Boracare should only be applied directly to wood. We would recommend using something like Termidor Foam in the wall voids. This product will be injected at the studs of the wall. Termidor Foam is a non-repellent so the termites do not know they are coming in contact with it. You can drill holes in the stud every 10-12 inches apart. This product has a residual of 3 months.
Bora-Care is safe if it is applied to raw wood when the pets are not present. Once the treated surfaces have completely, it is safe for them to returned to the treated areas/surfaces.
Any hand pump sprayer can be used to apply Boracare. It is recommended to dilute the Boracare in a bucket with hot water and then add the dilution to the sprayer. If you dilute Boracare directly in the sprayer you will almost always wind up with a clogged sprayer.
Wood treated with Bora-Care will appear darker than normal for a few days until the chemical dries. Typically it only takes 24 - 48 hours for the product to dry and not be sticky. If it is not drying within this time frame, it usually means that too much of the product was applied to the wood. You could lightly sand the wood to remove the stickiness and then apply your finishing oil.
Boracare is an excellent option for use on raw wood for termites and other wood boring insects. The mixing ratio for prevention is 5:1, meaning you will use 5 gallons of hot water with 1 gallon of Boracare. This can either be sprayed on or painted on. If you are using a sprayer, be sure to use another container to mix the product first and then put it inside of your sprayer. It is recommended that you use a sealant or paint on the wood after the product has dried completely. It will last for the life of the wood and seal the product inside so that irrigation from outdoors will not wash the product out of the wood.
Yes, Bora-Care can be injected into the studs themselves. It can be sprayed, painted, rolled or injected.
As long as the top is sealed then you can safely apply Boracare to the underside if unsealed and it will penetrate through the wood. It would be recommended to allow the butcher block to dry for 24-48 hours before using again. Any food contact surfaces treated with Boracare must have a sealant applied after the Boracare has dried.
For furniture your options are limited for treatment. If the wood is in its all natural raw state without any stains or finishes on it you can use a product like Boracare. Boracare will absorb all the way into the wood and eliminate any infestation that is there and last for the life of the wood. It does not stain the wood or leave behind any visible residue, but becomes one with the wood and any insect that ingests it dies. If the furniture has a finish on it, you would either have to drill holes throughout it and inject something like the Boracare or a foam, or the option most go with, hire a company to fumigate it
If you are seeing white residue after applying Boracare, then there are a few possible causes. What usually happens is that either the Boracare was not mixed properly before it was applied, or too much product was applied to wood. Another possibility is that the Boracare did not have enough time to dry completely before the poly coating was applied. Typically Boracare dries in 24-48 hours. You can remove excess Boracare using soap and water, but we would try to avoid doing this unless there is clearly too much product applied. Another condition that could cause strange drying is if you are trying to apply Boracare to wood that has already been treating with paint, stain, sealant, oil, or another finish.
The idea when actively treating for mold and wood boring pests is to treat the termites first with Bora-Care at a 1:1 ratio and then come behind that and treat with Bora-Care with Mold Care at the 1:5 ratio. Per the manufacturer, this can be done in back to back days.
BORACARE must be applied in a diluted fashion with water to work correctly and absorb into the wood. 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. Nisus, the manufacturer of Boracare, states that Boracare can be applied to kiln dried wood or prior to being placed in a kiln.
