BoraCare Termite Treatment
BoraCare Termite Treatment
Manufactured by Nisus Corporation, Bora-Care is a borate salt-based treatment product that is designed to treat wood in order to protect against termites, carpenter ants, powder post beetles, and decay fungi. Bora-Care can be mixed and sprayed on most unfinished or raw wood including plywood, particleboard, and wood structural components to protect against wood-destroying insects.
Bora-Care's active ingredient works by essentially manipulating the metabolic functions of target pests so that they are unable to pull nutrition from the food they consume (namely wood) and, as a result, they die from starvation.
Bora-Care can also be used to 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. As a foam application, we recommend that you use a foaming applicator and foaming additive (ProFoam Foaming Concentrate). Refer to label for other application information. For DIY Home treatments, we recommend that you use a 1-gallon Solutions Pump-Sprayer.
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 walls, interior walls and areas you wish to treat. Most commonly, homes use 2x4, 2x6 or 2x8 studs on their walls. 1 gallon of diluted Bora-Care will cover 600 lineal feet for 2x4 studs, 400 lineal feet for 2x6 and 308 lineal feet for 2x8. Linear feet is 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 length x width. For example, 1 gallon of diluted Bora-Care will treat 1,600 square feet of 1/4 siding.
For preventative wood-destroying insect and fungi treatments, you will need to 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: In a bucket of HOT water, pour in Bora-Care while at the same time using a paddle mixer on a power drill to 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: You will want to spray the product evenly onto the exposed, unfinished wood. Apply Bora-Care until the surfaces are wet but not to the point of runoff. We recommend using a fan spray setting to get nice even coverage. In some cases, you will need to apply a second coat of Bora-Care after the 1st coat has dried (which should take 20 minutes of wait time according to the label) if the wood has only 1 or 2 exposed sides. Typically, you are going to 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 that will be exposed to rain and sunlight, wait at least 48 hours for Bora-Care to dry for painting, staining, or ceiling with a water-resistant product. All exposed wood needs to be sealed within 6 weeks for Bora-Care 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, Kennels, 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, and new wooden siding, furniture and wooden surfaces inside and outside to prevent or control termites, algae and fungi.
When To Use
Use Bora-Care when you are experiencing a termite infestation in your home and have found damaged wood. Bora-Care should be used supplementally as you should also address the subterranean termite infestation with a termiticide. Bora-Care can also be used as a preventative against labeled pests.
Safety Information
Bora-Care is safe to use when applied according to label directions. Be sure to use the proper PPE (gloves, protective eyewear, long sleeve clothing, and safety mask) before mixing and applying Bora-Care. Wear a respirator in areas that are not well ventilated, such as attics or crawl spaces.
Bora-Care is toxic to fish and wildlife; do not apply to water and prevent drift and runoff into water and sensitive areas. Bora-Care is also not labeled for use food processing plants, where food is prepared, or in serving areas.
Special Considerations
Bora-Care should be mixed with hot water and in a bucket until it is 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 important to thoroughly clean your sprayer after use as any leftover product in the sprayer will harden and crystallize as it cools, clogging and damaging the sprayer.
Availability | In Stores, Online |
Restricted Use | No |
Shipping Restrictions | 1 Gallon: AK, CA, CT, HI, IN, MI, NY, OR, RI, SC, VT, WA |
Brand | NISUS |
Keith's Pro Tips | "It's recommended to use a marking dye when spraying wood with Boracare to help you keep track of where you have sprayed the mixture." |
Product Drawbacks | Boracare crystalize or hardens when it dries or cools down. Keep the water hot to prevent this issue. It is not meant for soil or trench treatments. |
Target Pests | carpenter ants, decay fungi, drywood termites, Formosan termites, subterranean termites, and wood-destroying beetles. |
Application Equipment | Backpack Sprayer, Gloves, Pump Sprayer, Respirator Mask |
Application Methods | Crack & Crevice, Drench Treatment, Injection |
Active Ingredient | Disodium Octaborate Tetrahydrate (Borate) 40% |
Product Type | Insecticide |
Formulation | Emulsifiable Concentrate (EC) |
Application Rate | Subterranean & Formosan Termites 1:1 - 2:1, Drywood Termites 1:1, 2:1 or 5:1, Anobiid & Lyctid Powderpost Beetles 1:1, 2:1 or 5:1, Old House Borers, Longhorn Beetles, and Ambrosia Beetles 1:1 or 5:1, Carpenter Ants 1:1, 2:1 or 5:1, Fungi (Rot) and Algae 1:1, 3:1, or 5:1 For more specific application rates please refer to the label. |
Shelf Life | Bora-Care may last up to two years when stored properly in a cool, dry space. |
Yield | One gallon of diluted Bora-Care will typically cover 600 linear feet of 2x4 stud wall and 1,600 square feet of panels, siding and plywood. |
Use Sites | Indoors, Outdoors |
Time to Kill | Bora-Care can take up to 90 days depending on the infestation if there is current activity. |
Comparable Products | Tim-Bor |
