should be able to dry out after a Boracare application. Boracare is designed to absorb into and bond with the wood itself, using the glycols of the Boracare to penetrate all the way into the wood and replacing its natural moisture content with the borate particles. You could run a box fan or small dehumidifier under there for a week if you wanted to try to help reduce moisture further, but you shouldn't have to worry about the higher humidity with the rain impacting it greatly. If you wanted to be absolutely certain you could wait until warmer/dryer weather, but it wouldn't be necessary.
Bora-Care can be used on untreated beams prior to staining, sealing or painting for both active and preventative treatments for wood destroying insects. For curative treatments, apply at a 1:1 ratio, for preventative treatments apply at a 5:1 ratio. Wait for the application to completely dry before painting, staining or sealing which is usually 48 hours.
Please viewe the product label for more information.
No, it is not recommended that Boracare be mixed with any insecticide. We would recommend using Boracare first. Once the product has dried and a sealant has been used, then an insecticide can be used.
Please view our Powderpost Beetle Treatment Guide for more information.
It is recommended to apply Bora-Care before the electrical has been roughed in. The manufacturer has told us that Boracare is not corrosive but of course should not be sprayed onto exposed electrical wiring of any sort. It does state on the product label that it can be used on PVC plumbing pipes.
Bora-Care comes in a concentrated gallon (128 oz) container (case of 4 gallons).
Each one gallon of Bora-Care will treat 800 square feet of a 2 x 4 stud wall therefore to treat 2500 sq ft (50 ft x 50 ft) you would need a little over 3 gallons of BoraCare.
View the full product label and New Construction Bulletin for more information.
You can also view our How to Apply BoraCare for New Construction Video for a quick demonstration.
Yes, Boracare MUST be diluted with warm/hot water and should be mixed prior in a large bucket prior to adding to your sprayer (Do NOT mix BoraCare directly in your sprayer) Cool water makes the mixing process difficult and can result in a clogged sprayer. View our How to Mix BoraCare Video here for a demonstration.
BoraCare is mixed at a 1:1 ratio (Water to BoraCare) for an active infestation and a 5:1 ratio (Water to BoraCare) for preventative. For example, 1 gallon of BoraCare + 1 gallon of water or 5 gallons of water + 1 gallon of BoraCare.
View the full product label for more information.
How much indicator dye you need per gallon, depends on the product label of the product you are planning to use with Bora-Care.
For example, Turf Mark Blue is used at a rate of 2 to 4 oz (59 mL to 118 mL per 100 gallons of water, 0.02 oz to 0.04 oz (0.59 mL to 1.18 mL) per gallon of water, for termiticide treatments on wood.
View the product label for Turf Mark Blue HERE.
When applied outside it is very important to seal the treatment by using a sealant material, like a Thompsons water seal to lock in the protection, otherwise it can fade due to excess moisture being absorbed into the wood. Bora-Care can only be applied to raw wood and after it is applied to wood outdoors it must be sealed. However, you could apply it each year if you wanted to, but it is not necessary if you seal it.
