Bora-Care, manufactured by Nisus Corporation, is a borate salt-based treatment product designed to treat wood to protect against termites, carpenter ants, powder post beetles, and decay fungi. This product can be mixed and sprayed on most unfinished or raw wood, including plywood, particleboard, and wood structural components, to protect against wood-destroying insects.

This product's active ingredient manipulates the metabolic functions of target pests so that they cannot extract nutrition from the food they consume (namely, wood) and die from starvation.

Bora-Care can also be used on surfaces such as concrete, block, brick, metals, and PVC plumbing pipes found in structures to prevent subterranean termites from forming tubes. It is ideal for preventative protection and carries a long-lasting residual, protecting treated wood against insect infestations for up to 30 years.

Tools Needed

To use Bora-Care, you will need a bucket to mix the product with a paddle mixer and a means of applying the product, such as a backpack sprayer or a pump sprayer.

For DIY Home treatments, we recommend using a 1 gallon Solutions Pump-Sprayer. Refer to the label for other application information.

How to Use

• Step 1: To figure out how much Bora-Care you need, you will need to determine the size of the treatment area. Measure the linear feet of all exterior and interior walls and the areas you wish to treat. Most commonly, homes use 2 by 4, 2 by 6, or 2 by 8 studs in their walls. 1 gallon of diluted Bora-Care will cover 600 lineal feet for 2 by 4 studs, 400 lineal feet for 2 by 6, and 308 lineal feet for 2 by 8. Linear feet are simply the length of the measurement (6 linear feet = 6 total feet).
• To treat wood flooring, side panels, and plywood, you will need to measure the square footage by multiplying the length and width (length X width = square footage). For example, 1 gallon of diluted Bora-Care will treat 1,600 square feet of fourth-inch siding.
• For preventative treatments against wood-destroying insects and fungi, mix Bora-Care at a 5:1 ratio (5 gallons of water to 1 gallon of Bora-Care). For remedial treatments, mix Bora-Care at a 1:1 ratio (1 gallon of water to 1 gallon of Bora-Care).
• Step 2: Pour Bora-Care into a bucket of HOT water. Then, using a paddle mixer on a power drill, mix the viscous liquid until it has the consistency of water. Once it has been thoroughly mixed, carefully pour the finished product into your sprayer. 
• Step 3: Spray the product evenly onto the exposed, unfinished wood. Apply until the surfaces are wet but not to the point of runoff. We recommend using a fan spray setting to get nice even coverage. Sometimes, you must apply a second coat of Bora-Care after the first coat has dried if the wood has only 1 or 2 exposed sides. Typically, you will want to spray 2 to 3 feet up the stud walls and along the baseboard, as most wood-destroying insects invade from the ground up.
• Step 4: For elements exposed to rain and sunlight, wait at least 48 hours for Bora-Care to dry for painting, staining, or sealing with a water-resistant product. All exposed wood must be sealed within 6 weeks to remain effective.

Where to Use

Bora-Care can be used around residential, institutional, and commercial structures, including homes, apartments, garages, museums, public and private Institutions, schools, hotels, hospitals, kennel stables, farm buildings, trucks, trailers, warehouses, and non-food areas of supermarkets, restaurants, and food processing plants. You can apply Bora-Care on raw, wooden elements such as fence posts, decks, new wooden siding, furniture, and wooden surfaces inside and outside to prevent or control termites, algae, and fungi.

When To Use

Use this product when you experience a termite infestation in your home or when you find damaged wood. Bora-Care should be used supplementally, and you should also address the subterranean termite infestation with a termiticide. Bora-Care can also be used as a preventative against labeled pests.

It is also not labeled for use in food processing plants, where food is prepared, or in serving areas. 

Safety Information

Bora-Care is safe to use around children and pets when applied according to the product label instructions. Always wear the proper personal protective equipment (PPE) when mixing and applying this product.

This product is toxic to fish and wildlife; it does not apply to water and prevents drift and runoff into the water and sensitive areas. 

Special Considerations

Bora-Care should be mixed with hot water in a bucket until thoroughly dispersed in the water. Bora-Care should never be mixed directly into the sprayer as the product is very thick and will clog the sprayer if it is not pre-mixed with hot water.

It is also essential to thoroughly clean your sprayer after use, as any leftover product will harden and crystallize as it cools, clogging and damaging the sprayer.