Incompatible Home Siding | Brick, Hardie Plank, Stone Veneer, Wood, Vinyl |
EPA Registration # | 64405-1 |
Restricted Use | No |
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Shipping Restrictions | AK, CA, CT, HI, IN, MI, NY, OR, RI, SC, VT, WA |
Availability | In Stores, Online |
Signal Word | CAUTION |
Keith's Pro Tip | "It's recommended to use a marking dye when spraying wood with Boracare to help you keep track of where you have sprayed the mixture." |
Target Pests Multi | Ambrosia Beetle, Anobiid Beetles, Carpenter Ants, Dampwood Termites, Drywood Termites, Formosan Termites, Longhorned Beetles, Lyctid Beetles, Old House Borer Beetle, Powder Post Beetle, Subterranean Termites, Wood Borers, Wood-Infesting Beetles, Brown Rot, Decay_Fungi, Dry Rot, Fungi Rot, White Rot, Wood Decay, Algae |
Time to Kill | Bora-Care can take up to 90 days depending on the infestation if there is current activity. |
Chemical Type | Insecticide |
Formulation | Emulsifiable Concentrate (EC) |
Application Methods | Crack & Crevice, Drench Treatment, Injection |
Product Drawbacks | Boracare crystalize or hardens when it dries or cools down. Keep the water hot to prevent this issue. It is not meant for soil or trench treatments. |
Active Ingredient | Disodium Octaborate Tetrahydrate (Borate) 40% |
Application Equipment | Backpack Sprayer, Gloves, Pump Sprayer, Respirator Mask |
Mix Rate | Subterranean & Formosan Termites 1:1 - 2:1, Drywood Termites 1:1, 2:1 or 5:1, Anobiid & Lyctid Powderpost Beetles 1:1, 2:1 or 5:1, Old House Borers, Longhorn Beetles, and Ambrosia Beetles 1:1 or 5:1, Carpenter Ants 1:1, 2:1 or 5:1, Fungi (Rot) and Algae 1:1, 3:1, or 5:1 For more specific application rates please refer to the label. |
Low Use Rate | 64 oz./1,000 sq. ft. |
High Use Rate | 320 oz./1,000 sq. ft. |
Use Sites | Indoors, Outdoors |
Yield | One gallon of diluted Bora-Care will typically cover 600 linear feet of 2x4 stud wall and 1,600 square feet of panels, siding and plywood. |
EPA Registration No. | 64405-1 |
Shelf Life | Bora-Care may last up to two years when stored properly in a cool, dry space. |
Comparable Products | Tim-Bor |
Children or pets? | No |
Property Characteristics | None |
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Q:does your product come in 5 gal containers?7/5/20
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Q:Will boracare get rid of carpenter bees?4/4/20A:No, Boracarr will not help with Carpenterbees. Boracare must be ingested and carpenter bees only tear away the wood and termites literally eat the wood. Hope you find a solution for your problem.
Mike Batchelor
11/5/20Certified Buyer -
Q:Is it approved for use in organic gardens?3/8/20A:Not sure, I used it in my home for wood destroying beetles. However, if the label doesn't specify OMRI Certified, it's most likely not organic.
Melissa Barrick
3/9/20Certified Buyer -
Q:Can Boracare be used to treat termites in tree cavities?9/15/19A:i believe it is for lumber treatment,i dont think the manufacturer wants it to possibly run off into the envioment,the care tips give very precise instuctions as to dillute it for cleanup
Janet plasha
9/15/19Certified Buyer -
Q:What is the shelf life of Boracare? I want to make sure I have enough but if some is leftover will it be good next year for another project?9/29/18A:You can store the Boracare for about 2 years.
Camille Landry
10/1/18Certified Buyer -
Q:Is product safe to use near horses?9/21/18A:I assume since it’s safe to use near people it’s OK near horses. I would apply it while the horse as are removed from the area of application and probably 24 hrs to make sure its dry. You can apply a finish coat of paint or stain over it
Brian Blaisdell
9/23/18Certified Buyer -
Q:What products would I need if I'd like to use this as a foam to spray inside my wall where there are drywall termites?8/27/18A:You could use Fipro Foaming Aerosol. We recommend that for spraying inside walls like you want to do. Check it out here. https://www.solutionsstores.com/fipro-foaming-aerosol
Camille Landry
8/28/18Certified Buyer -
Q:I want to treat a building 15 by 15 with 8ft walls an d the perimeter .the ceiling is a 2/12 pitch. How much boracare do I need to buy?8/16/18A:One gallon should suffice.
Camille Landry
8/16/18Certified Buyer -
Q:Practically all the subfloors have wood rot, especially near the front door, and bathroom areas. If were not able to replace to subfloor, will bora care kill the organism within the rot that s causing wheezing symptoms?7/10/18A:BoraCare prevents wood eating insects from “eating” the wood by suffocating them. It sounds to me as if you need to replace the floor because of it rotting from water damage and I don’t know what organisms would be involved in rotting wood. It also sounds as if you have water problems and if I were replacing the floor, I would spray the new floor with BoraCare before it is put in place because it will prevent destruction by insects drawn to damp wood, especially from Termites. Ranny Barclay
Ranny Barclay
7/10/18Certified Buyer -
Q:Have applied oil based stain to our 50 year old cabin on untreated boards. Evidence of dry wood termites still present. In some locations we can get to the back of the boards. Need help for moisture/rot as well. Will application now be effective?7/9/18A:I think that is a question for the manufacturer. I used it on a hemlock fence treated with Thompson's Water Sealer and had to power wash that off before applying the BoraCare. I have successfully treated rot with Abatron WoodEpox. I can be painted or stained.
James Bell
7/9/18Certified Buyer