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 |
I had sprayed all my logs, which are pine, with BoraCare prior to construction. I live in PA where there are a lot of carpenter ants and I have never had a problem with either carpenter ants, termites, wood beetles, or any other wood destroying insect, thanks to BoraCare. My recent purchase was for several posts to finally finish my lower level stairway. BoraCare is very easy to use and I would highly recommend it for any wood products.
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:Can you use Bora-Care for woodworms in furniture?6/16/18A:As long as the wood is unfinished or painted you can apply the boracare to the wood to control wood infesting insects.
Camille Landry
6/18/18Certified Buyer -
Q:Can you use this to spray on beams under brick house to seal them from moisture?. The house is completely in closed by brick except for vents and 3x 3 entry hole?5/20/18A:Yes
Ivan Hernandez
11/7/20Certified Buyer -
Q:Does this product kill and prevent carpenter bees?5/15/18A:No this product will not kill or prevent carpenter bees, better to checkout our Carpenter Bee Category. https://www.solutionsstores.com/carpenter-bee-control
Camille Landry
5/17/18Certified Buyer -
Q:How long would an application of this last on a house? or How long would the house be protected?5/9/18A:Boracare will last 30 years as a wood treatment.
Camille Landry
5/10/18Certified Buyer -
Q:Can this product be used to prevent bumble bee boring?5/6/18A:No, Boracare is not labeled for use to control Carpenter Bees, because the bees do not ingest the wood, only bore into the wood. Ingested is the method by which Boracare works. We typically recommend spraying a residential insecticide to the surface of the wood in the early spring before they return the area. If they are active in the openings you can then also apply a dust to the opening. https://www.solutionsstores.com/carpenter-bee-control
Camille Landry
5/7/18Certified Buyer -
Q:How long after I treat bare wood must I wait before I can paint over bora-care?5/3/18A:It is recommended to wait for 24-48 hours for the product to dry before painting, staining or lacquering.
Tina Malone
5/3/18Certified Buyer -
Q:Will it work on carpenter bees? Boric acid is a recommended product to kill them....so is this made from boric acid?4/16/18A:It will help to make the wood indigestible, would recommend using Fipro Foam to fill the galleries. https://www.solutionsstores.com/fipro-foaming-aerosol
Camille Landry
4/16/18Certified Buyer -
Q:I am only needing enough solution to treat an ancient armoire. It is showing evidence of powder post beetles in one corner of the base. Can I reduce the gallon recipe? Will it still be effective?4/10/18A:Yes, you can measure out the Boracare, just mix with the same amount of water. So if you use 16 ounces of Boracare then mix with 16 ounces of water.
Camille Landry
4/10/18Certified Buyer -
Q:Health risks?4/4/18A:PRECAUTIONARY STATEMENTS Hazards to Humans & Domestic Animals WEAR: Long-sleeved shirt & long pants, socks, shoes and chemical-resistant gloves (such as Barrier Laminate, Butyl Rubber, Nitrile Rubber, Neoprene Rubber, Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), Viton or others listed in category C on an EPA -chemical-resistance category selection chart). Environmental Hazards (For product in containers less than 5 gallons) This pesticide is toxic to fish and wildlife. Do not apply directly to water, to intertidal areas where surface water is present or to intertidal areas below the mean high water mark. Do not contaminate water when cleaning equipment or disposing of equipment wash waters. Make sure to always read the label before using.
Tina Malone
4/5/18Certified Buyer -
Q:Can I use bora-care on pressure treated lumber?3/19/18A:Yes, you can use it on pressure treated lumber.
Camille Landry
3/21/18Certified Buyer