What is Borate Wood Treatment and How Does it Work?

​If you’re planning to build a new deck or exterior wood project, you’ll want to protect your investment from wood eating insects like termites and carpenter ants. San Diego is among one of the worst U.S. cities for termites. The mild, temperate climate makes San Diego ideal for timber pests year-round. One of the best ways to get long-lasting protection against termites is with a borate wood treatment.

What is Borate Treated Wood?

​Sodium Borate, commercially referred to as Borax, Tim-Bor or Bora-Care, is an environmentally friendly bio-cide regularly used on wood structures and finishes. Borate treated wood will last even longer than wood only protected by stain or paint. Another nice thing about borate is that it is a naturally derived chemical (boron, sodium, and oxygen) that is benign to humans, plants, and pets.

How Does Borate Wood Treatment Work?

​Borates are able to repel termites and other wood eating insects by interfering with their digestive system. Once applied, they avoid the borate treated lumber and look for other sources of food—effectively leaving the area or dying off. We use Pest Patrol, a local San Diego pest control company, to apply Sodium Borate on our wood deck projects. The concentrate is applied via pressurized spray with multiple passes. It is important to treat bare, unstained and unpainted wood in order to ensure full coverage and penetration. Dry, UV-exposed decks do not absorb borate effectively so treatment prior to installation is ideal.
 
We recommend using a pest control expert to ensure the right concentration of the borate for external application. Once dry, deck stain or exterior paint can be applied to seal and beautify the wood.