08-23-2008, 03:40 AM
The borate treatment is used regularly here. It must be thought of as a borate system however. As pressure treatment it does not completely penetrate the wood. For that reason every time a piece of wood is cut the freshly cut end needs to be dipped or painted with borate. I have seen owner/builders do this. I have never seen a "professional" carpenter do this. A system like borate is like a chain - it's only as strong as its weakest link.
In addition, the enytemology department of U.H. does a lot (and I mean a lot!) of termite testing. Seems we have some great termite country here. They reported that the borate, tested in their termite mounds, had a useful lifespan of approx. 3 years. Years back, before the EPA banned a number of effective termite poisons, there were some sharp tools available. Borate is rather weak tea.
By example... we carry a plywood substitute called Viroc. U.H. did the termite testing on it and the statement we got back included: "Termites would rather die than eat Viroc." I don't mention this to sell you Viroc or products like it except to illustrate that there are alternative materials on the market which do the job without poisons.
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In addition, the enytemology department of U.H. does a lot (and I mean a lot!) of termite testing. Seems we have some great termite country here. They reported that the borate, tested in their termite mounds, had a useful lifespan of approx. 3 years. Years back, before the EPA banned a number of effective termite poisons, there were some sharp tools available. Borate is rather weak tea.
By example... we carry a plywood substitute called Viroc. U.H. did the termite testing on it and the statement we got back included: "Termites would rather die than eat Viroc." I don't mention this to sell you Viroc or products like it except to illustrate that there are alternative materials on the market which do the job without poisons.
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Assume the best and ask questions.
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Punaweb moderator