Tim-bor Professional - Questions & Answers

Boracare would be a better option than Tim-Bor if you are treating an active infestation.  Boracare will completely penetrate the wood where it is applied, whereas Tim-Bor will only penetrate the first couple of layers. 

Tim-bor Professional will only penetrate ¼ inch into the wood so it would not be recommended to treat active infestations, only for prevention.  Boracare is a better option, as it will penetrate deeper and will dry clear when applied as directed.

We recommend Bora-Care on raw wood, using Jecta as directed (without altering) or getting fumigation treatment locally for controlling powderpost beetles.

We would recommend that you apply Bora-Care to the raw wood or have the furniture fumigated by a local company for the best treatment for powderpost beetles.

Timbor is labeled for the treatment of wood destroying insects only and will not kill fleas on carpeted areas.  Please take a moment to look over our article on How to Get Rid of Fleas for more information on products which can successfully be used to control fleas. 

Timbor will not treat mildew/mold. The best way to prevent mold and mildew is eliminating the conditions that are allowing either to thrive. If you are planning to treat raw wood that has not been painted, stained, or otherwise treated with anything, you could use Boracare with Mold-Care to treat and prevent mold. 

Per the label instructions, Timbor should only be used with a surfactant when performing a foam application, not when spraying or painting on the surface of raw wood.

Tim-bor Professional is safe to use inside as directed on the product label.  You would not apply into vents.

Timbor can only be applied to raw wood.  It would likely kill any vegetation it was applied to.  If you are looking for something to apply to plants for fungus and insect control, you can use something like Bayer Advanced 3-in-1 Insect, Disease, and Mite Control.

Tim-bor Professional should be applied only to raw wood as directed.

Tim-bor Professional should be mixed at a rate of at least 1.5 pounds to one gallon of water. 

How much Timbor is used will depend on your application and the area of the spaces you are treating. Per the product label, you can inject or dust Timbor at a rate of 0.5 oz per square foot when treating wall voids for insects such as carpenter ants. If you are mixing Timbor in water and creating a foam with a foaming solution and foamer, then you would use 1.5 oz of Timbor per gallon of water and use a high expansion foam. Keep in mind that drilling into and injecting a product like Timbor into all your wall voids is a tedious and labor-intensive application that is often best left to professionals. We have a great Carpenter Ant Treatment Guide here that may better assist you.

Timbor can be used on raw structural wood to prevent infestation of wood-boring beetles, however we do not recommend it for existing infestations. If you need to treat wood that is already infested or in the same area as infested wood, then we recommend using Boracare instead since it is absorbed fully into the wood. Neither of these products should be used on living plants because they will kill the plants.

If you are removing structural wood that is infested with wood-boring beetles, then we recommend burning or chipping that wood and treating any new wood that is replacing it.

Tim-bor Professional is an insecticide, fungicide and wood preservative for the protection and treatment of lumber against fungal decay and wood-destroying insects. However, is not to be applied to any live trees. Depending on the type of borer being treated, you can look at using a product like Dominion 2L. When using Dominion 2L Termiticide for borers, it is labeled to be applied as a soil injection which includes grid systems, circle systems, basal systems, and soil drench applications.

Timbor contains a non-corrusive borate mineral salt that will not break down over time and kills termites and other listed pests.

Any primer or paint can safely be applied to Tim-bor treated wood as long as Timbor is completely dry after the treatment and dry to the touch. Keep in mind that Timbor can leave a visible residue after it dries. If you need a clear and smooth result on the wood, then we recommend applying Boracare instead.

While you could technically apply Boracare on the same wood after Timbor is applied, we recommend skipping the Timbor application if Boracare is going to be applied soon after. Applying Timbor before applying Boracare would not provide any additional benefit. Similarly, if there is not any existing insect infestation in the wood, then a Timbor application will prevent the same issues as Boracare.

For the best effect, please use Tim-bor Professional according to the label. Vinegar has not been tested and we do not know how it will react.

You can apply a solution of either or Timbor using a sprayer, brush, or roller. Keep in mind that Timbor will not dry completely smooth and clear, so if you are treating wood that is decorative or that will be finished with a stain or paint, then we recommend using Boracare for those applications.

While Timbor Professional can be used to spray under the home on raw wood for wood destroying pest prevention such as termites and beetles, it is not labeled to control any other pests than those designed to consume the wood the product is applied to. You would be better off using a more appropriate product for your needs such as Cyzmic CS to spray around the outside and under your home for millipedes and other pests.