Termite Prevention

[zardthebuilder]

anyone have experience with wood treatments to prevent termites? Boracare seems expensive, so i'm thinking Timbor is good enough. i plan to treat the wood in my attic and crawlspace. adding marking dye seems wise. i should get a real respirator. any opinions on whether the Professional Multi-Purpose Respirator ($40) is worth $10 more than the House-Hold version ($30)?

Timbor = http://store.doyourownpestcontrol.com/tim-bor-professional-insecticide
Boracare = http://store.doyourownpestcontrol.com/bora-care-boracare-termites-powderpost-beetles
dye = http://store.doyourownpestcontrol.com/alligare-super-marking-dye

Professional = http://www.homedepot.com/p/3M-Medium-Professional-Multi-Purpose-Respirator-62023HA1-C/202080144
House-Hold = http://www.homedepot.com/p/3M-Medium-House-Hold-Multi-Purpose-Respirator-65021HA1-C/202080143

 

[Sukhoi]

Household respirator will be fine. You may need more than the default particulate filters that come with the respirator for aerosol chemicals. Check the 3M website - there are a whole variety of organic, acid, etc. filtering cartridges.

Make sure you keep the respirator fairly tight. When you exhale you should be able to hear/feel the air going out the exhaust valve and not out the perimeter.

North also makes good respirators. And make sure you get a pair of respirator-compatible goggles.

 

[Greenman]

A little left of the topic, but why would you treat the attic? Do you have active termites there now?

 

[zardthebuilder]

thanks. there is something on the 3M list that is close to Disodium Octaborate Tetrahydrate, but not exact match. i'll call 3M on Monday to make sure i buy the right one.

i don't think we have active termites, but either product should kill them if they are there. a nearby house supposedly has drywood termites and they hired an exterminator. i have another neighbor who said that he has had drywood termites for over 10 years and is finally thinking about treating them. he said they eat so slowly that he was in no rush. if all goes well, i will live in this house for 20+ years. might as well treat the wood now.

 

[Blain]

Check out Do My Own Pest Control . com for good information and bang for the buck.
Discounts can be found at RetailMeNot.